In a significant development for the video gaming industry, it has been reported that Sega is close to acquiring Angry Birds developer Rovio Entertainment for a massive $1 billion. The deal is expected to be concluded early next week, barring any hiccups in the discussions between the two companies.

While neither Sega nor Rovio has made an official announcement about the acquisition, reports suggest that the deal is all but done. Rovio was previously in talks with Israeli mobile company Playtika for a potential acquisition worth $800 million, but negotiations ended without any agreement last month.

If the acquisition is successful, it would mark the latest in a series of purchases by Sega in recent years. The company has previously acquired the likes of Company of Heroes developer Relic Entertainment, Two Point Campus developer Two Point Studios, and Persona developer Atlus.

The video game industry has witnessed a flurry of acquisitions in recent times, with Microsoft’s proposed merger with Activision Blizzard and Sony’s merger with Bungie being notable examples. The mobile gaming space is also growing rapidly, with Activision Blizzard’s Candy Crush franchise being a major asset to Microsoft’s portfolio. Similarly, Sony created a mobile division last year to develop games based on new and existing IPs, while Take-Two Interactive acquired mobile developer Zynga in 2022.

Angry Birds was first launched in 2009 and has since become one of the most popular mobile games ever. The game’s popularity has led to several sequels and spin-offs, including the recently released Rovio Classics: Angry Birds, which includes the original game with all chapters and extras at the time.

The acquisition of Rovio Entertainment by Sega could have a significant impact on the video gaming industry, particularly in the mobile gaming space. With both companies having a wealth of experience and expertise in the industry, the deal could lead to exciting new developments and opportunities for gamers around the world.

Lastly, with the deal expected to be concluded soon, it remains to be seen what new and exciting developments will emerge in the world of mobile gaming in the coming years.

Stay tuned to theplaynet.com for the latest gaming updates.