Sega has announced its plan to acquire Rovio, the mobile game developer famous for Angry Birds. At the cost of $776 million (£625m), the company hopes this will strengthen its mobile gaming capabilities.
It’s a friendly takeover, with Rovio’s board of directors supporting the offer, and will be completed through the subsidiary Sega Europe. Sega expects the acquisition to close in the second quarter of FY2024 – that’s September.
The press release says the aim is to integrate Rovio’s “live-operated mobile game development capabilities and expertise in mobile game operation”. Meanwhile, Haruki Satomi, President and Group CEO, Representative Director of Sega Sammy Holdings, also had some comments on the acquisition:
“Among the rapidly growing global gaming market, the mobile gaming market has especially high potential, and it has been Sega’s long-term goal to accelerate its expansion in this field. I feel blessed to be able to announce such a transaction with Rovio, a company that owns “Angry Birds”, which is loved across the world, and home to many skilled employees that support the company’s industry-leading mobile game development and operating capabilities.
“Historically, as represented by the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series, Sega has released countless video game titles to various gaming platforms. I am confident that, through combination of both companies’ brands, characters, fanbase, as well as corporate culture and functionality, there will be significant synergies created going forward.”
For more beyond Sega’s Rovio acquisition, check out our favourite Sonic games and Sonic figures for more from the blue blur.