The world of online gaming has seen its fair share of iconic titles, from World of Warcraft to Overwatch, and from Call of Duty to Candy Crush. Yes, you read that right – Candy Crush! The match-three puzzle game that has taken the mobile gaming world by storm. But have you ever wondered, does Blizzard own Candy Crush? In this article, we’ll delve into the ownership structure of Candy Crush and its relationship with Blizzard, one of the most renowned game developers in the industry.
The Origin Of Candy Crush
Candy Crush was created by King Digital Entertainment, a UK-based video game developer founded in 2003. The company started out as a small operation, developing games for Facebook and other social media platforms. However, it wasn’t until the release of Candy Crush Saga in 2012 that King Digital Entertainment truly hit the jackpot. The game’s addictive gameplay, colorful graphics, and social features resonated with players worldwide, catapulting King to the top of the mobile gaming charts.
The Acquisition Of King Digital Entertainment
In November 2015, Activision Blizzard, the parent company of Blizzard Entertainment, announced its acquisition of King Digital Entertainment for a whopping $5.9 billion. This deal marked one of the largest acquisitions in the gaming industry, solidifying Activision Blizzard’s position as a leading player in the market.
This acquisition did not mean that Blizzard, the renowned developer of World of Warcraft and StarCraft, would take over the development of Candy Crush. Instead, King Digital Entertainment would continue to operate as an independent unit within Activision Blizzard, with its own management structure and game development pipeline.
The Relationship Between Blizzard And Candy Crush
So, does Blizzard own Candy Crush? Technically, yes – Blizzard’s parent company, Activision Blizzard, owns King Digital Entertainment, which in turn owns the intellectual property rights to Candy Crush. However, Blizzard itself does not have direct involvement in the development or operations of Candy Crush.
Instead, Blizzard focuses on developing its own iconic titles, such as World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo, while King Digital Entertainment continues to focus on developing mobile games like Candy Crush. This allows both companies to maintain their respective areas of expertise and continue to innovate within their respective niches.
Why The Acquisition Made Sense
Activision Blizzard’s acquisition of King Digital Entertainment was a strategic move to expand its reach into the lucrative mobile gaming market. At the time, King Digital Entertainment was one of the largest mobile game developers in the world, with Candy Crush generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year.
For Activision Blizzard, the acquisition provided a foothold in the mobile market, allowing the company to diversify its revenue streams and tap into the vast user base of mobile gamers. In return, King Digital Entertainment gained access to Activision Blizzard’s vast resources, including its expertise in game development, marketing, and distribution.
The Impact Of The Acquisition
The acquisition of King Digital Entertainment has had a significant impact on the gaming industry as a whole. Here are a few key takeaways:
Growth Of Mobile Gaming
The acquisition highlighted the growing importance of mobile gaming in the industry. With the rise of smartphones and tablets, mobile gaming has become a major player in the market, with revenues surpassing those of traditional console and PC gaming.
Expansion Of Activision Blizzard’s Portfolio
The acquisition expanded Activision Blizzard’s portfolio of games, adding mobile titles like Candy Crush to its existing lineup of console and PC games. This has allowed the company to diversify its revenue streams and appeal to a broader audience.
Consolidation In The Gaming Industry
The acquisition is part of a larger trend of consolidation in the gaming industry, where larger companies are acquiring smaller studios and publishers to expand their reach and portfolio of games. This trend is likely to continue, as companies look to stay competitive in an increasingly crowded market.
What The Future Holds
So, what does the future hold for Candy Crush and Blizzard? While Blizzard will continue to focus on developing its own iconic titles, King Digital Entertainment will continue to develop mobile games like Candy Crush.
In fact, King Digital Entertainment has already announced plans to release new mobile games, including a Call of Duty-themed mobile game developed in partnership with Activision Blizzard. This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter in the relationship between the two companies, as they look to bring their respective areas of expertise together to create innovative new gaming experiences.
In conclusion, while Blizzard does not own Candy Crush in the classical sense, its parent company, Activision Blizzard, does own King Digital Entertainment, the developer of Candy Crush. This acquisition has had a significant impact on the gaming industry, highlighting the growth of mobile gaming and the trend of consolidation in the market. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how Blizzard, King Digital Entertainment, and other gaming companies innovate and adapt to changing market trends.
