- MTG plans to leverage Plarium's strengths in live ops, monetization, and marketing.
- Platforms like PlariumPlay and GoGame also to be expanded to benefit its wider portfolio.
- The deal includes a $20 million deferred payment and a performance-based earn-out.
Sweden-based gaming and entertainment company Modern Times Group (MTG) has acquired Plarium, the developer behind the popular turn-based action RPG Raid: Shadow Legends. This was a $620 million deal with Australian gaming giant Aristocrat.
The acquisition was announced on November 12, 2024, via the official announcement. As per the same, this acquisition is said to bolster MTG’s position in the mid-core gaming market and add a successful mobile game studio to its growing portfolio.
Plarium was part of Aristocrat after being acquired by the company in 2017
Originally, Plarium became part of Aristocrat in 2017 when the gaming giant acquired it for $500 million. Now, with MTG’s acquisition, Plarium is set to continue expanding under new ownership, bringing its expertise in mobile gaming to a wider portfolio. MTG, which also owns Innogames, Bloons TD 6 creator Ninja Kiwi, and Hutch Games, sees this acquisition as a way to expand and improve its portfolio.
Plarium is a global mobile game developer with well-known titles like RAID: Shadow Legends, Mech Arena, Vikings, and Merge Gardens. These games generate nearly 90% of Plarium’s revenue, and in the past year alone, Plarium brought in $613 million in revenue with a $137 million profit.
MTG plans to use Plarium’s strengths in live ops, monetization, and marketing to boost its entire game lineup. With access to Plarium’s platforms, like PlariumPlay for PC and Plarium GoGame for user acquisition, MTG expects these additions to drive strong growth, doubling its annual profit to around $277 million.
The transaction comes with a purchase price of $620 million, though $20 million of this is deferred until 2026, alongside a performance-based earn-out structure of $30 million based on RAID: Shadow Legends revenues for 2025. MTG expects to lower the final cost by offsetting it with cash flow generated between Q4 2024 and the closing date, which should be in early 2025.
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