Video game industry scores record $85B in 1,159 deals in 2021

Dealmaking activity in the game industry reached $85 billion in total deal value across 1,159 transactions in 2021, up almost 3x as compared to 2020, per Drake Star Partners’ report. 

In 2021, the gaming industry reached $38 billion across 299 deals in mergers and acquisitions, while VCs and strategics invested an unprecedented $13 billion in private companies through 718 deals. 

Mobile was the biggest segment in M&A deal value in 2021, with $15.5 billion across 77 deals. 

Embracer Group became the key acquirer of 2021 with 22 deals, followed by Tencent with 16 deals. 

Notable M&A Deals of 2021

– Keywords Studios acquired Climax Studios for up to $60 million

– ByteDance acquired Moonton at a $4 billion valuation

– Netmarble acquired SpinX Games for $2.19 billion

– Electronic Arts completed the $2.1 billion acquisition of Glu Mobile

– Electronic Arts acquired Playdemic for $1.4 billion

– Scopely acquired GSN Games for $1 billion

– Embracer Group acquired Easybrain for $640 million

– Playtka acquired Reworks for $400 million

– MTG acquired PlaySimple for $360 million

– Take-Two acquired Nordeus for up to $378 million

– Voodoo acquired Beach Bum for $275 million

– Stillfront Group acquired Jawaker for $205 million

– Zynga acquired Chartboost for $250 million

– Skillz acquired Aarki for $150 million

Notable Transactions of 2021

– Jam City raised $350 million

– Voodoo raised $314.5 million 

– Dream Games raised $155 million

– Homa Games raised  $50 million

– Dream Games raised $50 million

2021 was also a year of high-profile IPOs, direct listings, and SPACs, with Roblox, AppLovin, Playtika, Huuuge, PlayStudios, Krafton, Unity, ironSource, Skillz, and more.