Nintendo Acquires Shiver Entertainment to Strengthen Nintendo Switch Porting and Development

Nintendo has announced the acquisition of Shiver Entertainment, a Miami-based game development studio known for its expertise in porting high-profile titles to the Nintendo Switch.

The move, revealed via an official statement, marks Nintendo’s latest push to enhance its internal development capabilities and deliver quality experiences on its popular hardware platform. Shiver Entertainment, founded in 2012, initially gained attention for developing Scribblenauts Showdown but solidified its industry reputation by bringing complex, resource-intensive games—such as Mortal Kombat 1, Mortal Kombat 11, and Hogwarts Legacy—to the Nintendo Switch.

The studio has built a portfolio of successful ports and game adaptations, partnering with major publishers and developers to expand the Switch library with titles previously limited to more powerful hardware.

Prior to this acquisition, Shiver operated as a subsidiary of Embracer Group, which had acquired the studio at the end of 2021. According to the official announcement, Nintendo has signed an agreement with Embracer Group AB to purchase 100% of Shiver Entertainment’s shares, making Shiver a wholly owned subsidiary.

Nintendo emphasized that this acquisition is aimed at solidifying its capabilities in software porting and development.

A Nintendo spokesperson stated that the company’s goal is to secure advanced resources for porting and creating new game titles.

Despite joining the Nintendo group, Shiver Entertainment will continue to focus on its core business—taking on commissions to port and develop software for multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch. "By welcoming Shiver’s accomplished development team, Nintendo aims to secure high-level resources for porting and developing software titles.

Going forward, even after Shiver becomes a part of Nintendo, the studio’s primary role will remain unchanged, as it continues to handle commissions that support porting and development for various platforms," the official statement clarified. This acquisition is significant in the context of Nintendo’s historically measured approach to purchasing external studios.

The most recent comparable move was Nintendo’s acquisition of Next Level Games in early 2021, the team behind Luigi’s Mansion 3, which occurred after Next Level Games explored sale opportunities.

Shiver Entertainment’s record in handling technically challenging ports demonstrates a strategic move for Nintendo, aiming to ensure that major third-party games continue to arrive on Nintendo Switch, bolstering the system’s appeal and longevity. Completion of the acquisition remains contingent on meeting customary regulatory and closing conditions.

Once finalized, fans and partners alike can expect Shiver’s continued involvement in bringing both new and existing blockbuster titles to Nintendo hardware.

Nintendo Hogwarts Legacy Switch Mortal Kombat 1 Mortal Kombat Shiver Shiver Entertainment Nintendo Switch Embracer Group Scribblenauts Showdown Next Level Games