Wikipedia

Voodoo (company): Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →‎top: Fixing links to disambiguation pages and other minor cleanup tasks, replaced: Apps → Apps
Restored revision 1244029876 by Sr1jj (talk): No real need for unsourced info; Game World Observer is not a reliable source either
 
(21 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 7:
| logo = Voodoo Logo.svg
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]<br/>, [[Applicationmobile software|Appsapp]]s
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2013}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Alexandre Yazdi|Laurent Ritter}}
Line 14:
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|class=nowrap|Alexandre Yazdi ([[CEO]])|Gabriel Rivaud ([[VP]], games)}}
| products = ''[[Hole.io]]''<br/>, ''[[BeReal]]'', ''Block Jam 3D'', ''Mob Control''
| owner = {{Unbulleted list|class=nowrap|[[Goldman Sachs]] (minority stake)|[[Tencent]] (minority stake)|[[Groupe Bruxelles Lambert]] (16%)}}
| num_employees = 750<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobile video game: French unicorn Voodoo has drawn a line under hypercasual |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/hightech/jeu-video-mobile-la-licorne-francaise-voodoo-a-tire-un-trait-sur-lhypercasual-2045360 |website=Les Echos |access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref>
| num_employees = 335<ref name="PGbiz: Tibo" />
| num_employees_year = 20212023
| website = {{URL|https://www.voodoo.io/|voodoo.io}}
| revenue = {{Increase}} $570 million (2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobile video game: French unicorn Voodoo has drawn a line under hypercasual |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/hightech/jeu-video-mobile-la-licorne-francaise-voodoo-a-tire-un-trait-sur-lhypercasual-2045360 |website=Les Echos |access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref>
}}
 
'''Voodoo SAS''' (also referred to as '''Voodoo.io''') is a French [[video game developer]] and [[Video game publisher|publisher]] based in [[Paris]]. The company was founded in 2013 by Alexandre Yazdi and Laurent Ritter. Voodoo's games, began predominantly as [[free-to-play]] "[[hyper-casual game]]s", which they helped popularize. Since then, the company has shifted to developing and publishing casual games and apps. Its games have been collectively downloaded 5&nbsp;[[1,000,000,000|billion]] times as of May 2021. By February 2022, their apps surpassed 6&nbsp;billion installs.<ref name="PGbiz: 6 billion" /> The company has been criticised for [[Video game clone|cloning]] other games.
 
== History ==
Line 32 ⟶ 33:
By July 2020, [[Tencent]] was looking to acquire a minority stake in Voodoo, which was still majority-owned by Yazdi and Ritter.<ref name="SeekingAlpha: Tencent" /> Tencent acquired a minority stake to undisclosed terms in August that year. At this time, Voodoo was valued at {{US$|1.4&nbsp;billion|long=no}}.<ref name="TechCrunch: Tencent" /> According to Yazdi, this deal would help Voodoo to extend their games into the Asia-Pacific market.<ref name="Gamasutra: Tencent" /> Voodoo subsequently opened offices in Singapore and Japan later that month, headed by Julian Corbett and Ben Fox, respectively.<ref name="GIbiz: Singapore/Japan opening" /> In total in 2020, Voodoo saw revenues of {{€|380&nbsp;million}}, up from {{€|1&nbsp;million}} in 2016.<ref name="Les Echos: Turnover" /> The company announced an investment in Istanbul-based developer Fabrika Games in September 2020,<ref name="PGbiz: Fabrika Games" /> and acquired Parisian developer OHM Games in December. OHM Games had developed four games for Voodoo in 2020, which together generated 260&nbsp;million downloads.<ref name="PGbiz: OHM Games" /> Voodoo further bought BidShake, a [[Tel Aviv]] company developing a marketing automation platform, in June 2021.<ref name="GIbiz: BidShake" /> [[Groupe Bruxelles Lambert]] acquired a 16% stake in Voodoo for {{€|266&nbsp;million}} in August 2021, valuing Voodoo at {{€|1.7&nbsp;billion}}.<ref name="Tech.eu: GBL" />
 
