Mobile gaming witnessed one of its biggest acquisition deals when Saudi Arabia’s Scopley announced this week that it was buying augmented reality gaming company Niantic for $3.5 billion. The deal includes ownership of successful titles Pokemon Go and Pikmin Bloom, as well as the use and sale of its innovative AR technology.
In addition to acquiring Niantic’s games, the deal includes the company’s non-gaming apps Campfire and Wayfarer. For Scopely and Saudi Arabia, Niantic represents the future of mobile gaming, one that relies on innovation and augmented reality. The deal is the 10th biggest acquisition in gaming history.
Here, we look at the other nine deals and assess how successful they were for the gaming industry.
9. Sony acquires Bungie, 2022
The studio behind the Halo franchise and Destiny was bought by Sony Interactive Entertainment for $3.7 billion in 2022. After being acquired by Microsoft in 2000, Bungie had become independent again in 2007. Despite Bungie now being owned by Sony, Microsoft still holds the exclusive rights to the Halo games series.
Plan: Sony would help Bungie to hire and retain developers to expand the Destiny franchise, Bungie would help Sony make more live-service games.
Result: The acquisition has not gone completely to plan. Bungie, which had hoped it would not lose any of its 1,600 employees, now has a workforce half that size, with 750 employees. The Destiny franchise has also waned in popularity and relevance.
8. ByteDance acquires Moonton, 2021
Chinese tech giant ByteDance, owner of TikTok and CapCut, purchased gaming developer Moonton in 2021 for $4 billion. Founded in 2014, the Chinese mobile game developer has produced titles such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Watcher of Realms.
Plan: ByteDance grows its mobile gaming investments.
Result: Moonton’s acquisition was first considered by Tencent, but it was beaten by ByteDance. Moonton has only grown since the acquisition. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, its most successful game, is popular around the world and is part of prestigious tournaments, including the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
7. Savvy Games Group acquires Scopely, 2023
A subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Savvy Games Group acquired Scopely in 2023 for $4.9 billion. The developer of Monopoly Go, Star Trek Field Command and WWE Champions is one of the biggest developers in mobile gaming.
Plan: Expand the kingdom’s gaming investment portfolio.
Result: Scopely, with the support of Savvy, has grown and produces more games than it did before the acquisition. Because of this, it was able to purchase Niantic and potentially corner the market for augmented-reality innovation in mobile gaming.
6. Activision Blizzard acquires King, 2016
The Swedish studio behind the global phenomenon mobile game Candy Crush was acquired by Activision Blizzard in 2016 for $5.9 billion. King has been a dominant presence in mobile gaming with its many spin-offs of Candy Crush, as well as branching out with titles such as Farm Heroes Super Saga.
Plan: Expand Activision Blizzard’s user count and acquire King’s more than 500 million users.
Result: While Activision Blizzard has made use of the deal, King has contracted and shut some of its global offices, laying off employees.
5. Microsoft acquires ZeniMax Media, 2021
The holding company that owns gaming studios Bethesda, id Software, Arkane studios and MachineGames was acquired by Microsoft in 2021 for $8.1 billion. ZeniMax Media owns prestigious gaming titles such as Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Dishonored and Wolfenstein.
Plan: Expand Xbox’s library and give the console more first-day exclusives.
Result: Xbox has benefited from some exclusivity on these games, but it has become clear that it would benefit more from sharing these titles with Sony and reaping the sales rewards.
4. Tencent acquires Supercell, 2016
Finnish studio Supercell, developer of Clash of Clans, sold a controlling stake of 81 per cent to China’s Tencent in 2016 for $8.6 billion. The developer also produced popular titles such as Clash Royale, Brawl Stars and Squad Busters.
Plan: Invest in Clash of Clans while growing Tencent’s gaming portfolio.
Result: Clash of Clans remains one of the most profitable mobile games, making more than $1 billion in yearly revenue. It is one of the few mobile games to have surpassed 500 million downloads on iOS and Android.
3. Take-Two Interactive acquires Zynga, 2022
The developer behind Facebook game Farmville and mobile game Words with Friends was acquired by Take-Two Interactive, the owner of Grand Theft Auto’s Rockstar, for $12.7 billion in 2022. Zynga has also produced titles such as Cafe World, Looney Tunes Dash and Game of Thrones Legends.
Plan: Portfolio expansion deal for profit.
Result: Take-Two’s acquisition of Zynga is primarily to grow the company’s mobile game output. According to Take-Two, approximately 10 per cent of the world’s population play a Zynga game, showing just how spread out and successful the company is.
2. Activision acquires Vivendi Games, 2008
The holding company that owned Sierra Entertainment, Universal Interactive and Blizzard Entertainment, Vivendi Games, was acquired by Activision in 2008 for $18.9 billion, approximately $27.6 billion adjusted for inflation.
Plan: Activision takes ownership of multiple successful game series, including Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.
Result: Activision has since become Activision Blizzard, under which global hits such as the Call of Duty, Warcraft and Crash Bandicoot are housed. The company took in more than $7 billion in revenue in 2022, making it one of the most profitable.
1. Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard, 2023
In 2023, after clearing many hurdles, Activision Blizzard was sold to Microsoft for $75.4 billion, making it the biggest video game company acquisition. Much like it did with ZeniMax in 2021, Microsoft expanded its portfolio for the Xbox with the purchase of Activision Blizzard.
Plan: Create compelling exclusive games for the Xbox while sharing other games with Sony
Result: As video game titles become harder to create, successful ones become a valuable commodity for consoles to own. Sony has titles such as The Last of Us, Uncharted and Ghost of Tsushima. Xbox will seek to create a new line-up with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
FIXTURES
UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
heading
Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.
A number of nations, including Iran's major rival Saudi Arabia, last week cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of funding terrorism, charges it denies.
The land border with Saudi Arabia, through which 40% of Qatar's food comes, has been closed.
Meanwhile, mediators Kuwait said that Qatar was ready to listen to the "qualms" of its neighbours.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
More on animal trafficking
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
