There was a decline in Platform & Tech deal volumes as investors focused on profitability and short-term outcomes. AI startups grew as per our Global Gaming Deals Activity Report for FY '23. However, the number of AI-related tech startups increased, with 29 out of 82 Platform & Tech deals related to AI. Blockchain in gaming has become a more niche market after the investment boom, but it remains alive, with deal values in 2023 still 19.5 times higher than in 2020.

— Infinite Reality, a US-based web3 metaverse experience company, has acquired Ethereal Engine, a US-based tech company, for $75m, paid entirely in shares;
— Overworld, a US-based web3 game developer, has raised $10m in a Seed funding round;
— Aghanim, a US-based tech company, has attracted an undisclosed sum for entering the direct-to-consumer market.

These deals were covered in our latest Weekly News Digest.

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering the current state of the mobile gaming market and the results of Steam and Epic Games Store in 2023:

— Apptica: The State of the Mobile Gaming Market and Advertising;
— Steam: 2023 Results;
— Epic Games Store: Results of 2023.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

— Monumental, a US-based multiplatform games developer and publisher, has acquired Game Circus, a US-based mobile games developer primarily known for its social casino game Coin Dozer series;
— GameCentric, an India-based gaming platform, has raised $1.5m in an angel round led by Bilal Merchant;
— Crystal Fun, a UAE-based web3 gaming ecosystem and games developer, has raised an undisclosed sum from KuCoin Ventures.

These three deals and one more were covered in our latest Weekly News Digest.

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering the growth of the US gaming market in Jan'24, the state of the mobile gaming market in the year 2024, and the gaming market's status in MENAP regions, along with global insights for Q4'23:

— Circana: The US gaming market in January 2024 grew by 15%;
— data.ai: Mobile Gaming Market in 2024;
— Shorooq Partners: State of the Gaming Market in MENAP and globally in Q4 2023.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

— Embracer Group, a Sweden-based gaming conglomerate, is reportedly selling its subsidiary Saber Interactive, a US-incorporated PC & Console games developer, for $500m;
— The Collective Ace Group, a Germany-based gaming company, has acquired By Aliens, a UAE-based mobile games developer and publisher, for an undisclosed amount;
— Scuti.AI, a US-based game tech platform, has attracted $10m in a Series A funding round from an undisclosed investor.

These three deals, along with six others, were covered in our latest Weekly News Digest.

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering total spending on physical gaming products in Japan in 2023, the possible growth of the Middle East and North Africa gaming market, and the top mobile games of Feb'24 based on revenue and downloads:

— Famitsu: $2.7 billion was spent on physical gaming products in Japan in 2023;
— Niko Partners: MENA-3 is expected to reach revenue of $2.65B by 2027;
— AppMagic: Top Mobile games of Feb'24 by Revenue and Downloads.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

The InvestGame team is extremely excited to congratulate GameDev Reports channel on hitting 5,000 subscribers! 🎉 Dima, your dedication to sharing and analyzing gamedev reports has truly paid off — it's awesome to see such a passionate and engaged community grow around your content. Here's to many more milestones and continued success. Keep rocking the gamedev world!

Cheers,
Your fans from the InvestGame crew.

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering salary statistics in game development, the state of mobile casual gaming, and global mobile gaming marketing trends in 2023:

— 80 Level: 45.6% of the game industry workers are living from a paycheck to a paycheck;
— AppMagic: Lessons from 2023 for casual games;
— SocialPeta: Trends in Mobile Gaming Marketing in 2023.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

— Embracer Group, a Sweden-based gaming holding company, has sold Saber Interactive, a developer of PC and console games, for $247m to Beacon Interactive;
— Turtle Beach, a US-based gaming peripherals company, is set to acquire PDP, a US-based creator of console controllers, for $118m;
— Kaedim, a US-based game tech company, has raised $15m in a Series A funding round led by a16z, with participation from Pioneer Fund and other investors.

These three deals, along with 18 others, were covered in our latest Weekly News Digest.

The InvestGame team is thrilled to unveil our exclusive Global M&A Sell-Side Financial Advisory League Table for 2020-2024 YTD. This comprehensive data showcases premier financial advisory firms that have played pivotal roles in orchestrating transformative deals within the gaming industry during these fluctuating times. Tailored for founders and investors, our League Table serves as a definitive compass in the ever-evolving realm of M&A, delivering unparalleled insights drawn from InvestGame’s proprietary database and spotlighting over 60 significant acquisitions.

