SEGA Offered $1 Billion to Acquire Angry Birds Creator Rovio

SEGA, the Japanese video game company, has offered to acquire Rovio, the Finnish creators of the popular game Angry Birds, for a whopping $1 billion. The original Angry Birds game, launched in 2009, was the first mobile game to be downloaded 1 billion times and paved the way for mobile gaming as we know it today.

Over the years, Rovio has released several sequels and spin-off games, expanding the Angry Birds franchise to include movies, TV shows, and merchandise. However, despite its success, the company reported a 48% drop in its quarterly profit year-on-year.

SEGA, on the other hand, has been in the gaming industry for over 60 years and has a vast portfolio of games, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, and Yakuza. The company has expressed interest in using Rovio's mobile gaming platform, Beacon, to improve its games and create new titles.

Rovio's expertise in live service-mobile game operation, which spans over 20 years, would be also a valuable asset for SEGA. The gaming market is forecast to grow to $272bn by 2030 and the mobile gaming is projected to increase to 56%. This presents an opportunity for SEGA to expand its reach and tap into the growing mobile gaming market.

The acquisition offer is still under consideration, and Rovio has not yet made any official statement on the matter. However, if the deal goes through, it could be a significant shift in the gaming industry and a massive win for SEGA.