Investment news – digest from May 11 to 17

AppLovin marketing company has announced the acquisition of the developer and publisher of mobile games Machine Zone, known for the strategic game Game of War.

This is AppLovin’s fourth gaming deal since the beginning of 2020. Bloomberg writes that the value of the transaction was about $500 million, which is 10% of the peak value of the company, estimated at $5 billion in 2016.

2. Keywords raises $122 million to buy gaming outsourcers
Keywords Studios Group plans to issue new promotions with the aim of raising $122 million for future acquisitions of gaming outsourcers affected by COVID-19.

The group has been actively absorbing outsourcers before. In recent years, it has implemented 44 acquisition transactions.

3. Blitz Studios has raised $20 million to expand its esports app SleeperBlitz Studios, the San Francisco-based developer of the esports messenger Sleeper, has raised $20 million in a Series B funding round.

The lead investor was the Andreessen Horowitz Foundation. Other investors include Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, retired NBA player Baron Davis, and NFL player Juju Smith-Schuster. The total amount of attracted financing of the company is $27 million since its foundation in 2014.

4. Esports entertainment startup BLAST Premier raised €12.5 million for further business development
The Danish-based organizer of esports tournaments BLAST Premir raised €12.5 million during the latest funding round.

The funds raised will be used to accelerate the company’s growth and expand the BLAST brand. The round was led by Rocket Software co-founder Johan Gedda and Vækstfonden, an investment company funded by the Danish state and the European Investment Bank. The round was also attended by investors who participated in previous rounds: Creandum, Heartcore and Maki.

5. Twitter acquires the provider of interactive mobile advertising services CrossInstallTwitter has decided to acquire the mobile advertising company CrossInstall.

As part of this deal, all 70 CrossInstall employees from five international offices will join Twitter. The remaining details of the transaction were not disclosed.

6. Riot Games raised $10 million in Social Impact Fund

Los Angeles-based game developer Riot Games has announced that it has raised more than $10 million in its Social Impact Fund, a third-party support fund.

To date, he has supported 50 non-profit organizations in 15 countries. In addition, $8 million was allocated in the form of grants and funding.

7. Streaming service Parsec raised $7 million
An American developer of P2P streaming applications and remote work programs has raised $7 million during a Series A funding round.

Investments will be used to expand operational activities, improve streaming gameplay and refine the remote development service.

8. The gaming platform based on blockchain technologies Spielworks attracted seed investmentsSpielworks, a Berlin-based developer of a blockchain-based gaming platform, has attracted more than $1 million in investments from Volksbank Mittweida and FinLab EOS VC.

The funds raised will be used for the further development of the Wombat gaming platform.

9. Sumo Digital acquired the British studio Lab42

The British gaming company Sumo Digital has acquired Lab42, a gaming outsourcer working closely with SEGA.

As part of the deal, Sumo Digital got the Lab42 staff of 29 employees, who are currently engaged in six projects, and the rights to the World Shooker Tour brand. The purchase price is not called.

10. Ziva Dynamics has attracted $7 million of seed investmentsZiva Dynamics, a developer of a tool for creating realistic 3D characters, has closed a seed round of funding for $ 7 million.

In total, $10.4 million has been invested in Ziva Dynamics for 5 years of its existence. The co-founder’s venture fund became the leader of the last round Mail.Ru Dmitry Grishin‘s Group Grishin Robotics along with Toyota AI Ventures and New Horizons Fund.