The company transitioned from “hyper-casual” to “hybrid casual” in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Voodoo identifies hundreds of hit titles with GameAnalytics |url=https://gameanalytics.com/case-studies/voodoo/ |website=Game Analytics |access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref>
Voodoo acquired Beach Bum in September for a reported price of {{US$|250–300&nbsp;million|long=no}}.<ref name="GIbiz: Beach Bum" /><ref name="Reuters: Beach Bum" /> The Israeli company, the developer of video game adaptations of [[Board game|board]] and [[card game]]s, had an annual revenue of {{US$|70&nbsp;million|long=no}} at the time of acquisition.<ref name="Globes: Beach Bum" /> In 2023, Voodoo reported {{US$|570&nbsp;million|long=no}} in revenue, mostly from [[in-app purchase]]s. Hypercasual games accounted for 25% of this revenue, of which ''Mob Control'' and ''Block Jam'' grossed over {{US$|100&nbsp;million|long=no}}.<ref name="Les Echos: Unicorn" />▼
 
▲Voodoo acquired Beach Bum in September for a reported price of {{US$|250–300&nbsp;million|long=no}}.<ref name="GIbiz: Beach Bum" /><ref name="Reuters: Beach Bum" /> The Israeli company, the developer of video game adaptations of [[Board game|board]] and [[card game]]s, had an annual revenue of {{US$|70&nbsp;million|long=no}} at the time of acquisition.<ref name="Globes: Beach Bum" /> In 2023, Voodoo reported {{US$|570&nbsp;million|long=no}} in revenue, mostly from [[in-app purchase]]s. Hypercasual games accounted for only 25% of this revenue,. ofHybrid whichcasual games, ''Mob Control'' and ''Block Jam'' grossed over {{US$|100&nbsp;million|long=no}}.<ref name="Les Echos: Unicorn"nearly />
{{US$|100&nbsp;million|long=no}} each.<ref name="Les Echos: Unicorn" />
 
== Games ==
The majority of Voodoo's games arewere [[free-to-play]] "[[hyper-casual game]]s" developed for the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] mobile [[operating systems]].<ref name="Gamasutra: Goldman Sachs" /> Games released by the company in this genre include ''Helix Jump'', ''Baseball Boy'', ''Snake vs Block'', ''[[Hole.io]]'', ''Aquapark.io'', ''Purple Diver'', ''Crowd City'', and ''Paper.io''.<ref name="VentureBeat: Gumbug" /><ref name="Financial Times: hyper-casual" /> Voodoo games were downloaded 2&nbsp;[[1,000,000,000|billion]] times by April 2019,<ref name="PGbiz: two billion" /> 3.7&nbsp;billion downloads by May 2020,<ref name="PGbiz: Approach" /> and 5&nbsp;billion by May 2021.<ref name="PGbiz: five billion" /> In December 2019, Voodoo games had 2.6&nbsp;billion downloads, 300&nbsp;million [[monthly active users]] (MAUs), and 1&nbsp;billion individual players, making Voodoo the leading mobile games publisher.<ref name="VentureBeat: Gumbug" /> ''Helix Jump'', developed by H8games, became Voodoo's most successful game by number of downloads.<ref name="Financial Times: hyper-casual" /><ref name="PGbiz: Helix Jump" /> It was the most-downloaded game of 2018 with 334&nbsp;million installs, amassing more than 500&nbsp;million by August 2020.<ref name="Financial Times: hyper-casual" /><ref name="VentureBeat: Helix Jump" />
Voodoo also operates the Blitz app, a gaming platform allowing players to compete in various mobile games and participate in tournaments with cash prizes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Skillz files suit against Voodoo as part of its ongoing bot battle |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/skillz-files-suit-against-voodoo-as-part-of-its-ongoing-bot-battle/ |website=Venture Beat |access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref> Paper.io 2, released in 2018, has been downloaded 266 million times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voodoo, spécialiste du jeu mobile, nouvelle licorne française grâce au géant Tencent |url=https://www.clubic.com/pro/actualite-10412-voodoo-specialiste-du-jeu-mobile-nouvelle-licorne-francaise-grace-au-geant-tencent.html |website=Clubic |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>
 
