“Angry Birds” Developer Acquired by SEGA
Video game giant SEGA recently announced that it will soon complete its acquisition of Rovio Entertainment Oyj, the studio behind the popular “Angry Birds” franchise. Amounting to around $775 million, the deal is expected to be finalized by September this year.
This acquisition will essentially allow SEGA to make use of Rovio’s mobile game development efforts, which in turn will allow for increased development of titles based on SEGA’s many video game franchises. As per a lengthy press statement:
“The Company (SEGA) firmly believes that it is imperative to continue investing in its game development and operating capabilities, in order to further strengthen its position in this fast-growing mobile and global gaming market, which therefore led to the decision to acquire Rovio.
Through the Acquisition, the Company aims to take-in Rovio’s live-operated mobile game development capabilities and expertise in mobile game operation, to accelerate the development of mobile-compatible and multi-platform-supported version of SEGA’s existing game IPs, thereby strengthening and further accelerating global expansion of SEGA’s game portfolio.”
Rovio rose to fame with the release of the first Angry Birds game, which proved to be popular with mobile phone users thanks to its relatively simple pick-up-and-play format. The titles has since expanded to add sequels, merchandise, and even a movie.
With that said, no upcoming game titles have been announced at this moment, but we imagine we’ll see more developments on this story once the deal is finalized. In any case, it should be interesting to see how SEGA uses Rovio’s reach and experience to strengthen its hold on the mobile gaming landscape.
Source: Businesswire