Disney Interactive Studios has announced that they’ve acquired Playdom, a social network games developer, for $563 million dollars alongside a “performance-linked earn-out of up to $200 million”.
Why in the world would Disney spend so much money on a developer you’ve likely never heard of. Who’s created games may have never heard of?
Because social network gaming is HUGE now and microtransactions can make companies loads of money online, as has been proven by extremely popular games like Farmville. A game that everyone including your mother, friends and grandmother play everyday.
What’s most fascinating about this acquisition is the fact that Playdom is only two years old, and has made titles that include: Social City, Sorority Life and Market Street.
Although YOU may not have heard of them, over 42 million people play their games actively every month. And a large number are most likely kids and females, two audiences Disney certainly would like to cater to in the online social network game space.
Via Joystiq