Voodoo launched Mob Control in 2021. The project was released as a hyper-casual game but development shifted post-release to hybrid-casual. Also in 2021, Voodoo published Collect Em All developed by Tarboosh Games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mob Control: hybridising a hypercasual hit |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mob-control-hybridising-a-hypercasual-hit/ |website=Pocket Gamer |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Voodoo acquires Tarboosh Games after partnering on past projects |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/voodoo-acquires-tarboosh-games-after-partnering-on-past-projects/ |website=Pocket Gamer |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref> Voodoo published Block Jam 3D, a block-matching puzzle game, in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tech company known for repetitive ads on YouTube purchases BeReal for $500M |url=https://cybernews.com/news/tech-company-buys-bereal-for-millions/ |website=Cyber News |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>
 
===Publishing===
 
Expanding on the prototyping model of its internal developers, Voodoo began publishing games by external studios. External developers can submit games through an online platform for Voodoo to evaluate. The publisher has worked with over 2,000 such studios, which account for 75% of Voodoo's releases. TheIf companya financesgame selectmeets studiosthe andcriteria, supportsit themis duringpublished theby prototypingVoodoo phase,which receivingsupports aproduct [[Royaltyimprovements, payment|royalty]]user shareacquisition, inand returnmonetization.<ref name="Les Echos: Turnover" /> ▼
 
Voodoo bought BidShake in June 2021, a Tel Aviv company developing a marketing automation platform offering cross-channel advertising solutions for mobile games and apps.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voodoo acquires marketing automation platform Bidshake |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/voodoo-acquires-marketing-automation-platform-bidshake |website=Games Industry |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>
▲External developers can submit games through an online platform for Voodoo to evaluate. The publisher has worked with over 2,000 such studios, which account for 75% of Voodoo's releases. The company finances select studios and supports them during the prototyping phase, receiving a [[Royalty payment|royalty]] share in return.<ref name="Les Echos: Turnover" />
 
=== Apps ===
 
Outside of games, Voodoo developed the [[social media]] platform Wizz in 2020. As of August 2021, the platform has 1&nbsp;million MAUs in the United States.<ref name="Les Echos: Turnover" /> The company also acquired WeMoms in 2021. WeMoms is a social media platform for women and mothers.<ref>{{cite web |title=These social networks for women are the opposite of Instagram |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/start-up/ecosysteme/ces-reseaux-sociaux-pour-femmes-a-loppose-dinstagram-2087388 |website=Les Echos |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>
 
In June 2024, Voodoo acquired the photo-sharing app [[BeReal]] for €500 million. BeReal’s main user base is in the US, France, and Japan. The app has had 50 million users since 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Photo-sharing app BeReal acquired by Voodoo for €500mn |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2c1d3fa8-e3a8-48e3-b252-9b4059876412 |website=FT |access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref>
Line 113 ⟶ 124:
<ref name="PGbiz: OHM Games">{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/75369/voodoo-acquires-paris-based-studio-ohm-games/ |title=Voodoo acquires Paris-based studio OHM Games |first=Kayleigh |last=Partleton |date=21 December 2020 |website=[[Pocket Gamer.biz]] |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=21 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221171411/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/75369/voodoo-acquires-paris-based-studio-ohm-games/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
<!--<ref name="PGbiz: Tibo">{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/interview/76327/voodoo-tibo-vincent-ducimetire/ |title="Don't always assume that you need expensive and professional training to enter the industry" |date=18 April 2021 |website=[[Pocket Gamer.biz]] |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-date=29 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429083507/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/interview/76327/voodoo-tibo-vincent-ducimetire/ |url-status=live}}</ref> -->
 
<ref name="PGbiz: Top 50 2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/list/68809/top-50-mobile-game-developers-of-2018/entry/20/ |title=Top 50 Mobile Game Developers of 2018 – #20: Voodoo |date=21 August 2018 |website=[[Pocket Gamer.biz]] |access-date=29 September 2021 |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927173142/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/list/68809/top-50-mobile-game-developers-of-2018/entry/20/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_(company)"