King Digital Entertainment
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| King Digital Entertainment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | King Digital Entertainment |
| Type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Riccardo Zacconi, Sebastian Knutsson, Lars Markgren, Thomas Hartwig, Patrik Stymne |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Parent | Activision Blizzard |
King Digital Entertainment is a leading developer of social media and mobile games, known for its popular titles such as Candy Crush Saga, Pet Rescue Saga, and Farm Heroes Saga. The company was founded in 2003 by Riccardo Zacconi, Sebastian Knutsson, Lars Markgren, Thomas Hartwig, and Patrik Stymne in Stockholm, Sweden, and later moved its headquarters to London, United Kingdom. King Digital Entertainment has become a major player in the gaming industry, with its games being played by millions of people worldwide, including fans of Facebook, Apple, and Google.
● History
King Digital Entertainment was founded in 2003 by a group of entrepreneurs, including Riccardo Zacconi, who served as the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) until 2016, when he was succeeded by Humam Sakhnini. The company started as a developer of online games and later shifted its focus to mobile games with the release of Candy Crush Saga in 2012, which became a huge success and helped the company grow rapidly, with partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon, and Samsung. King Digital Entertainment went public in 2014 with an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and was later acquired by Activision Blizzard in 2016 for $5.9 billion, joining the ranks of other major gaming companies like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Tencent Holdings.
● Products
King Digital Entertainment is known for its popular match-three puzzle games, including Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga, and Candy Crush Jelly Saga, which have been downloaded billions of times on Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The company has also developed other successful games, such as Pet Rescue Saga, Farm Heroes Saga, and Bubble Witch Saga, which have been played by millions of people worldwide, including fans of Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars. King Digital Entertainment's games are available on various platforms, including Facebook, iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, and have been integrated with popular services like Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
● Acquisitions_and_Mergers
King Digital Entertainment has made several acquisitions and partnerships over the years to expand its portfolio of games and technologies, including the acquisition of Nonstop Games in 2014 and the partnership with Oculus VR to develop virtual reality (VR) games. The company was also acquired by Activision Blizzard in 2016, which has helped King Digital Entertainment to expand its reach and resources, with access to Activision's and Blizzard Entertainment's vast libraries of games, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and StarCraft. King Digital Entertainment has also partnered with other major gaming companies, such as Epic Games, Valve Corporation, and Riot Games, to develop new games and technologies.
● Financial_Performance
King Digital Entertainment has reported significant revenue growth over the years, driven by the success of its games, including Candy Crush Saga and Pet Rescue Saga. The company's revenue grew from $1.9 billion in 2013 to $4.4 billion in 2015, with a net income of $568 million, according to reports from Bloomberg, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. King Digital Entertainment's financial performance has been strong, with the company generating significant cash flow from its games, which has helped it to invest in new game development, marketing, and acquisitions, with partnerships with Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal.
● Controversies_and_Criticisms
King Digital Entertainment has faced several controversies and criticisms over the years, including concerns over the company's use of in-app purchases and microtransactions in its games, which have been criticized by some players and regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission. The company has also faced lawsuits and criticism over its use of trademarks and copyrights, including a lawsuit with Studios, which was settled out of court, with involvement from Courts of England and Wales and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). King Digital Entertainment has also been criticized for its handling of player data and privacy, with concerns raised by Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
● Corporate_Affairs
King Digital Entertainment is a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, which is one of the largest gaming companies in the world, with a portfolio of popular games, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and StarCraft. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and has offices in several countries, including United States, Sweden, and China, with partnerships with Intel, NVIDIA, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). King Digital Entertainment is led by a team of experienced executives, including Humam Sakhnini, who serves as the company's CEO, and has a strong focus on game development, marketing, and player engagement, with involvement from Game Developers Conference (GDC) and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). Category:Video game companies