Microsoft confirms it tried to acquire one of the largest mobile game developers on the planet before setting its sights on Activision Blizzard King.
Prior to setting its sights on Activision Blizzard, Microsoft attempted to acquire Zynga, one of the largest mobile game developers on the planet. This revelation emerged during the second day of the preliminary injunction hearing on the FTC’s attempt at blocking Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Founded in 2007, Zynga was one of the ten largest mobile game developers on the planet as of 2021, when it reported $2.8 billion in revenue. Shortly thereafter, Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive acquired Zynga to the tune of $12.7 billion. The cash-and-stock deal, completed in May 2022, is still the largest acquisition in the gaming industry’s history, although Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard buyout would exceed it 5.5 times over if approved.
During a June 23 hearing in front of a San Francisco federal court, Xbox Head Phil Spencer revealed Microsoft tried buying Zynga before the California-based company was ultimately acquired by Take-Two.
