Nintendo acquires partner studio SRD, which contributed to games like Super Mario Bros and Donkey Kong

Nintendo has bought SRD Co Ltd, a Tokyo-based studio and its long-time partner. The team has been helping the Japanese publisher with many of its first-party games for several decades.

The terms of the deal, which is expected to close on April 1, remain undisclosed, according to the official announcement (spotted by GamesIndustry.biz). Nintendo will become the sole owner of SRD, and Toshihiko Nakago will continue to run the studio.

“SRD is a development company which has been closely involved for nearly four decades in developing Nintendo video game software,” the company said of the purpose of this acquisition. “[The acquisition] will serve to strengthen the management base of SRD and secure the availability of software development resources for Nintendo, in addition to facilitating and anticipated improvement in software development efficiency.”

SRD was founded in 1979. The history of its working relationship with Nintendo goes back to 1983 when it helped port Donkey Kong to NES. The studio’s other credits include classic titles like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros.