Mergers and Acquisitions
Ongoing coverage on Mergers and Acquisitions.
Latest coverage
MMO Business Roundup: Discord’s ad sales, GTA Online hacker’s arrest, and Xbox sale rumors
This MMO business roundup covers Discord's new advertising products, the arrest of a hacker allegedly involved in breaches of Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online, Ubisoft Massive Entertainment taking over more IPs, and rumors of Xbox being up for sale, which CEO Asha Sharma denies.
Zynga reportedly almost acquired Supercell for $400m in 2012, but deal fell through following failure of OMGPop
Zynga's founder Mark Pincus revealed that the company nearly acquired Supercell for $400 million in 2012, but the deal fell through due to Zynga's board concerns following the failure of its OMGPop acquisition. Pincus expressed regret over not pushing harder for the Supercell deal, which he believes would have been highly profitable.
Trophy Games makes largest acquisition to date with $2.6 million Playrion deal
Copenhagen-based Trophy Games has acquired Paris studio Playrion, the developer behind Airlines Manager and Airport Simulator: First Class, for $2.6 million. This marks Trophy Games' largest acquisition to date and is expected to close on September 30, 2026. Playrion was previously owned by Paradox Interactive.
Trophy Games acquires Airport Simulator: First Class developer Playrion from Paradox Interactive
Trophy Games has acquired Airport Simulator: First Class developer Playrion from Paradox Interactive for an upfront payment of €2.25 million plus an earn-out. This acquisition, the largest in Trophy Games' history, will add 30 employees and is seen as a new growth pillar for the Danish studio, which plans to build a series around the Airport Simulator IP, similar to its success with Airline Manager 4.
The Xbox reset doesn't have an end date | Opinion
The ongoing Xbox business reset, initiated by CEO Asha Sharma, has extended far beyond its initial 100-day target with no clear end date or vision. The extensive layoffs and studio closures, including the likely shuttering of Ninja Theory, have created an atmosphere of instability and uncertainty, raising questions about Microsoft's long-term strategy for the Xbox brand.
State of Decay 3 Studio Was Going to Be Acquired by Splash Damage Before Deal Fell Through – Rumor
Xbox is reportedly divesting four studios, including Undead Labs, developer of State of Decay 3. A rumored acquisition of Undead Labs by Splash Damage fell through, as did potential deals for Ninja Theory. These moves are part of a larger business "reset" by Xbox, which has also involved significant layoffs and studio reorganizations.
DC's upcoming Dynamic Duo movie has been pushed back, but has reportedly cast its Robin and Red Hood
DC's animated film 'Dynamic Duo' has reportedly cast Mason Thames as Dick Grayson and Logan Kim as Jason Todd, with Lee Pace and Steve Buscemi as Red Hoods One and Two. The movie's release date has been moved from June 30, 2028, to September 22, 2028, due to a Warner Bros. release schedule shake-up amid its potential sale to Paramount. The film is produced by Matt Reeves' company and written by Matthew Aldrich.
Games Inbox: Will the PS6 release be delayed?
Readers discuss the upcoming console generation, with skepticism regarding the PlayStation 6's 2027 release due to cost and component shortages, suggesting a delay to 2028. There's also commentary on Xbox's strategic shifts, potential studio closures, and the future of the Xbox brand as a more PC-centric platform. Additionally, discussions touch on game design choices in Fire Emblem and the importance of character design in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.
Report: Bethesda president tells Obsidian staff it won't lose 'creative identity' after merge
Bethesda president Jill Braff reportedly assured Obsidian Entertainment staff that their 'creative identity' will remain intact following the merger into Bethesda. The move, announced by parent company Xbox, involves a change in reporting structure rather than creative oversight. Obsidian leadership will continue to lead the studio, which will report to Braff, while Bethesda Game Studios will continue to lead the Fallout franchise, with both teams collaborating on a new Fallout project.
Age of Empires developer World's Edge hit with layoffs following move to Activision
The Age of Empires developer World's Edge has been significantly impacted by layoffs following its transition to Activision, with "just under half" of its employees affected. Former creative director Adam Isgreen was among those let go, expressing disappointment about the outcome of his 16-year tenure. This restructuring also saw 268 positions eliminated across various Xbox studios, leading to the closure of Ninja Theory and the independence of Undead Labs.
