Mobile gaming witnessed one of its biggest acquisition deals when Saudi Arabia’s Scopley announced this week that it was buying augmented reality gaming company Niantic for $3.5 billion. The deal includes ownership of successful titles Pokemon Go and Pikmin Bloom, as well as the use and sale of its innovative AR technology.
In addition to acquiring Niantic’s games, the deal includes the company’s non-gaming apps Campfire and Wayfarer. For Scopely and Saudi Arabia, Niantic represents the future of mobile gaming, one that relies on innovation and augmented reality. The deal is the 10th biggest acquisition in gaming history.
Here, we look at the other nine deals and assess how successful they were for the gaming industry.
9. Sony acquires Bungie, 2022
The studio behind the Halo franchise and Destiny was bought by Sony Interactive Entertainment for $3.7 billion in 2022. After being acquired by Microsoft in 2000, Bungie had become independent again in 2007. Despite Bungie now being owned by Sony, Microsoft still holds the exclusive rights to the Halo games series.
Plan: Sony would help Bungie to hire and retain developers to expand the Destiny franchise, Bungie would help Sony make more live-service games.
Result: The acquisition has not gone completely to plan. Bungie, which had hoped it would not lose any of its 1,600 employees, now has a workforce half that size, with 750 employees. The Destiny franchise has also waned in popularity and relevance.
8. ByteDance acquires Moonton, 2021
Chinese tech giant ByteDance, owner of TikTok and CapCut, purchased gaming developer Moonton in 2021 for $4 billion. Founded in 2014, the Chinese mobile game developer has produced titles such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Watcher of Realms.
Plan: ByteDance grows its mobile gaming investments.
Result: Moonton’s acquisition was first considered by Tencent, but it was beaten by ByteDance. Moonton has only grown since the acquisition. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, its most successful game, is popular around the world and is part of prestigious tournaments, including the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
7. Savvy Games Group acquires Scopely, 2023
A subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Savvy Games Group acquired Scopely in 2023 for $4.9 billion. The developer of Monopoly Go, Star Trek Field Command and WWE Champions is one of the biggest developers in mobile gaming.
Plan: Expand the kingdom’s gaming investment portfolio.
Result: Scopely, with the support of Savvy, has grown and produces more games than it did before the acquisition. Because of this, it was able to purchase Niantic and potentially corner the market for augmented-reality innovation in mobile gaming.
6. Activision Blizzard acquires King, 2016
The Swedish studio behind the global phenomenon mobile game Candy Crush was acquired by Activision Blizzard in 2016 for $5.9 billion. King has been a dominant presence in mobile gaming with its many spin-offs of Candy Crush, as well as branching out with titles such as Farm Heroes Super Saga.
Plan: Expand Activision Blizzard’s user count and acquire King’s more than 500 million users.
Result: While Activision Blizzard has made use of the deal, King has contracted and shut some of its global offices, laying off employees.
5. Microsoft acquires ZeniMax Media, 2021
The holding company that owns gaming studios Bethesda, id Software, Arkane studios and MachineGames was acquired by Microsoft in 2021 for $8.1 billion. ZeniMax Media owns prestigious gaming titles such as Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Dishonored and Wolfenstein.
Plan: Expand Xbox’s library and give the console more first-day exclusives.
Result: Xbox has benefited from some exclusivity on these games, but it has become clear that it would benefit more from sharing these titles with Sony and reaping the sales rewards.
4. Tencent acquires Supercell, 2016
Finnish studio Supercell, developer of Clash of Clans, sold a controlling stake of 81 per cent to China’s Tencent in 2016 for $8.6 billion. The developer also produced popular titles such as Clash Royale, Brawl Stars and Squad Busters.
Plan: Invest in Clash of Clans while growing Tencent’s gaming portfolio.
Result: Clash of Clans remains one of the most profitable mobile games, making more than $1 billion in yearly revenue. It is one of the few mobile games to have surpassed 500 million downloads on iOS and Android.
3. Take-Two Interactive acquires Zynga, 2022
The developer behind Facebook game Farmville and mobile game Words with Friends was acquired by Take-Two Interactive, the owner of Grand Theft Auto’s Rockstar, for $12.7 billion in 2022. Zynga has also produced titles such as Cafe World, Looney Tunes Dash and Game of Thrones Legends.
Plan: Portfolio expansion deal for profit.
Result: Take-Two’s acquisition of Zynga is primarily to grow the company’s mobile game output. According to Take-Two, approximately 10 per cent of the world’s population play a Zynga game, showing just how spread out and successful the company is.
2. Activision acquires Vivendi Games, 2008
The holding company that owned Sierra Entertainment, Universal Interactive and Blizzard Entertainment, Vivendi Games, was acquired by Activision in 2008 for $18.9 billion, approximately $27.6 billion adjusted for inflation.
Plan: Activision takes ownership of multiple successful game series, including Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.
Result: Activision has since become Activision Blizzard, under which global hits such as the Call of Duty, Warcraft and Crash Bandicoot are housed. The company took in more than $7 billion in revenue in 2022, making it one of the most profitable.
1. Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard, 2023
In 2023, after clearing many hurdles, Activision Blizzard was sold to Microsoft for $75.4 billion, making it the biggest video game company acquisition. Much like it did with ZeniMax in 2021, Microsoft expanded its portfolio for the Xbox with the purchase of Activision Blizzard.
Plan: Create compelling exclusive games for the Xbox while sharing other games with Sony
Result: As video game titles become harder to create, successful ones become a valuable commodity for consoles to own. Sony has titles such as The Last of Us, Uncharted and Ghost of Tsushima. Xbox will seek to create a new line-up with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Profile
Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Number of employees: seven
Sector: e-learning
Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019
Investors: Friends and family
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
57%20Seconds
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Results
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
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4. Shahada
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