February 11, 2021 – It was announced this morning that mega board game company Asmodee buys board Game Arena In continued portfolio expansion. The popularity of online board game platforms, especially during a worldwide pandemic, has blown up. It is the technology but it is also the licensing deals to board game publishers to bring popular titles into the digital space.
Board Game Arena has sprung up as one of the leaders in this category and after all that growth, Asmodee is going to acquire them, which makes perfect sense. Founded in 2010, Board Game Arena has provided official online versions of more than 250 games across 40 languages to more than five million members around the world.
Asmodee owns many of the board game brands you know and love and they control some of the most important titles in the world from Settlers of Catan to Carcassonne to Dixit and many more. They are owned by a French conglomerate and have been on a buying spree as of late to really expand their board game reach and opportunities. Not only have they been buying up publishers like Libelud (maker of Dixit and Mysterium), but they have launched book publishing, a specialized miniatures studio and engaged in licensing partnerships for things like shoes.
To support its growth and pursue its development, Board Game Arena’s management team has chosen to join Asmodee in a move that will allow Asmodee to speed up the availability of its key titles on the platform.
Grégory Isabelli and Emmanuel Colin, Board Game Arena co-founders, said: ”Working with Asmodee allows us to continue our massive growth, with a partner that shares our love and passion for board gaming.
“Asmodee fulfills a sine qua non criteria for us: that BGA is always run by absolute board game fans whose core business is board game.”
Thomas Koegler, head of strategy at Asmodee, said: “Our growth is based on one crucial commitment: offer the best gaming experience to consumers and bring our brands to the widest audience.”
“Having a platform that allows players from all over the world to meet, play their favorite games together or discover new games is a natural fit alongside our amazing catalogue of board games. Skull and Splendor will be in the coming weeks the first of a long list of Asmodee releases on the platform: we hope that players will enjoy them.”
