In April, Sega, the company behind iconic franchises like Sonic and Yakuza, announced its acquisition of Rovio Entertainment, the executive development studio responsible for the successful Angry Birds series.
A recent press conference shed light on the strategic goals Sega aims to achieve with this roughly €706 million takeover. As expected, a significant focus will be on expanding and strengthening Sega’s mobile business, particularly in Western markets.
According to the information provided by Sega, only 12% of the company’s mobile title sales are generated outside of Japan. In contrast, 80% of Sega’s PC and console game sales originate from markets outside of its home country.
Rovio Gains Access to Sega’s Brand Portfolio
Shuji Utsumi, Sega’s President of Consumer Games and Transmedia, elaborated on the future of Rovio Entertainment under Sega’s umbrella.
Not only will Rovio continue to develop Angry Birds and other mobile titles, but the Finnish studio will also gain access to Sega’s extensive brand portfolio. This collaboration aims to help Sega establish its most popular series on mobile platforms.
Alexandre Pelletier-Normand, CEO of Rovio Entertainment, expressed excitement about the creative opportunities and challenges that come with working on Sega’s brands. While the primary focus of the acquisition is to bolster Sega’s mobile business, the partnership will also extend to PC and console gaming.
Rovio’s Projects Set to Expand into PC and Console Gaming
The acquisition by Sega opens up new avenues for Rovio Entertainment’s developers, allowing them to bring their projects, including various Angry Birds spin-offs, to consoles and PCs. Both Sega and Rovio Entertainment plan to make official announcements regarding these developments when the time is right.
In summary, Sega’s acquisition of Rovio Entertainment signifies a strategic move to strengthen its position in the mobile gaming market, especially in the West.
By granting Rovio access to Sega’s vast array of brands, the partnership will foster new creative opportunities, and expand the reach of both companies’ franchises across multiple platforms.
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