The parent company of Rockstar Games has decided to make a major push into the mobile gaming arena.
As detailed in a press release shared today, Take-Two Interactive has begun the process of acquiring Zynga, a well-known developer behind mobile and social media site games such as FarmVille, for $12.7 billion. While the deal has not been fully completed yet, Take-Two’s takeover of Zynga is expected to turn the company into one of the world’s biggest mobile game publishers.
“We are thrilled to announce our transformative transaction with Zynga, which significantly diversifies our business and establishes our leadership position in mobile, the fastest growing segment of the interactive entertainment industry,” said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two.
“This strategic combination brings together our best-in-class console and PC franchises, with a market-leading, diversified mobile publishing platform that has a rich history of innovation and creativity. Zynga also has a highly talented and deeply experienced team, and we look forward to welcoming them into the Take-Two family in the coming months.”
Described as a “social game developer,” Zynga was founded in April 2007 and released one of its most popular and long-running titles, FarmVille, in June 2009. Its catalog of mobile games also includes Dawn of Titans and Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells.
Source: Take-Two Interactive