One of the biggest publishers of traditional games in the world now also owns one of the biggest mobile publishers.
Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush Saga — three of the biggest games in the world, all catering to different platforms and financial models — now all belong to Activision after the publisher spent $5.9 billion to acquire King Digital, the company best known for the Candy Crush and Farm Hero games. This means that Activision paid $18 per share, or a 20 percent premium over King’s closing price on October 30, to acquire the mobile behemoth. This purchase should help Activision diversify its business. It was already making a push into mobile and free-to-play, but this move instantly adds a number of high-profile and lucrative hits. Instead of trying to build mobile games that appeal to a global audience, it can just use what King has already created.
Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush Saga — three of the biggest games in the world, all catering to different platforms and financial models — now all belong to Activision after the publisher spent $5.9 billion to acquire King Digital, the company best known for the Candy Crush and Farm Hero games. This means that Activision paid $18 per share, or a 20 percent premium over King’s closing price on October 30, to acquire the mobile behemoth. This purchase should help Activision diversify its business. It was already making a push into mobile and free-to-play, but this move instantly adds a number of high-profile and lucrative hits. Instead of trying to build mobile games that appeal to a global audience, it can just use what King has already created.