Weekly News Digest #47

MY.GAMES Launches MGVC Publishing to Empower Mobile Game Developers Globally

MY.GAMES, a leading European gaming company, has unveiled MGVC Publishing, a new mobile game publishing branch focused on helping developers scale worldwide.

Success stories include Fable Town (300,000+ players, $300,000+ revenue in one month), Battle Prime (4x revenue growth), and Days After (30% increase in active users). MGVC Publishing offers 360° support, advanced analytics, and marketing expertise. Developers retain IP ownership through shared-revenue agreements.

MGVC Publishing seeks partnerships with games in soft launch, mature projects, and Asian developers expanding westward. Contact publishing@mgvc.com to collaborate.

We thank MY.GAMES and Xsolla for supporting this digest.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

UPDATE: Israel-based mobile games developer Playtika (NASDAQ: PLTK) has completed the acquisition of fellow Israeli mobile games developer SuperPlay in a deal valued at $2B. The transaction includes a $700m upfront payment and a $1.3B earn-out component contingent on future performance milestones. Details about the deal can be found on the InvestGame website.

Pakistan-based mobile games developer Game District has acquired a majority stake in Turkey-based mobile games developer Gleam Games. This strategic acquisition aims to strengthen Game District’s presence in the Turkish gaming market. As part of the agreement, the CEO of Gleam Games will assume the role of Chief Strategy Officer at Game District. Gleam Games is a developer of a blast puzzle title EverBlast, and has secured two funding rounds in Apr’22 and Apr’23.

VENTURE FINANCING

India-based web3 platform developer Kratos Gamer Network (KGeN) has raised $10m in a funding round led by Aptos Labs, with participation from Polygon and Game7. The newly secured funds will support the scaling and development of KGeN’s platform, which integrates micro-gaming communities across emerging markets such as India, Brazil, Nigeria, Southeast Asia, and MENA. This funding round brings KGeN’s valuation to $500m, up from $150m following its $20m funding round in Feb’23. The company’s platform currently serves a user base of 11 million.

Slovakia-based analytical software developer SuperScale has raised $1.2m in a funding round led by Across Private Investments, LevelUp Ventures, Zero One Hundred, Venture to Future Fund, with participation from Strecko Investments. The funding will support enhancements to SuperScale’s analytical platform, SuperPlatform, launched in Aug’24. This tool consolidates developer data and offers analytics for decision-making. Currently, SuperPlatform is utilized by 60 companies, including Electronic Arts, Lego, and Big Fish Games. This follows a $5.4m Series A round completed in Jun’23.

Serbia-based web3 game developer KOKODI has raised $1.1m in a Seed funding round from Merit Circle, Avalanche, TENZOR CAPITAL, SWGI, vVv, Pure Chain Capital, Kangaroo Capital, and other investors. KOKODI is currently developing a web3 battle royale extraction game. The company is now preparing for a strategic funding round to support the development of three unnamed projects and a Token Generation Event (TGE) planned for Q1’25.

According to the SEC filing, Canada-based mobile games publisher PopReach Corporation (CVE: POPR) has raised $1.1m out of $6.6m in a funding round.

India-based PC & Console game developers Norian Games and Xigma Games have raised $240k in a funding round led by WTFund and Nazara Technologies (NSE: NAZARA). The funding will support both companies’ ongoing development efforts. Norian Games is currently developing Aldian of Ancients, a multiplayer survival game. Xigma Games, known for its IP, The Bonfire, is working on Metal Haven, a free-to-play sci-fi strategy game.

PUBLIC OFFERINGS

France-based board games publisher Asmodee is set to receive $400m from its parent company, Swedish video game-holding Embracer Group (STO: EMBRAC B). The funding will be allocated for profit-related repayments. This move aligns with Embracer’s ongoing financial restructuring, including divesting its mobile game subsidiary, Easybrain. Additionally, as mentioned in Embracer’s press release, Asmodee has outlined plans for a significant $952m (EUR 900m) bridge loan refinancing through a debt capital transaction. The deal is happening amidst Asmodee divestment from Embracer, which is expected to close on Apr’25.

FUNDRAISING

Singapore-based gaming fund Play Ventures has raised a $140m Fund III, bringing the firm’s total assets under management (AUM) to $450m. Previously, Play Ventures raised $30m for Fund I in Aug’19, $135m for Fund II in Apr’21, a $30m Opportunity Fund in Sep’21, and a $75m Play Future Fund focused on gaming and web3 in Nov’21. The new Fund III will focus on early-stage gaming companies, emphasizing free-to-play mobile games, gaming infrastructure, mobile consumer tech, platforms, AI gaming tools, and distribution channels. The fund has already invested in eight projects, since the initial raise in Jun’23. Play Ventures plans to invest in 20-25 pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies.

Saudi Arabia-based investment firm Merak Capital has launched an investment facility worth $80m, including the Exel investment fund and an accelerator program. This facility will target early-stage game development studios in the MENA region. The accelerator program will run for 14-16 weeks and aims to invest in 15-20 game

EARNINGS REPORTS