Yahoo has acquired Cloud Party, a gaming company specializing in virtual worlds, Cloud Party CEO Sam Thompson announced on Friday. Cloud Party provided a multiplayer, 3D gaming platform that could run directly in a Web browser without plug-ins. Players could build their own worlds and avatars and explore virtual environments.

Cloud Party will continue to run until February 21, 2014, in order to support its community during this transition. The company has developed export tools in order to help its users prevent their Cloud Party creations. More information is available in this guide.

"We are privileged to have had so many wonderful users share ideas and creations. We are excited to bring our vision and experience to a team that is as passionate about games as we are," Sam Thompson said.

Yahoo last year also acquired PlayerScale, which provides infrastructure software.