RealNetworks GameHouse is purchasing Backstage Technologies. The games division wants to improve its position in the social gaming sphere, and is bringing in Backstage’s experience with Facebook games such as Scratch and Win, Vinyl City and Family Feud.
“As we transform RealNetworks, we will focus on areas with strong revenue growth and profit potential that will realize the value of our core businesses,” said Bob Kimball, CEO of RealNetworks. “The most compelling growth opportunity in games today is social games, and this acquisition is part of our commitment to make our entire GameHouse business social.”
“We acquired Backstage to advance our commitment to delivering fun and engaging games,” said Matt Hulett, senior vice president of the Games Division at RealNetworks. “With their pioneering talents in supporting and optimizing leading social gaming titles to scale to millions of users, Backstage will help evolve and improve our existing social games efforts.”
“Over the past three years, Backstage has excelled at building and monetizing social games to scale to millions of users,” said Russell Ovans, founder & CEO of Backstage. “Joining forces with GameHouse gives us the opportunity to apply our unique expertise while accelerating the company’s broader goal of making all games social for players across their massive global distribution network.”