Does Blizzard Own Candy Crush?
Candy Crush is actually owned by King Digital Entertainment, a UK-based video game developer. King Digital Entertainment was acquired by Activision Blizzard, the company behind popular games like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty, in 2016 for $5.9 billion. Since then, King Digital Entertainment has continued to operate as a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, with its own management team and headquarters.
Blizzard Entertainment, which is also a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, is responsible for developing and publishing PC games like World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo. It does not have direct involvement with the development or operation of Candy Crush, which is handled by King Digital Entertainment.
What Is The History Of Candy Crush?
Candy Crush was first released as a Facebook game in 2012 by King Digital Entertainment. It quickly gained popularity and became one of the most popular Facebook games of all time, with millions of daily active users. In 2013, King Digital Entertainment listed Candy Crush Saga on the stock exchange, raising $500 million in its initial public offering (IPO). Since then, the game has been released on mobile devices and has become a global phenomenon, with hundreds of millions of downloads worldwide.
Today, Candy Crush is one of the highest-grossing mobile games of all time, with millions of players worldwide. The game’s success has spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs, including Candy Crush Soda Saga, Candy Crush Jelly Saga, and Candy Crush Friends Saga. The franchise has also expanded into other areas, including merchandise, television shows, and even theme park attractions.
How Did Activision Blizzard Acquire King Digital Entertainment?
In November 2015, Activision Blizzard announced its plans to acquire King Digital Entertainment, the developer of Candy Crush, for $5.9 billion. The acquisition was seen as a strategic move by Activision Blizzard to expand its presence in the mobile gaming market, which was growing rapidly at the time. The deal was finalized in February 2016, and King Digital Entertainment became a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard.
The acquisition was a significant one for Activision Blizzard, as it marked the company’s entry into the casual gaming market. It also provided King Digital Entertainment with the resources and expertise needed to expand its reach and develop new games. Today, King Digital Entertainment continues to operate as a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, with its own management team and headquarters.
What Other Games Does King Digital Entertainment Develop?
King Digital Entertainment is best known for developing the Candy Crush franchise, but it also develops and publishes a wide range of other casual games. Some of its other popular titles include Bubble Witch Saga, Pet Rescue Saga, and Farm Heroes Saga. King Digital Entertainment has a large portfolio of games, with over 200 titles across mobile, PC, and Facebook platforms.
In addition to its own games, King Digital Entertainment also develops games for third-party brands, such as Disney and Mattel. The company has a strong focus on innovation and is constantly developing new games and features to keep its players engaged. With a large team of developers and designers, King Digital Entertainment is well-positioned to continue creating hit games in the future.
How Does Blizzard Entertainment Contribute To Activision Blizzard’s Profits?
Blizzard Entertainment is a significant contributor to Activision Blizzard’s profits, thanks to the success of its PC games like World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo. These games generate revenue through subscription fees, game sales, and in-game purchases. In addition, Blizzard Entertainment also generates revenue from e-sports and licensing agreements.
Blizzard Entertainment’s games are known for their high quality and engaging gameplay, which has helped to build a loyal player base. The company is constantly updating and expanding its games, which helps to keep players engaged and attract new ones. As a result, Blizzard Entertainment has become a reliable source of profits for Activision Blizzard, and its contributions are expected to continue in the future.
Will Activision Blizzard Continue To Acquire Other Game Developers?
Activision Blizzard has a history of acquiring game developers and publishers to expand its reach and capabilities. In addition to King Digital Entertainment, the company has acquired other studios like Bungie, the developer of Destiny, and Vicarious Visions, the developer of Skylanders. It’s likely that Activision Blizzard will continue to pursue strategic acquisitions in the future to strengthen its position in the gaming market.
The gaming industry is highly competitive, and acquisitions can be an effective way for companies to gain access to new talent, technology, and intellectual properties. Activision Blizzard has the resources and expertise to integrate acquired studios and games into its operations, which enables it to drive growth and profitability. As the gaming market continues to evolve, it’s likely that Activision Blizzard will continue to be an active player in the M&A space.