Nazara Technologiesis an IndianVideo game publisherandtechnology company,founded by Nitish Mittersain in 1999 that has business interests inmobile games,esportsandsports media.It is based inMumbai,India.
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| ISIN | INE418L01021 |
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Nitish Mittersain |
| Headquarters | Mumbai,Maharashtra,India[1] |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Revenue |  ₹1,138 crore(US$140 million) (FY24)[3] |
| ₹89 crore(US$11 million) (FY24)[3] | |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | nazara |
History
editNazara Technologies was founded by Nitish Mittersain in 1999 as anonline gamingportal. In 2002, it switched to providing mobile entertainmentVASfor telecom operators, includingWAPcontent downloads ofcomic stripsand mobile games.[4][5][6]Earlylikeness rightspartnerships to deliver mobile content included those withArchie Comics,[7]Sachin Tendulkar,[8]MS Dhoni[9]andCartoon Network.[10]
Nazara later expanded mobile games VAS into theMiddle EastandAfrica,also becoming the licenseddistributorofEA Mobile's games in these regions apart fromSouth Asiancountries.[11][12]
In 2015, Nazara obtained the license fromGreen Gold Animationsto create mobile games based onChhota Bheemanimated television series.[13]In 2016, Nazara tied up with Indian comics companyAmar Chitra Kathato develop mobile games onTinklecharacters likeShikari Shambu.[14]
In 2018, Nazara acquired a majority stake in Nextwave Multimedia, aChennai-based mobile game developer known forWorld Cricket Championshiptitles.[15]It also acquired 55% stake in esports firm Nodwin Gaming.[16]Nazara was planning to go public in 2018 and had obtained approval from the market regulators, but halted the process.[17]
In 2019, Nazara Technologies purchased a 67% stake in Sportskeeda for ₹44 crore.[17]It acquired a 51% stake in Paper Boat Apps, the developer and publisher ofgamified early learningapp Kiddopia, for₹83.5 crore in the same year.[18]
In March 2021, Nazara was listed on theNSEandBSEafter itsinitial public offering.[19]Later the same year, it acquired theHyderabad-based real-money gaming company OpenPlay for₹186 crore.[20]
In 2022, Nazara acquired a 55% stake in Datawrkz, an advertising technology company based inBangalore,for₹124 crore.[21]Later that year, it bought out the US-based kids gaming companyWildWorksfor $10.4 million.[22]
In 2023, Nazara Technologies joined the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) as a principal member.[23]In 2024, Nazara acquiredComic Con Indiafor₹55 crore through its subsidiary Nodwin Gaming.[24]
In September 2024, Nazara Technologies acquired 47.7% stake in Moonshine Technology, the parent company of PokerBaazi for Rs 832 crore. This deal will strengthen Nazara's position as Indias dominant diversified gaming platform.[25]
Subsidiaries
editNotable subsidiaries include:[26]
- Nextwave Multimedia incricketsimulation games
- Kiddopia in gamified early learning
- WildWorksin kids gaming
- Nodwin Gaming in eSports
- Halaplay and Openplay in skill-based games
- Datawrkz in digital ad tech
- Sportskeeda in eSports media
Sportskeeda
edit
Sportskeeda is a global sports andesportsmediasubsidiaryof Nazara Technologies headquartered inBangalore,India. It features news, articles. and live coverage of sports such ascricket,association football,American football,basketball,mixed martial arts,andprofessional wrestling.[17][27]
In 2009, the company was founded by Porush Jain. After a few months, the company raised an undisclosed amount of funding from angel investors.[28]In 2011, an early stage venture capital funding company, Seedfund, invested ₹2.8 crore.[29]
In 2019, Nazara Technologies acquired a 67% stake in Sportskeeda for ₹44 crore, valuing Sportskeeda at ₹65 crore.[17]In 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic,the company launched two video series:FreehitandSKlive,featuring interviews with prominent sportspeople.[30]
In May 2022, Nazara set up its subsidiary Sportskeeda Inc. inDelaware,US.[31]In November 2022, Porush Jain resigned as CEO and Ajay Pratap Singh was promoted to take his place.[27]
In 2023, Sportskeeda acquired a 73.27% stake in Pro Football Network LLC, a US-based sports analysis website that covers theNational Football League(NFL) andcollege football,for ₹16 crore (US$1.82 million).[32]
Games
edit- World Cricket Championship
- Kiddopia
- Animal Jam
- Motu Patlu Run
References
edit- ^Khan, Taslima (22 December 2017)."For Nazara's IPO run, a long-haul horse".The Times of India.Retrieved24 July2023.