Xbox lays off 268 more employees, merges Obsidian into Bethesda, and puts Activision in charge of Halo
Xbox has announced another round of layoffs, cutting 268 employees and reorganizing several studios. Activision will now oversee the development of the next Halo game, while Obsidian Entertainment is being merged into Bethesda. Other studios like Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios are also being formally merged.
Activision tar över Halo och Bethesda börjar bossa över Obsidian
Microsoft has announced a significant restructuring of its gaming division, including the closure of Ninja Theory and the merger of Playground Games with Turn 10 Studios. Activision will take over development of the Halo series, while Bethesda Softworks will oversee Obsidian Entertainment. This follows recent layoffs and studio departures within Xbox.
All The Major Xbox Changes Microsoft Announced Today: Layoffs, Halo Goes To Activision, And Lots More
Microsoft announced significant restructuring within its Xbox division, including 268 layoffs affecting various first-party studios like Halo Studios. Activision will now develop the next Halo game, while Bethesda expands to oversee Obsidian Entertainment. Several studios face potential closure or consolidation, such as Ninja Theory and the merging of Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios.
Xbox’s Second Wave Of Planned Layoffs Is Reportedly Starting As Studios Face Major Restructuring
Xbox is reportedly initiating a second wave of layoffs, affecting approximately 1,600 employees, as part of a major restructuring of its gaming division. This initiative, led by Xbox boss Asha Sharma, aims to make the division more profitable and involves consolidating studios and potentially moving franchises like Halo to Activision Blizzard. Several first-party studios have also recently become independent or been sold off.
Bohemia Interactive acquires a minority stake in Everwind developer Enjoy Studio
Bohemia Interactive has acquired a minority stake in Enjoy Studio, the developer of the multiplayer survival RPG Everwind. This investment signifies Bohemia Interactive's confidence in Enjoy Studio's talent and aims to foster a long-term partnership for future game development.
Bohemia Interactive acquires minority stake in Everwind developer Enjoy Studio
Bohemia Interactive has acquired a minority stake in Polish studio Enjoy Studio, the developer behind the sandbox survival RPG Everwind. Bohemia Interactive, which published Everwind, has been working with Enjoy Studio since 2024 and cited a shared approach to game development and player communication as key factors in the investment. The deal signifies Bohemia Interactive's first investment in a Polish video game company.
MMO Week in Review: Foreverrrrr
BlizzCon 2026 saw major announcements including a new open-world StarCraft shooter, Diablo V for 2029, and World of Warcraft Forever launching soon. The event also revealed World of Warcraft's next retail expansion, The Last Titan, and sparked controversy over World of Warcraft Forever's monetization. Other news included the sunsetting of Ship of Heroes, layoffs at Pantheon Rise of the Fallen, and business dealings involving ArcheAge.
EA’s New Owners May Be Considering An Even Bigger Gaming Empire
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has become the majority shareholder of Electronic Arts and is reportedly considering merging it with Savvy Games Group, another PIF-owned entity. This potential consolidation, which could also involve Moonton, Scopely, and SNK, aims to improve coordination among the PIF's gaming assets. However, the move faces regulatory scrutiny due to the vast number of major franchises that would fall under one umbrella, and employees fear significant cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and studio closures, may be implemented.
Pokémon Go and EA FC could be "under one roof", as EA and Saudi-owned Savvy Games Group reportedly considering merger
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering merging Electronic Arts (EA) with its subsidiary Savvy Games Group to improve asset coordination. This potential merger follows EA's recent $55 billion acquisition by the PIF. Savvy Games Group already owns companies like Scopely and ESL, and has partial stakes in Capcom and Nintendo.
Saudi Arabian fund is reportedly considering merging Electronic Arts with Savvy Games group
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering merging Electronic Arts with its Savvy Games Group to improve coordination between its assets. This potential merger, which is not finalized and awaits the completion of Moonton acquisition, could significantly boost EA's mobile gaming efforts. The article expresses concern over the PIF's growing influence in the gaming industry, citing past deals and their ripple effects.
