Does Blizzard own Candy Crush?

Does Blizzard Own Candy Crush?

In recent years, the gaming industry has seen a significant shift towards mobile gaming, with the rise of popular titles such as Candy Crush Saga. As a result, the question of who owns this beloved game has become increasingly relevant. In this article, we will explore the answer to this question and delve into the world of Candy Crush.

What is Candy Crush?

Candy Crush Saga is a popular mobile puzzle game developed by King Digital Entertainment, a British video game development company. The game was first released in 2012 and has since become one of the most successful mobile games of all time, with over 1 billion downloads worldwide.

Who Owns Candy Crush?

The answer to this question is no, Blizzard Entertainment does not own Candy Crush. However, Blizzard Entertainment did purchase King Digital Entertainment, the developer of Candy Crush Saga, in 2015 for $5.9 billion. At the time of the acquisition, King Digital Entertainment was a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

History of King Digital Entertainment

King Digital Entertainment was founded in 2003 by Richard Barnwell and Mark Skinner. The company developed its first game, Card Wars, in 2006, but it wasn’t until the release of Candy Crush Saga in 2012 that the company gained mainstream success. The game’s popularity led to the creation of a franchise, with several sequels and spin-offs released over the years.

Blizzard Entertainment and King Digital Entertainment

In 2015, Activision Blizzard, the parent company of Blizzard Entertainment, acquired King Digital Entertainment for $5.9 billion. At the time, the acquisition was seen as a strategic move by Activision Blizzard to expand its presence in the mobile gaming market. Blizzard Entertainment, known for its successful franchises such as World of Warcraft and StarCraft, has continued to operate King Digital Entertainment as a subsidiary, with King’s teams remaining in London and developing new games.

Comparison of Blizzard and King’s Games

While Blizzard Entertainment is known for its massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) and real-time strategy games, King Digital Entertainment has focused on developing puzzle games and casual games for mobile devices. Here are some key differences between Blizzard’s and King’s games:

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Blizzard Entertainment does not own Candy Crush, it is the parent company of King Digital Entertainment, the developer of the game. The acquisition of King Digital Entertainment was a strategic move by Activision Blizzard to expand its presence in the mobile gaming market. Despite the difference in genres and platforms, both Blizzard and King’s games have found success with gamers around the world.