Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers sector
Strategic acquirers, private equity (buyout funds and growth funds) firms, and valuation benchmarks for Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers
1.1 - About Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers sector
Companies in the Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers category design, launch, and operate games for iOS and Android, combining content creation with data-driven monetization. They build franchises, optimize user acquisition, and run live operations to maximize retention and lifetime value. These firms provide global distribution, localization, and cross-promotions, making them key strategic buyers in mobile gaming for assets that expand genre coverage, geographic reach, and monetization depth.
Typical offerings include free-to-play titles with sophisticated in-app purchase systems and rewarded video ad stacks, supported by analytics dashboards and player telemetry to guide live operations. Many provide cross-platform publishing, cloud save, and multiplayer or social services, plus in-house user acquisition and ad mediation to control cost of installs and yield. Studios invest in content pipelines, A/B testing, economy design, and app store optimization, underpinned by backend infrastructure for events, progression, and personalization.
They serve mass-market mobile players seeking casual, midcore, and social experiences, as well as brand advertisers and IP owners leveraging in-app inventory and licensed content. Outcomes include larger active user bases, improved retention and ARPDAU, diversified revenue through IAP and ads, and more efficient user acquisition via data-driven targeting. Their scale and live-ops expertise reduce hit volatility and extend product lifecycles.
2. Buyers in the Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers sector
2.1 Top strategic acquirers of Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers companies
PLAYSTUDIOS
- Description: Provider of casual casino mobile games, including slot machines, bingo and blackjack, and of the playAWARDS loyalty platform that links a network of brand partners to a broad community of players who can earn real-world rewards.
- Key Products:
- Slot Machines mobile games: Mobile slot titles delivering casual casino gameplay, frequent spins and progressive features to replicate real slot experiences for entertainment on smartphones
- Bingo mobile games: Digital bingo apps offering live number draws, interactive cards and social play so users compete in classic bingo sessions on mobile
- Blackjack mobile games: Smartphone blackjack games simulating casino table action with strategic card decisions, betting variations and realistic dealer interactions for immersive solo play
- playAWARDS loyalty platform: Loyalty ecosystem integrating brand partners with game players, issuing tangible real-world rewards in exchange for in-app engagement and continued gameplay.
- Company type: Private company
- Employees: ●●●●●
- Total funding raised: $●●●m
- Backers: ●●●●●●●●●●
- Acquisitions: ●●
2.2 - Strategic buyer groups for Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers sector
M&A buyer group 1: Mobile Game Developers
Niantic
- Type: N/A
- Employees: ●●●●●
- Description: Provider of augmented reality software and location-based mobile gaming platforms that encourage real-world exploration, delivering AR experiences, development tools and services that enrich physical-world interaction for consumers and enterprises.
- Key Products:
- Peridot Beyond: Mobile AR pet experience enabling users to care for virtual “Dots”, play cooperatively and explore outdoor environments with friends for shared real-world engagement
- Scaniverse: 3D scanning application that lets users capture, share and digitally document real-world scenes and objects, aiding preservation and community storytelling after events such as wildfires
- Morpheus: Text-driven method that transforms Gaussian-Splat captured 3D scenes, allowing independent geometry and color edits, consistent multi-view stylization and user-aligned outputs
- 3D Scanning & Localization Platform: Enterprise technology that instantly positions real-world objects inside mixed-reality environments like Sphere without QR codes, streamlining remote spatial collaboration.
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●● companies3. Investors and private equity firms in Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers sector
3.1 - Buyout funds in the Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers sector
2.2 - Strategic buyer groups for Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers sector
4 - Top valuation comps for Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers companies
4.2 - Public trading comparable groups for Mobile Gaming Studios and Publishers sector
Valuation benchmark group 1: Mobile and Browser Game Publishers
Tencent
- Enterprise value: $●●●m
- Market Cap: $●●●m
- EV/Revenue: ●.●x
- EV/EBITDA: ●●.●x
- Description: Provider of internet services and portals, offering cloud computing, fintech, social networks, music, e-commerce, mobile gaming, and online advertising services, with significant investments in various tech startups, focusing on user value and technological innovation.
- Key Products:
- Cloud Computing: Scalable cloud solutions for businesses of all sizes
- Fintech Services: Financial technology solutions including payment systems
- Social Networks: Platforms for social interactions and media sharing
- Mobile Gaming: Extensive portfolio of mobile games and online multiplayer games
- E-commerce Solutions: Comprehensive e-commerce services for online retail