Skip to main content

What’s next for ‘Angry Birds’ maker Rovio? Potentially an IPO

Rovio is expected to go public in the next two weeks

It’s been six years since we first told you about the plans that Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds, had to go public, but now it seems as though action is on the horizon. A report from The Information in June indicated that the Finnish game maker and animation studio “could list on the stock exchange in the future.” And now, that rumor has proven true, as reports note that Rovio is set to launch an IPO on the Helsinki Nasdaq in two weeks, but the end of September.

Although The Information initially reported that Tencent could be considering a bid of up to $3 billion for Rovio, that doesn’t look to be the current strategy. Of course, it would’ve made sense — over the course of the last year, Tencent has made a number of acquisitions totaling a cool $19 billion, and its new holdings include companies like Supercell Oy, yet another Finnish game creator which created the Clash of Clans franchise.

Recommended Videos

And while Rovio is a lot less prolific, Angry Birds has done remarkably well. After all, the game not only has worldwide appeal, but has also inspired a whole line of paraphernalia, and even a movie. As such, the IPO looks to value the company at around $1 billion.

While that’s half the original $2 billion price the company was hoping for, Rovio has fallen upon tougher times lately. Last year was the first time in quite some time that the company made a profit, thanks to the success of the Angry Birds movie, which seemed in turn to improve game sales. But prior to that, earnings at Rovio had taken a tumble, jobs were cut, and divestments were made.

Rovio was initially coy about the potential for an IPO. “We and our shareholders regularly assess different alternatives to further develop Rovio,” the company said in an emailed statement back in June to Reuters. “A stock exchange listing at some point in the future could be possible in order to support the continued strong growth of Rovio and its strategic targets. However, Rovio and its owners have not made any decisions regarding a possible IPO.”

That tune has clearly changed, however, so if you’re not risk adverse these days, there may soon be a new startup for you to invest in.

Update: Rovio is slated to launch its IPO in the next two weeks. 

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
After a month with the Switch 2, I can’t fully recommend Nintendo’s new console
A Nintendo Switch 2 playing Mario Kart World appears on a table.

We're still firmly in the honeymoon period with the Switch 2 right now. Most of us are still exploring Mario Kart World's open world for secrets or wondering if Welcome Tour was worth the $10 price tag. With Donkey Kong Bananza arriving just in time to beef up the exclusive catalogue with a new 3D platformer, I found myself conflicted with my time with the console so far. I don't mean personally; I am in love with this piece of tech. What is trickier is when others ask me whether or not I think they should pick one up.

One month into the system's life, there's a lot to love already, but not without some caveats. Consoles only get more enticing as they age, so adopting one early essentially means you're investing at its least appealing time. There are plenty of people I would recommend a Switch 2 with no conditions, but I would say the majority of gamers are better off waiting.

Read more
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 preload guide: release date, file size, and more
A skater grinds on a waterslide in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4.

It almost didn't happen, but Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 managed to materialize as the next big video game remake. Just like the last bundle, this refreshed look at the seminal skateboarding titles will bring back all those mid-2000s feelings of doing impossible grinds and catching insane air while rocking out to a killer soundtrack. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 aims to be a faithful reimagining of the originals, but reworks the latter game to fit the format of the former, plus adds some cool new features like online multiplayer with full cross-platform support. No doubt you've got your shoes laced up and skateboard all tuned up, but have you preloaded the game? Here's what you need to know about Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4's release date, file size, preload options, and more.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 release date

Read more
I finally gave Roblox an honest shot and I totally get it now
A laptop with a Roblox wallpaper.

Even as someone whose job it is to cover games, it is impossible not to have a few blind spots. I can hold my own in a discussion about League of Legends, know the history and general pulse in the Destiny community, and keep up with the latest goings on in Fortnite out of curiosity, but I couldn't tell you almost anything about Roblox before this week. I knew it was both a game and a creation engine that was quietly one of the most popular games in the world, but that's about it. As a 33-year-old man, I ignorantly assumed I was out of the game's demographic without ever giving it a shot.

I spent this past week righting that wrong to see for myself if Roblox really is something just for the younger generation. At the very least, I wanted to see if I could understand the appeal of the game even if it wasn't for me. I have come away not only fully understanding why Roblox is the cultural phenomenon it is, but it feels like the next evolution of one of my most formative eras in gaming.

Read more