Duolingo has acquired NextBeat, the creator behind the game Beatstar

Duolingo, known for its language learning application, has taken over NextBeat, the creators of Beatstar, signaling its intent to enhance its music course with engaging elements akin to leading mobile games.

Through a press announcement, Duolingo revealed that the integration of NextBeat's 23-person team — skilled in areas like game crafting, user engagement, revenue strategies, sound engineering, and music rights — aims to enhance Duolingo's game-based learning offerings.

This acquisition marks Duolingo's inaugural establishment in the UK.

According to Bob Meese, Duolingo's chief business officer, the initiative is designed to make learning as captivating as gaming, whether it involves languages or music. He emphasized that the expertise from NextBeat will enrich both the Music course and Duolingo’s platform overall.

Simon Hade, NextBeat's CEO, expressed that the collaboration stems from shared values around prioritizing learners, focusing on exceptional design, and maintaining a lighthearted approach. Together, they aim to combine music and gaming enthusiasm with Duolingo's innovative learning model.

NextBeat emerged as a spin-off from Space Ape Games earlier this year, aiming to incorporate properties like Beatstar and Country Star into its collection.

Supercell, which had previously secured a 62% stake in Space Ape, further increased its involvement with a purchase in November, acquiring the studio based in London.