sega rovio

Sega To Buy Angry Birds Studio Rovio For Some Reason

Over the weekend the rumor sprouted up that Sega was looking to buy out mobile developer Rovio for a billion dollars. We were skeptical because (a) the only thing Rovio is known for is Angry Birds and that property hit its peak ages ago, and (b) there’s no way Sega has a billion dollars.

But apparently, it was all true — except for the “billion dollars” part. Rovio has been purchased for a bit less than that: 706 million Euros, or $775 million when converted to US money. But when the deal is officially approved in September, it will happen: Angry Birds will be a Sega property (plus anything else Rovio has lying around).

Any particular reason for this, Sega? An explanation would be nice. The game company said in a press release that they expected mobile gaming to “grow to 56% of the overall gaming market by 2026,” so this move was based on that theory. “[We will use] Rovio’s distinctive know-how in live service mobile game operation to bring Sega’s current and new titles to the global mobile gaming market, where there is large potential, and many users can be accessed,” they said.

It’s worth noting that a crossover between Sonic and Angry Birds already exists: it’s called Angry Birds Sonic Dash Epic. Both properties have also already had their own movies, and Sonic is no stranger to the mobile market as it is. Not much could actually change here.

Despite acquisitions being the hot new trend in the video game industry, Sega does not partake in it often. The last time they bought another company was in 2013 when Atlus became a Sega brand. That was arguably a better purchase as Atlus makes the Persona series, which has only become more valuable in the years since.

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Avatar of Yellow Garter
Yellow Garter

The Truth will set you free

67 messages 6 likes

I don't believe the angry birds were simply dropped and killed. Trends have recently shifted in my opinion. Nobody, in my opinion, could ever argue that it's a good game. It was simply a matter of personal taste. When the majority of the games were free, but they were still charging, some fans were turned off. Furthermore, all of the sequels and spin-offs alienated the audience. They should only have one game and it should be updated on a regular basis. Candy Crush's continued existence is due to it. Unlike the original plan, Among Us just made downloadable content and updates.

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Avatar of Neonblights
Neonblights

I said oooh

385 messages 2 likes

I'm surprised you didn't bring up how heavily marketing the games is eroding their appeal. Plants vs. Zombies had similar issues. With each new release, these games would add a new button to the home screen, linking to either an in-game store or advertisements for their other games. It got so bad that it was difficult to figure out how to start playing the game. For this single reason, the vast majority of people I know stopped playing the original games. I first installed The Angry Birds on my PC around 2010. After finishing many of them, I played them for about 6 hours a day without getting bored. Sega may have what it takes to make a comeback.

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Avatar of sonicthehedghog
sonicthehedghog

New Member

56 messages 0 likes

Sega should have made a new console instead of this waste of money.

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Avatar of Eyes on the Prize
Eyes on the Prize

New Member

30 messages 1 like

Hmm....In my opinion, the majority of people are unaware that Sega is more than just a manufacturer of video game software. Pachinko machines and arcades, to name a few, are also significant sources of income for them. Angry Birds Pachinko will most likely be manufactured in Japan. it still have name recognition.

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Avatar of Jae
Jae

New Member

51 messages 0 likes

Didn't Sega purchased Bayonetta too? They just know its a household name that can be made relevant again.

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Avatar of Tomasso
Tomasso

New Member

28 messages 0 likes

Sega's attempt to acquire Rovio, the studio behind the once-popular Angry Birds game, is strange. Sega looks to be betting on the continued growth of the mobile gaming market, and they're hoping to expand their reach in that space by leveraging Rovio's expertise. Some Angry Birds fans may have been turned off by the numerous sequels and spin-offs that have flooded the market over the years. It's a common problem for well-known franchises - less is sometimes more. With Sega's resources and experience, however, they may be able to resurrect the franchise and appeal to a wider audience.

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Avatar of Montana
Montana

New Member

78 messages 2 likes

I use to be addicted to this game until I find other Games much more fun because Angry birds can be frustrating.

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Avatar of Koudelka
Koudelka

New Member

15 messages 2 likes

The gaming industry is constantly evolving and it's important for companies to stay competitive. By acquiring Rovio, Sega is taking a strategic step towards increasing their presence in the mobile gaming market. I'm curious to see how this acquisition will benefit both companies in the long run. Angry Birds is not popular anymore but it still have name recognition.

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