Japanese gaming giant Sega has agreed a deal to buy Finnish video game developer Rovio for €706m (US$773m)
Sega expects the deal to be completed in Q2 of the 2024 financial year.
Rovio is famous as the developer of the Angry Birds franchise, which was the first mobile game to pass one billion downloads and has been licensed numerous times, notably to ICE who produce the Angry Birds Arcade redemption game.
Sega said that the deal would strengthen its position in the global gaming market and that it would use Rovio’s knowledge of live service mobile game operation to bring new titles to market.
Haruki Satomi, president and group CEO of Sega Sammy Holdings, said: “I feel blessed to be able to announce such a transaction with Rovio, a company that owns Angry Birds, which is loved across the world, and home to many skilled employees that support the company’s industry leading mobile game development and operating capabilities.
“Historically, as represented by the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Sega has released countless video game titles to various gaming platforms. I am confident that, through a combination of both companies’ brands, characters, fanbase, as well as corporate culture and functionality, there will be significant synergies created going forward.”
