Duolingo acquires NextBeat music gaming team for enhanced music course

Duolingo Inc. (NASDAQ: DUOL) announced it has acquired the team behind NextBeat, a London-based music gaming startup. The acquisition brings 23 employees with expertise in game design, user retention, monetization, sound design, and music licensing to the language learning platform.

The move establishes Duolingo's first official presence in the United Kingdom and aims to enhance the company's Music course offering. NextBeat was founded by Simon Hade, Olly Barnes, and Joe Adams, and previously developed mobile rhythm games including Beatstar and Country Star, which reached over 100 million downloads and generated nearly $200 million in revenue.

"Learning should be just as engaging as playing a great game, whether you're practicing a new language or playing a favorite song," said Bob Meese, Chief Business Officer at Duolingo. "This is a strategic bet on talent."

Duolingo launched its Music course in beta with millions of users already participating. The acquired team will focus on developing gamified learning experiences across the platform, with particular emphasis on music education.

"From day one, it was clear that Duolingo and NextBeat share the same values: putting learners first, obsessing over great design, and never taking ourselves too seriously," said Simon Hade, CEO of NextBeat.

The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. NextBeat's games were previously spun out of Space Ape Games following its acquisition by Supercell.

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