Modern Times Group (MTG) acquires Raid: Shadow Legends creator Plarium for $620 million

Story Highlights

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.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and excitement about the recent acquisition of Plarium by Modern Times Group (MTG). Having spent countless hours immersed in the world of Raid: Shadow Legends, I’ve witnessed firsthand the depth and richness of Plarium’s games. The fact that they generate nearly 90% of their revenue is a testament to their popularity and quality.

The gaming and entertainment company based in Sweden, Modern Times Group (MTG), has purchased Plarium, the creators of the widely-played turn-based action RPG game “Raid: Shadow Legends.” This transaction, worth approximately $620 million, was made with Australian gaming titan Aristocrat.

On November 12, 2024, it was officially announced that the acquisition had taken place. This announcement strengthens MTG’s presence within the mid-core gaming sector, as well as adding a thriving mobile game development studio to their expanding collection.

Plarium was part of Aristocrat after being acquired by the company in 2017

Initially, Plarium was taken over by Aristocrat back in 2017, when the gaming conglomerate purchased it for an impressive sum of $500 million. Now, under MTG’s recent acquisition, Plarium is poised to grow even more with its new owners, showcasing its mobile gaming proficiency across a broader collection. For MTG, which already owns Innogames, the creators of Bloons TD 6, Ninja Kiwi, and Hutch Games, this acquisition presents an opportunity to enlarge and enhance their portfolio.

Modern Times Group (MTG) acquires Raid: Shadow Legends creator Plarium for $620 million

Plarium is a worldwide creator of mobile games, famous for titles such as RAID: Shadow Legends, Mech Arena, Vikings, and Merge Gardens. These popular games account for almost all of Plarium’s earnings, bringing in approximately 90%. Last year, the company raked in an impressive $613 million in revenue with a profit of $137 million.

MTG intends to leverage Plarium’s proficiencies in operational management, monetization, and advertising to enhance its entire collection of games. By utilizing Plarium’s platforms such as PlariumPlay for PC gaming and Plarium GoGame for user recruitment, MTG anticipates these resources will fuel substantial growth, potentially doubling its annual earnings to approximately $277 million.

The deal is priced at $620 million, but $20 million of this amount isn’t due until 2026. Additionally, there’s a performance-based payment structure worth $30 million linked to RAID: Shadow Legends’ earnings in 2025. MTG anticipates reducing the overall cost by using cash flow generated from Q4 2024 up until the expected closing date in early 2025.

2024-11-12 09:11

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