Kwalee, a leading global games publisher and developer, has announced that it has taken a stake in French mobile game studio 8SEC. The deal, worth €1.5 million, will also give Kwalee the publishing rights for a new game project and the 8SEC back catalogue. Kwalee’s CFO Matthew Farrow and VP of Mobile Publishing John Wright will join the board of 8SEC, which has offices in Paris and Lyon.
8SEC is known for its hybrid casual games, which combine easy-to-play mechanics with long-term engagement and monetization. The studio has published over 90 mobile games, achieving over 50 million game downloads with titles such as Trivia.io, Hero Squad and Idle Army. By partnering with Kwalee, 8SEC will benefit from the expertise and resources of a company that has launched several hit games, such as Draw It, Bake It and Teacher Simulator. Kwalee’s CEO David Darling CBE said that 8SEC aligns perfectly with Kwalee’s mission of making the most fun games for the world’s players.
French Game Publisher Partnerships
Kwalee Invested '8SEC,' will Publish 8SEC Back Catalogue Titles
Trend Themes
1. Hybrid Casual Games - The rise of hybrid casual games presents disruptive innovation opportunities for game developers looking to combine easy-to-play mechanics with long-term engagement and monetization.
2. Mobile Game Publishing - The partnership between Kwalee and 8SEC highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in the mobile game publishing industry, as companies look to collaborate and harness each other's expertise and resources.
3. Global Game Market - The investment by Kwalee in 8SEC reflects the growing trend of global game market expansion, creating opportunities for strategic partnerships and tapping into new player demographics.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - The gaming industry can benefit from disruptive innovation opportunities by capitalizing on the rise of hybrid casual games and leveraging partnerships for publishing and development collaborations.
2. Mobile App Development - The mobile app development industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by embracing unique game concepts that combine easy-to-play mechanics with engaging long-term experiences that capture user attention and drive monetization.
3. Entertainment Technology - The entertainment technology industry can seize disruptive innovation opportunities by investing in the global game market, fostering international partnerships, and leveraging the expertise and resources of established game publishers and developers.