Expanding the Possibilities of Play: Scopely’s Winning Strategy
Savvy Games Group’s acquisition of the Revolution Growth-backed company marks the sixth-largest transaction in gaming history.
Revolution Growth first partnered with Scopely in 2017 when we led the company’s Series C. Core to our investment thesis was Scopely’s platform approach to IP partnership and game development, its exceptional ability to drive monetization among users, and the team’s dedication to becoming the preeminent free-to-play mobile gaming publisher. At the time of our initial investment, the company was already on its way with a network of more than 125 million players and hit titles, including “The Walking Dead: Road to Survival,” “Wheel of Fortune,” and “WWE Champions.”
Six years later, Scopely boasts a large, loyal user base, a portfolio of more than a dozen award-winning games, and a long list of product and company recognitions highlighting its eminence among the industry’s greats. Scopely’s up-and-to-the-right growth isn’t just a product of momentum — it’s a feat of leadership, partnership, and passion, marked by several key differentiators:
A Player-First Ethos: Since its founding, Scopely has remained focused on creating immersive, player-centric products.The goal: build durable, long-term infrastructure that makes Scopely’s games worth returning to time and time again. The resulting strategy: experiences center around compelling narratives, innovative interactive elements, and regular updates based on player feedback and analytics. A highly engaged user base has enabled Scopely to maintain exceptional retention levels and drive user monetization within its free-to-play platform.
Unrivaled IP: Over 12 years, Scopely amassed a portfolio of partnerships with iconic entertainment franchises, including Marvel, Mattel, Hasbro, WWE, and Star Trek. These partnerships have helped Scopely to not only tap into large, existing fan bases but also establish enduring relationships with IP owners and build deeper and more comprehensive experiences within each IP.
An Acquirer of Choice: Big acquisitions are always challenging, especially for culture-heavy startups. But the leadership at Scopely executed each transaction and integration — from FoxNext Games to DIGIT Game Studios to PierPlay to GSN Games — with abundant planning, negotiation, and care. Scopely’s success in this arena proved its prowess as an industry consolidator, allowing the company to layer more games on top of its existing platform and scale at an accelerated pace.
A World-Class Team: We were initially drawn to Scopely because of its high-caliber leadership and Co-CEOs Javier Ferreira and Walter Driver’s ability to execute. Since our first investment, the team has continued to build its bench of top industry talent, attracting and recruiting seasoned executives from Disney, Amazon, Facebook, and more — all while maintaining a culture of humility and constant iteration.
Today, after years of tenacious expansion, Scopely reached a new milestone: its own acquisition in the sixth-largest transaction in gaming history. The nearly $5 billion deal is an incredible validation of Javier, Walter, and the team’s work over the last decade. The transaction will allow Scopely to reach new audiences, work with the best talent and studios across the industry, engage in additional strategic partnerships, and bring even more immersive experiences to communities worldwide.
Revolution Growth is incredibly proud to have partnered with the company as it carved out its position at the forefront of interactive entertainment. We look forward to Scopely’s next chapter inspiring the future of play under the Savvy Games Group umbrella.
