Scopely, one of the largest privately held mobile-first video game companies, and Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) announced an agreement for Scopely to acquire GSN Games, a division of Game Show Network, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SPE.
GSN Games operates a portfolio of free-to-play mobile and online games that includes “Solitaire TriPeaks” and “Bingo Bash,” among other titles.
The purchase price for the transaction is approximately $1 billion, half of which will be paid in cash and the remainder in preferred equity, providing SPE with a minority interest in Scopely and the opportunity to benefit from the expected growth of the company and the mobile games industry. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
The acquisition will add a complementary games portfolio to the Scopely business as well as a talented team of game designers to the Scopely ecosystem. Today, GSN Games has approximately 400 employees globally and its games continue to entertain millions of players around the world. GSN Chief Executive Officer Mark Feldman will continue to oversee the GSN Games business at Scopely, conditioned upon closing.
Scopely is one of the fastest-growing private mobile games companies today, having tripled revenues from 2018 to 2020. The company has one of the most diverse mobile games portfolios in the industry with success across both casual and core games—from social player vs. player (PVP) to midcore role-playing games (RPG) to massively multiplayer online (MMO) strategy—and is known for its ability to build loyal and engaged player communities with a dedication to long-term, player-first experiences.
“The GSN Games organization is an exceptional team, and we are excited to see what more we can accomplish together,” said Tim O’Brien, chief revenue officer and board member of Scopely. “We hope to take what is already a strong business and accelerate it through our publishing and technology infrastructure, unlocking even more value.
“Through this acquisition, we will continue to cultivate a loyal player base as part of our mission to inspire play, every day. The GSN Games business has proven itself as both incredibly durable and consistently profitable, due to the dynamic experiences the team continues to build for players around the world. We look forward to a great future together.”
Ravi Ahuja, chairman, Global Television Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment Corporate Development, added, “GSN Games has been a great business for Sony the last 14 years, and we are proud of the experiences the team continues to deliver for players around the world. In meeting the Scopely team, we knew we found the right organization to support and accelerate the business. We are confident they will take GSN Games to new heights and SPE is pleased to be a minority shareholder in Scopely as a result of this transaction.”
“I am immensely proud of the entire GSN Games team for building and enhancing our portfolio of games while delivering strong and growing profits,” said Mark Feldman, chief executive officer of GSN. “Over the past four years, and in the teeth of a global pandemic, GSN Games has undertaken huge tech and product improvements to deliver on our commitment to providing our players with phenomenal game experiences. I am delighted that GSN Games will now be part of Scopely’s dynamic global mobile games business.”
In 2007, the GSN brand expanded into online games, creating and acquiring games to build its portfolio. Since then, GSN Games has brought both Solitaire and Bingo brands to life online and on mobile.
