Mergers and Acquisitions
Ongoing coverage on Mergers and Acquisitions.
Latest coverage
NCsoft acquires 70% stake in mobile developer JustPlay
NCsoft is acquiring a 70% stake in mobile developer JustPlay for $202 million, a deal expected to close by April 30, 2026. This move signifies NCsoft's expansion into the casual mobile games market. The article also details the re-launch of Bossfight Entertainment by its original founders after being shuttered by Netflix.
Sustainability and ESG Trends in iGaming
Sustainability and ESG factors are becoming crucial for the licensed iGaming industry, influencing investment, regulatory trust, and brand credibility. Strong ESG frameworks enhance investor confidence and reduce risks, while environmental progress leads social and governance improvements. Companies are advised to define KPIs, link sustainability to financial results, and disclose responsible gambling data to gain strategic advantages and investor trust.
Scopely hits $15 billion in lifetime revenue
Scopely has announced it has surpassed $15 billion in lifetime revenue after 15 years in the mobile gaming industry. The company's portfolio includes major titles like Pokémon Go and Monopoly Go, contributing to over 150 billion hours of playtime. Scopely has grown to over 3,000 employees globally and has made significant acquisitions, including Niantic and Loom Games, with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia now holding a majority stake.
Sega says yeah you're all real nice about our games—but you sure ain't buying them
Sega Sammy's financial results reveal a disconnect between critical acclaim and actual sales for many of its recent titles, leading to stagnant performance. The company is reviewing its marketing and sales mechanisms, and its acquisition of Rovio has resulted in a significant write-down due to underperformance.
EA Laying Off Staff at Its Battlefield Studios as Part of "Realignment" Strategy Even After
Electronic Arts is reportedly laying off staff across its Battlefield studios, including Criterion, Dice, Ripple Effect, and Motive Studios, as part of a "realignment" strategy. Despite the franchise's recent resurgence with the best-selling Battlefield game, EA stated these changes are to "better align our teams around what matters most to our community." The company is also undergoing a significant acquisition process.
Battlefield 6 developers hit with layoffs as game's popularity starts to decline
Despite strong initial sales and positive reviews, Electronic Arts has laid off employees across multiple studios working on Battlefield 6 due to declining player counts and mixed player reviews. The reasons for the layoffs are officially cited as a 'realignment,' though potential investor acquisition and financial pressures are also discussed as contributing factors.
Something for the Weekend – 07/03/26
Nintendo held an Indie World showcase, revealing new titles and updates. Among the announcements were Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, South of Midnight for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, and Echoes of Aincrad, an RPG set in the Sword Art Online universe. The article also reviews several games including Planet of Lana 2 and Pokémon Pokopia, and features previews for Tides of Tomorrow and Rogue Point.
The Morning After: Apple takes on cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks with the $599 MacBook Neo
Apple has launched the MacBook Neo, a new $599 laptop running on an iPhone chipset, targeting the budget Windows laptop and Chromebook market. The device features a 13-inch Retina display, 8GB of RAM, and two USB-C ports. The article also touches on other tech news including hands-on impressions of the Nothing Phone 4a Pro and 4a, a review of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and Netflix's acquisition of an AI startup founded by Ben Affleck.
Tim Sweeney muzzled, Highguard crumbles, and the slow demise of Bluepoint - Patch Notes #43
This week's gaming news includes Devolver Digital's charity partnership, the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Games by Paramount, and the permanent shutdown of Highguard. Unity is delisting publishers from the Greater China region, while Sony's Bluepoint Games reportedly pitched a Bloodborne remake before its closure and is reconsidering its PC strategy. Epic Games' Tim Sweeney is now restricted from criticizing Google until 2032 as part of a settlement.
MMO Business Roundup: Sony pulls back from PC ports, US considers compelling Tencent divestment
Sony is reportedly ceasing PC ports for PlayStation 5 games due to concerns over weak sales and brand dilution, though multiplayer titles like Marvel Tokon and Marathon are unaffected. Separately, the U.S. government is considering compelling Tencent to divest from western gaming investments amid data privacy and potential military links concerns.
US government reportedly debating whether to force Tencent to give up its US-based game holdings
The US government is reportedly considering forcing Tencent to divest its stakes in US and Finnish game companies due to national security concerns. Tencent holds significant shares in numerous major developers, raising fears of potential access to personal data of US citizens. This debate has been ongoing since 2020, with a recent meeting on the matter postponed.
Good Games Group Acquires Humble Games, Now Called Balor Games | Console Creatures
Good Games Group, founded by former Humble Bundle employees, has acquired Humble Games from Ziff Davis and rebranded as Balor Games. The new entity will continue to publish over 60 independent titles, focusing on stability and expanded support for partner studios with a renewed commercial strategy.
Humble Games' former bosses buy the studio's back catalog
Good Games Group, led by former Humble Games leaders Alan Patmore and Mark Nash, has acquired the back catalog of over 50 titles from Humble Games, rebranding as Balor Games. This acquisition includes popular indie titles like Slay the Spire and Coral Island, and also encompasses the catalog of Firestoke Games. Balor Games aims to be a developer-friendly publisher focused on "triple-I" gaming.
US Debating Tencent Gaming Stakes
The Trump administration is reportedly debating whether to allow Chinese company Tencent to maintain its significant gaming investments within the United States. This discussion is detailed in a Financial Times report concerning foreign investment policies.
Good Games Group acquires Humble Games, rebranded to Balor Games
Good Games Group, a company founded by former Humble Games employees in 2024, has acquired Humble Games. Following the acquisition, the company has been rebranded to Balor Games.
Trump Administration targets Tencent’s gaming dominance in security probe, according to reports
Reports indicate the Trump Administration is investigating Tencent's significant ownership of gaming companies as a potential security risk. This probe, focusing on Tencent's dominance and its ownership of entities like Riot Games and stakes in Epic Games, stems from concerns over kernel-level anti-cheat software and data security.
Report: US government may compel Tencent to divest gaming investments
The US government, under the Trump administration, is reportedly considering forcing Tencent to divest its gaming investments due to national security and data privacy concerns. Investigations initiated under the Biden administration have raised questions about Tencent's access to data from millions of American players through its stakes in companies like Epic Games and Riot Games.
Paramount makes no reference to game studios in first WB call to investors
Paramount held its first investor call following its acquisition of Warner Bros., but did not mention the gaming divisions of either company. Executives focused on consolidating assets and the impact on the entertainment industry, despite discussions of intellectual property that overlaps with Warner Bros. Games' core franchises. Warner Bros. Games recently announced a refocus on four key franchises: Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC.
Business and Finance
FCC chair commented that the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is significantly less complex than a previously defunct Netflix deal. Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly focused on rebuilding its video game division for 2025.
Downdetector and Speedtest have been sold for over $1 billion
Ziff Davis has sold its Connectivity division, which includes Speedtest and Downdetector, to Accenture for $1.2 billion. This sale allows Ziff Davis to focus on its core brands like IGN and Mashable, while Accenture aims to enhance its network intelligence services with the acquired assets.