Overview

• Duolingo completed the acquisition of NextBeat’s 23-person team behind games like BeatStar and Country Star, establishing its first official UK office.
• NextBeat staff bring deep experience in game design, user retention, monetization, sound design alongside music licensing to boost learner engagement.
• The deal coincided with Duolingo’s Q2 earnings report, which showed 41% revenue growth and an 84% rise in net income under its AI-first strategy.
• Duolingo plans to expand its Music course beyond piano by experimenting with guitar and rhythm modules while enhancing pacing and personalization.
• The acquisition underlines Duolingo’s shift from a language app to an all-in-one learning platform by blending gamified mechanics with diverse subjects.