Scopely vs Zynga

Scopely News: MONOPOLY GO! Monster Mash season with KPop Demon Hunters and Ghostbusters collaboration

Scopely's news page highlights the launch of MONOPOLY GO!'s new Monster Mash season featuring collaborations with KPop Demon Hunters and Ghostbusters, along with other updates including a Pokémon-ESA partnership and Star Trek Fleet Command contest.

Scopely News: Pokémon partnership with ESA, Monster Hunter Now anniversary, and more

Scopely's news page now features multiple press mentions including a new Pokémon partnership with the European Space Agency sending Pikachu to the ISS, Monster Hunter Now's three-year anniversary, and a Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators recognition.

Brian Ward asked to remain as Savvy Games Group advisor

Brian Ward, the founding CEO of Savvy Games Group, has been asked to stay on as an advisor following his departure earlier this month. Ward, who led the Saudi gaming entity for five years, stated on LinkedIn that the company is entering a new phase of transformational growth and is no longer a startup. He expressed his willingness to continue supporting Savvy's mandate and Saudi Arabia's national games strategy, though it remains unclear if he has accepted the advisory role. During his tenure, Ward oversaw Savvy's $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely in 2023 and expanded the company's global games and esports portfolio. PocketGamer.biz has reached out to Savvy for confirmation on the advisory position.

• Brian Ward has been asked to remain as an advisor to Savvy Games Group after stepping down as CEO.
• Ward served as Savvy's founding CEO for five years, starting in 2021.
• Savvy Games Group's $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely occurred in 2023 under Ward's leadership.

Trick or Treat: Zynga Reveals Massive 2026 Halloween Event Schedule

Spooky season is upon us and Zynga is bringing the thrills with a massive lineup of Halloween updates across our game portfolio. From high-stakes football tactics to haunted fairways and spooky dragon realms, here’s what’s in store for players this October.

Zynga's Mark Pincus reveals near-miss $400m Supercell acquisition

Mark Pincus, founder of Zynga, revealed on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast that his company nearly acquired Supercell for $400 million in 2012. A handshake agreement was reached with Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen, but Zynga's board blocked the deal after the earlier $200 million acquisition of OMGPOP and its Draw Something game proved unsuccessful. Pincus noted that Supercell posted $500 million in net profit the following year, highlighting the lost opportunity. He also reflected on other decisions, including a $550 million acquisition approved by the board under his successor (which matches Zynga's 2014 purchase of NaturalMotion), and his later $800 million stock buyback program. Pincus expressed regret over not pushing harder for the deal, criticizing the lack of vision in the Western gaming industry.

• Mark Pincus stated he had a handshake agreement to buy Supercell for $400 million in 2012.
• Zynga's board blocked the Supercell acquisition in 2012.
• Supercell posted $500 million in net profit the year following the proposed deal.

IAB PlayFronts 2026: Gaming Advertising at an Inflection Point

The 2026 IAB PlayFronts event, held on September 17th, 2026, showcased the growing maturity and investment potential of gaming as an advertising channel. Key themes included the shift from experimental to investable, the unique cross-platform attention ecosystem, the importance of player-first creative, and the ability to drive the full marketing funnel. With 212.3 million US gamers, platforms highlighted programmatic inventory, rewarded video, and third-party measurement. The industry's main hurdle is systemic - educating brands and agencies on gaming's nuances - not consumer adoption.

• The IAB PlayFronts event took place on September 17, 2026.
• 212.3 million Americans play games regularly, with 67% of 5-90-year-olds playing at least an hour per week.
• Presenters highlighted LIVAD's virtual product placements, Overwolf's In-Game Audience Discovery Map, and Zynga's Ads+ 'Game Path Optimization'.