Amidst reports, Rovio has also confirmed that it is “in discussions with Sega” for a potential buyout.
Developers and publishers of premium console games have come to see the potential for massive profits in the mobile gaming space, and more and more of them have been entering the markets, which has often come in the form of acquisitions. Sega might be the next company to try and make that leap, and it seems like it could come through a significant acquisition.
The Wall Street Journal has claimed in a report that Sega is set to acquire Rovio, the developer behind the Angry Birds franchise, in a deal worth up to $1 billion. As per the report, if things should go to plan, the deal is likely to be completed in the coming days.
Interestingly enough, Rovio has also confirmed that it is currently in talks with Sega regarding a potential deal. In a recent statement (vie Reuters), the company said, “As part of its strategic review, Rovio Entertainment Corporation confirms that it is in discussions with Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. Rovio and Sega will release further information at an appropriate time.”
A number of companies in the console space have moved to make similar acquisitions in recent years. EA acquired Playdemic for $1.4 billion in 2021, while Take-Two Interactive completed its $12.7 billion acquisition of Zynga last year. Meanwhile, Microsoft has also said that the mobile market is a major factor in its impending Activision Blizzard.
