In an unexpected turn of events, news has been released that the creator of the iconic mobile game Angry Birds, Rovio Entertainment, may soon be sold to iconic video game company SEGA for one billion dollars in a deal announced earlier this week.
The two companies have had a long history, as SEGA was one of the first to sign a licensing agreement with Rovio in 2013. At the time, SEGA was in need of a fresh mobile title, and Angry Birds fit the bill perfectly. Little did either company know, Angry Birds would go on to become a worldwide phenomenon, reaching over two billion downloads.
Since then, Rovio has released a variety of titles, but none have quite achieved the level of success that Angry Birds has had. This makes SEGA’s offer a unique opportunity for Rovio to tap into a potentially massive new fanbase.
While the sale has not yet been officially confirmed, it appears that Rovio’s CEO Kati Levoranta is open to the idea of selling the company. Levoranta has stated that the move is an effort to refocus the company’s efforts and improve its return on the stock market.
For SEGA, the move is a chance to gain control of one of the biggest mobile game franchises in the world. This could potentially mean big changes in the way that Angry Birds is presented, as SEGA could opt to add its own flair to the titles. It could possibly even be tied in to some of SEGA’s classic franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog.
Only time will tell if the deal goes through, but if it does, it could mean a big change in the world of mobile gaming. SEGA hasn’t been the most active company in the mobile market lately, so a deal like this could potentially give them a big boost. And if it does result in some higher quality Angry Birds games, then it is sure to be a welcome change for fans.