- ^"About - Nazara Technologies".Retrieved26 May2024.
- ^ab"Nazara Technologies' Q4 profit shrinks to Rs 0.18 cr, revenue declines to Rs 266.2 cr".Moneycontrol.25 May 2024.Retrieved25 May2024.
- ^Talukdar, Tapash (23 January 2009)."Nazara: From gaming portal to mobile content".The Economic Times.Retrieved26 May2024.
- ^Dash, Jayajit (22 September 2009)."Nazara plans new games for festive season".Archived fromthe originalon 25 January 2021.Retrieved24 May2024.
- ^Chettri, Diwaskar (24 January 2010)."Updated: RCOM Launches Comics On Mobile For GSM".Medianama.Retrieved24 May2024.
- ^"Nazara, Archie Comics tie up".The Economic Times.1 March 2005.Retrieved26 May2024.
- ^Lohade, Nikhil (12 January 2005)."Catch Sachin on your cell".Rediff.Business Standard.Retrieved26 May2024.
- ^"Nazara to distribute mobile content of 'Dhoni's liking'".Oneindia News.24 February 2006.Retrieved26 May2024.
- ^Chettri, Diwaskar (17 December 2009)."Comic VAS: Nazara Brings Cartoon Network To Mobiles".MEDIANAMA.Retrieved26 May2024.
- ^"Nazara Extends Games Distribution Partnership With EA To The Middle East".Techcircle.16 April 2012.Retrieved24 May2024.
- ^"Nazara, EA sign distribution deal".ITWeb.17 March 2014.Retrieved24 May2024.
- ^"Nazara creates gaming franchisee with 'Chota Bheem' owner; to invest $7.6M".Techcircle.17 August 2015.Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^Ganguly, Shramana (19 January 2016)."Amar Chitra Katha ropes in Nazara Games to develop character- based mobile games".The Economic Times.Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Gaming firm Nazara acquires majority stake in Chennai-based Nextwave".BusinessLine.8 January 2018.Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^Malik, Yuvraj (24 January 2018)."Nazara acquires majority stake in NODWIN Gaming".mint.Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^abcd"Gaming firm Nazara acquires Sportskeeda".Hindustan Times.21 August 2019.Retrieved6 June2023.
- ^"Nazara acquires majority stake in Paper Boat Apps".The Times of India.17 October 2019.Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Nazara Technologies shares list at 81% premium over issue price; Jhunjhunwala stake valued at Rs 656 crore".The Economic Times.Retrieved24 July2023.
- ^Sneha Shah (28 August 2021)."Nazara Technologies acquires OpenPlay for Rs 186 crore".The Economic Times.
- ^"Nazara acquires majority stake in Datawrkz for Rs 124 crore".The Economic Times.18 January 2022.Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^Vardhan, Gyan (30 August 2022)."Nazara acquires US-based gaming company WildWorks".Entrackr.Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^Teena Jose (17 May 2023)."Nazara Technologies Joins All-India Gaming Federation (AIGF)".Entrepreneur India.
- ^"Nazara Technologies to acquire Comic Con India via Nodwin Gaming".The Economic Times.24 January 2024.Retrieved26 May2024.
- ^"Nazara Tech acquires 47.7% stake in PokerBaazi parent in Rs 832 crore deal".The Economic Times.Retrieved13 September2024.
- ^"Our Company – Nazara".Retrieved28 June2023.
- ^abSN, Vikas (16 November 2022)."Nazara's Sportskeeda appoints Ajay Pratap Singh as CEO; founder Porush Jain resigns".Moneycontrol.Retrieved6 June2023.
- ^Ghosh, Aparna (20 August 2014)."Online retail: Counting on sports lovers".Mint.Retrieved6 June2023.
- ^N. Ramakrishnan (23 September 2012)."A social way of covering sports".Business Line.Retrieved6 June2023.
- ^Sabherwal, Simran (11 September 2020)."We want to be lean, yet grow fast: Porush Jain, Sportskeeda".Exchange4media.Retrieved6 June2023.
- ^"Sportskeeda establishes an entity in the US; to invest USD 4 million into operations".ThePrint.27 May 2022.Retrieved18 November2022.
- ^Gupta, Aryaman (22 March 2023)."Nazara arm Sportskeeda pays $1.8 mn for 73.27% stake in NFL-focused US firm".Business Standard.Retrieved6 June2023.