With the transmission of the game “Survive Til 25”, 2024 investment games and integration and purchase data revealed recovery and improvement, according to the market analyst company Digital Development Department (DDM).
In order to compare 2024 to 2023 properly, it is important to remember that in Q4 2023, Microsoft has acquired Activision Blizzard for $ 68.7 billion, which is the largest game of games in history with more than 5.4 times its closest housing from the acquisition of Zynga, which costs 12.7 billion dollar.
The removal of the Microsoft acquisition as an outdoor, 2024 years old was a stronger of $ 17.5 billion in 985 in joint investments and M&S (+39 % in value and +16 % of size compared to $ 2023 billion via 848 investments and M & AS). This is especially clear by anatomy of 2024 in the entirety.
DDM is the latest party to present a gaming deals report in 2024. Other data came from Konvoy Ventures, Drake Star Partners and Quantum Tech Partners. One unique thing in DDM is that it contains 2025 forecasts.
“Although the game industry has succeeded in“ Survive Til ”25, the DDM look is still optimistic with caution. Mitchell Reefis, director of DDM Games, said,“ The belt guidance is definitely not ended as DDM expects the game industry to suffer from more review Investment, in a statement.
The total industry investments in the game industry amounted to 2024 $ 7.7 billion in 812 investments (+68 % of the value and +18 % in size over 2023 dollars on 691 investments), which shows that the volume belongs to a record level in 2022 of 1001 investments.
The total of 2024 M & A 9.9 billion dollar deals through 173 transactions, which amount to 22 % and +10 % in size compared to $ 2023 billion in 157 transactions (except for Microsoft Access of Activision Blizzard 68.7 billion dollars as a level).
2024 new box ads amounted to $ 58.9 billion of new capital that was raised across 132 funds (+25 % of the value and 7 % in size compared to 2023 totaling $ 47.2 billion through 123 boxes)
Although 6.0 billion dollars from Q4 via 236 investments and M&S was a quarter in 2024, the high -purchase and purchase values in Q4 are disturbed in investment values:
DDM said that Q4 2024 investments have witnessed a significant decrease in value – 906.2 million dollars in 201 investments (35 % in value and +4 % in size compared to Q3 $ 1.4 billion and 193 investments) represents the lowest value since Q3 2018 ($ 650.6 million). The size remained strong as the Q4 +7 % was higher than the two -year -old average of 187 investments. Investment values have been reduced from investments in the early stage, which represents the majority (66 %)
Meanwhile, Q4 2024 M & AS has witnessed a significant increase in the value -5.0 billion dollars in 35 transactions (+572 % in value and 30 % in size compared to 751.1 million dollars of Q3 via 50 transactions), allowing Q4 to exceed the common value Q1 -q3 M & AS from $ 4.8 billion; This was achieved by EQT groups, $ 2.7 billion in keyword studios and a $ 2.0 billion PlayTika acquisition of SuperPlay (94 % of the total value of integration and purchases).
While investment games slowed with the progress of the year, 2025 looks to construction on more stable land.
Although investors are more cautious, the major gaming giants and publishers including Haspro, Krafton, My.games, Nazara Technologies say that all of them have announced cash reserves for investment in games, DDM said.
In the second half of 2024, the total of integration and purchases reached $ 5.8 billion in 85 transactions (+43 % in value and -3 % in size compared to H1 2024 $ 4.1 billion through 88 transactions). In 2025, it has already been achieved in a row by acquiring 1.2 billion dollars for Easy Brain, MTG acquisition of $ 820.0 million from watermelon, looking forward to Megadeal this year.
In 2024, private stock companies cut some large gaming studios including keyword studios, jagex and kahoot. DDM said that if interest rates decrease, private stock companies will continue to integrate and acquire large games.
“DDM expects the studio and financing to grow slowly in 2025, where many companies end their financial year in March and reduce their Games Vinegar Vineyard 2026/2027 and strategic investments.” “In addition, DDM expects to see a slight increase in activity throughout 2025 with a rise in artificial intelligence and Blockchain.”
Investments
The total Q4 investments of 2024 reached 906.2 million dollars through 201 investments (-35 % in value and +4 % in size compared to $ 1.4 billion and $ 193) to register the lowest value since Q3 2018 amounting to 650.6 million dollars; While investment values were reduced from investments in the early stage representing the majority (66 %), the size remained strong as the Q4 +7 % was higher than the two -year semester of the two years than 187 investments.
Total game developer Q4 2024 reached 679.5 million dollars in 134 investments (39 % of the value and -4 % in size compared to $ 1.1 billion of Q3 via 140 investments).
