GREE, one of the big Japanese mobile gaming companies, continues to increase its awareness and workforce in the United States by acquiring App Ant Studios. The two have previously teamed up before on Dino Life, GREE’s first game on Android. App Ant will now be a part of GREE’s San Francisco studio since they are also from the Bay Area. Their founders will still continue their leadership roles in the new studio as well. GREE’s International CEO Naoki Aoyagi, pictured above, is excited about the new acquisition saying that both companies share the same passion for the mobile social gaming and what they can do together for the future. Not only this acquisition strengthens GREE’s Western efforts specifically in the United States, but also worldwide. Along with acquiring Funzio earlier this year for $210 million, GREE also plans to expand to Vancouver and London sometime in the future. They’re also making games based on blockbuster franchises for Capcom and Konami back at Japan.

The Japanese giant also revealed recent numbers for their US revenues. Their American efforts have reached $16.87 million in second quarter revenues, which is up from $12.15 million last quarter. That number is going to increase big again in the next quarter once the App Ant acquisition kicks in. GREE still has big ambitions of reaching one billion users worldwide. The rapid expansion across various territories this year and future acquisitions does make that goal a possible reality. Once GREE starts their studios in Vancouver and London, who knows what region is next for them to expand. Does GREE have a chance of making more money than Angry Birds maker Rovio and US mobile gaming giant Zynga in the future? I can definitely see this happening because of the worldwide expansion GREE has been achieving comparing to the two US companies I mentioned even though Angry Birds, Farmville, and the ‘Friends’ series are still the most popular mobile games out there. We will see what GREE has coming here stateside and their home of Japan especially with the Tokyo Game Show there later this week.