Playtech Acquires Funtactix

Playtech has boosted its efforts to grow its casual games market presence with the acquisition of Funtactix, say reports circulating worldwide. Films and TV-based games publisher Funtactix was snapped up as a “central pillar” of Playtech’s long-term strategy. Playtech has already acquired Yoyo Games, having created the Plamee development studio two years ago.

Funtactix is to operate as part of Playtech, and will continue working in partnership with a number of entertainment property owners, whilst working on titles developed both internally and externally under the ‘FTX Games’ publishing brand. Playtech said further details about its future plans for Funtactix will be unveiled shortly. Playtech’s chief operating officer Shimon Akad said: “The Playtech casual games division has a clear strategy and direction and we’re very confident it will continue to go from strength-to-strength”. He said the acquisition would help the company offer a “complete suite of content and software to players, designers and third parties including some of the largest studios and brands in the world.”

It’s thought Playtech has acquired the firm as part of its plans to secure high-profile movie licences and gain further ground in the mobile gaming sector. Funtaxtix has produced games based on productions including Mission: Impossible and The Hunger Games in the past, and its new owner is hoping to derive as much value as possible from the company’s links with various Hollywood powerhouses. The mobile-gaming industry is worth $36.8 billion, with Playtech eager to obtain a more sizeable fraction of the field.

Funtactix was launched a decade ago and is home to gaming experts from names like Sony, Microsoft and LucasArts as well as experienced players from the likes of MGM. Recent productions include Real Boxing 2: Rocky. Playtech will be eager to see its new acquisition drive significant progress in a remarkably competitive mobile gaming market.