The total blockchain investments in the Q4 game industry reached 2024, worth $ 179.6 million in 54 investments (70 % of the value and -17 % in size compared to Q3 67.7 million dollars and 65 investments) while the total of artificial intelligence investments in the game industry reached $ 120.7 million Via 26 investments (39 % in 39 % in value and +30 % in size compared to Q3 $ 197.2 million in 20 investments).
The highest part of the value of the mobile phone (43 %), followed by the control/computer unit (26 %), MCG* (14 %), technology/others (10 %), AR/VR (3 %), Esports (3 %) , The browser (2 %).
Using historical averages to estimate unannounced investment values, Q4 2024 amounted to $ 1.3 billion [+/- $120.0 million].
M & A deals
A total of $ 524 and AS $ 5.0 billion through 35 transactions (+566 % of the value and 30 % in size compared to $ 751.1 million from Q3 via 50 transactions), exceeding the total value of the M & A compact amount of $ 4.8 billion from Q1 -q3; The M & AS of Q4 AS was supported by EQT Groups and acquired $ 2.7 billion for keyword studios and B Playtika acquisition of SuperPlay at a value of $ 2.0 billion (94 % of the total value of merger and purchases).
The total Q4 2024 Games developer M & AS 2.0 billion dollars through 27 transactions (+41 % in value and -47 % in size compared to $ 1.4 billion in 32 transactions).
The highest M&A section remained by value by Tech/Other (60 %), followed by a mobile phone (40 %), electronic sports (<1 %), and Console/PC (<1 %).
Europe and Asia were the most active areas through the value and volume of integration and volumes, as the total of Europe amounted to $ 2.7 billion through 13 transactions (57 % of the value and 37 % of the size) and Asia reached a total of $ 2.0 billion through 4 transactions (40 % of the value and 11 % of size).
Exit (M & A and IPOS)
Q4 2024 EXITS (M & AS + IPO) reached $ 5.1 billion through 38 transactions ( + 33 % in value and -30 % in size compared to Q3 2024 at a value of $ 3.8 billion and 54 in size); Although Q4 has recorded the lowest exit volume since 36 Q2 2023, Q4 achieved the highest exit value in 2024.
The total of 424 subscriptions, subscription subscriptions, subscriptions reached 15.9 million dollars in the total market generalities through three subscription subscriptions (99 % of the value and -25 % in size compared to $ 3.0 billion from Q3 via four of the initial subscriptions).
Poland continues to provide the game industry with a fixed rate of subscription subscriptions in a quarter with 3 in Q4 2024 (100 % size); All of them are computer games developers, including Dark Point Games ($ 9.2 million for the market), G-Devs (market value of $ 1.8 million), and Madnetic games ($ 4.9 million per market).
The highest exits (M&A + subscriptions) were driven by the value of the sector by technology/other (60 %), followed by the mobile phone (40 %), the control unit/computer (<1 %), and electronic sports (<1 %).
Fund ads
DDM tracks ads from investment capital companies and funds on the new capital they raise, which is ultimately published in investments in their reports.
The total funds of the new Fund from Q4 2024 reached $ 9.8 billion through 36 boxes (-21 % in value and +33 % in size compared to Q3 2024 at a value of $ 12.4 billion through 27 boxes); This financing was driven by three collective boxes of more than $ 5.0 billion (51 % of the capital collected): Founders Fund ($ 3.0 billion), coat management ($ 1.0 billion), and General Catalyst ($ 1.0 billion).
Artificial intelligence and Blockchain continue to obtain interest from investment capital companies, as the total money targeting artificial intelligence reached $ 2.2 billion in 12 boxes (-77 % 13 boxes (+13 % in value and +44 % in size compared to 1.5 billion Dollars of Q3 via nine boxes).
The new fund ads focused only on early companies dominated by a volume of 75 % of the fund ads in the fourth quarter 2024; However, the financing distribution of value was more balanced, as early stage funds raised 3.4 billion dollars across 27 (35 % value), and the mid -stage mid -stage funds that collect $ 3.1 billion on 3 money (31 % at value), and the stage -fetus funds that $ 3.3 billion in six money (34 % at value).
*McG Games (MCG) are games that play online. It includes MMOS, Mobas, Battle Royale and Metavers.
In reporting values, DDM includes only deals when closing investment or acquisition, not simply the advertisement. This methodology is constantly used with data for 17 years and ensures that DDM measures actual activity instead of potential activity.
In addition, with Spacs, DDM said it is the value of the investment is what was raised in the deal, not the company’s evaluation after that. This corresponds to how investment data tracks, as DDM tracks the money collected in the transaction, separately, its effect on the total value of the company.
The exclusion of the declared deals may lead to a great difference between the total DDM and other companies, but the methodology gives the clearest amount of money published in the last quarter, which provides a valuable consistency of data for companies that evaluate and acquire gaming industry investments. .