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering critical insights into the European gaming market in Feb'24, mobile gaming market trends for 2023, and revenue from location-based games in Japan and globally:

— GSD & GfK: The European Gaming Market Grew in Feb'24;
— Adjust & AppLovin: Mobile Game Market Trends in 2024;
— Sensor Tower: Japan accounted for nearly 50% of the revenue from geolocation Mobile games in 2023.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering trends in the US gaming market in Feb'24, an overview of the gaming industry by Unity, and paying users in mobile games:

—Circana: The US Gaming Market in Feb'24;
— Unity: Gaming in 2024 Report;
—Mistplay: Paying Users in Mobile Games in 2024.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

🎮 Seeking Funding in the Video Game Industry?

📢 We are thrilled to announce an exclusive tool from the InvestGame team on Patreon: Gaming Focused Funds List!

💡 Beyond our publicly available database, this comprehensive list includes crucial details such as AUMs, Partner LinkedIn profiles, and fund emails. It will be regularly updated and expanded to include generalist VCs actively investing in gaming and numerous corporate gaming funds. We're set to add over 100 new names soon!

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We are excited to introduce InvestGame.net News on Telegram—an all-in-one free resource that aggregates news 24/7 from the most relevant sources in the gaming industry, refined and curated with the power of AI to deliver the essence of each Investment and M&A deal.

Why Join Our Channel?

Convenience: All your gaming industry news in one spot on Telegram. Easily searchable, hashtag-organized, and shareable.

Brevity: Short, digestible news snippets refined by AI, with direct links to full articles for deeper dives.

Relevance: Exclusively tailored to global gaming deals. Our algorithms filter out the noise, ensuring you only get what matters to the gaming industry.

Speed: Get instant news from all major sources, anytime, anywhere — no waiting, no time zone delays, 24/7

With more than 6,900 subscribers to our Weekly News Digest, we know how important it is for you to have all the deals aggregated in one place. But sometimes, it is important to act fast and be ahead of others — this is where InvestGame.net News comes in.

This is our new step in pursuing the same old goal: making the gaming investment market more available and transparent.

👉 Join our Telegram channel now and start receiving the most comprehensive, up-to-date gaming investment news today!

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering PC & Console games in 2024, the current state of the mobile gaming industry, and the top mobile games by revenue and downloads in Mar' 24:

— Newzoo: PC and Console Games in 2024;
— Sensor Tower: Mobile Games in 2024;
— AppMagic: Top Mobile Games by Revenue and Downloads in Mar'24.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering the state of F2P games on Steam, analysis of Pinball/Brick Breaker sub-genres, and UK game sales on PC & Console in Mar'24:

— Video Game Insights: F2P Games on Steam in 2024;
— Sensor Tower: Analysis of Pinball/Brick Breaker Subgenres;
— GSD & GfK: Game sales on PC and consoles in March in the UK grew by 26%.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

Our colleagues from GameDev Reports picked the most exciting gaming reports from the previous week, covering the performance of the German gaming market and the UK gaming market in 2023, as well as developers' views on the sustainability of the GAAS model:

— game: The German Gaming Market almost reached €10B in 2023;
— UKIE: The British gaming market in 2023 grew by 4.4%;
— Game Developer Collective: 70% of developers are not confident in the sustainability of the GAAS model.

A weekly recap with a brief overview of the mentioned reports is available here.

— Modern Times Group, a Sweden-based game developer, has acquired AutoAttack Games, a US-based PC & console game developer, through its subsidiary, Ninja Kiwi.
— Red Rover Interactive, a Norway-based game developer, has secured $15m in a Series A round led by Krafton.
— Avalon Corp, a US-based web3 game developer, has raised $10m in a funding round led by BITKRAFT Ventures and Hashed.

Those three deals, along with six others, were covered in our latest Weekly News Digest.

The InvestGame team is pleased to release the Q1'24 Global Gaming Deals Report, offering insights into the gaming industry's current market dynamics.

Despite minimal growth, significant layoffs, and volatile stock prices, seed investment remains stable, showcasing resilience amidst market volatility. Series A and subsequent rounds have declined, with a notable shift in investor focus from mobile to PC & Console platforms.

The challenging state of the equity markets continues. High-interest rates and poor performance of the publicly listed players have narrowed exit opportunities and ultimately impacted Late-stage appetite.

Meanwhile, major public companies focus on share buybacks and are not rushing to make large M&As, with many announcing layoffs and restructuring programs. Midcap M&As will likely grow amid present investor-friendly terms, PE's increased interest in the space, and improvement in gaming stocks throughout the year.

We anticipate a potential stabilization in dealmaking activity, which may exceed pre-pandemic levels. This report highlights a period of strategic recalibration, focusing on capital efficiency and sustainable growth amidst ongoing economic pressures.

We thank MY.GAMES and Taylor Wessing for their support of the Report.