Online gaming company Nazara Technologies has made a significant leap in its international expansion by acquiring UK-based PC and console game publisher Curve Games for Rs 247 crore (£21.7 million). This acquisition stands as Nazara’s largest international endeavor to date, reflecting its ambition to enhance its footprint in the global gaming arena.
Strategic Acquisition and Portfolio Expansion
The acquisition grants Nazara complete ownership of Curve, which boasts a robust portfolio of indie games, including popular titles such as Human Fall Flat, For the King, and Lawn Mowing Simulator. Collectively, these games have amassed over 100 million downloads worldwide, showcasing their appeal and market potential.
With this strategic move, Nazara aims to diversify its offerings beyond mobile gaming and tap into the more lucrative PC and console segments, a market valued at over 0 billion globally. CEO Nitish Mittersain emphasized the company’s commitment to focusing on core gaming businesses, stating, “Today, Nazara is in the gaming, esports, and adtech business. But going forward, a lot of our capital allocation is going to happen on core gaming businesses in terms of gaming studios, gaming IPs, and publishing.”
Mittersain also highlighted the burgeoning opportunity within India, noting that many Indian developers are creating games for PC platforms. He believes that with Curve, Nazara can serve as a vital bridge for these developers to publish their games on a global scale.
Financial Performance and Future Prospects
Curve Games reported impressive financials, with revenues of Rs 263.5 crore and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of Rs 114.4 crore in 2024. This strong performance underscores the potential for growth and profitability within the newly acquired entity.
Stuart Dinsey, executive chairman of Curve Games, expressed enthusiasm about joining the Nazara family, stating, “Nazara’s ecosystem, access to emerging markets, and long-term orientation make them a strong strategic partner. We are aligned in our vision of building a leading global indie publishing platform, and we look forward to the next phase of growth together.”
Future Growth Plans
Earlier this year, Nazara announced plans to allocate Rs 800–1,000 crore for inorganic growth, specifically targeting global gaming studios with established intellectual properties, strong teams, and annual revenues around Rs 100 crore. This acquisition follows Nazara’s earlier purchase of UK-based gaming studio Fusebox Games for Rs 228 crore in an all-cash deal.
Other notable acquisitions by Nazara include Moonshine Technology, Comic Con India, marketing firm Publishme, Singapore-based events company Branded, Turkish esports firm Ninja Global, and Paper Boat Apps, the creator of Kiddopia. As of 2:29 pm, Nazara shares were trading at Rs 1,292.8 on the BSE, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s strategic direction.
