FACT SHEET – ZYNGA ACQUIRES NEWTOY
For Media Background Use
Zynga has acquired Texas-based mobile game development company Newtoy, makers of the popular Games With Friends franchise that includes mobile games such as Words With Friends and Chess With Friends as well as We Rule.
The Newtoy office in McKinney, Texas will become The Zynga With Friends, a new game studio that leverages the existing franchise and builds new games for the Zynga network.
Newtoy CEO and co-founder Paul Bettner immediately assumes the role of VP and GM of The Zynga With Friends Studio and, alongside his brother and co-founder, David as studio director, and Michael Chow as director of operations, will lead the team to develop new games for the Zynga network that leverage their rich experience in mobile and creative game development.
ABOUT NEWTOY
Newtoy is focused on building the highest quality entertainment experiences on a number of platforms. The company was founded in 2008 by two brothers, Paul and David Bettner, who were soon after joined by chief operating officer Michael Chow. The brothers helped create the internationally best-selling Age of Empires series and most recently the highly anticipated Halo Wars strategy game for Xbox 360.
The Games With Friends franchise is now the most popular gaming platform on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad with more than 5 million monthly active users (including Words With Friends and Chess With Friends free and paid).
NEWTOY GAMES
Words With Friends is the most popular multiplayer word game for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Play multiple games against your friends online at your own pace, pass and play locally, or match-make with a random opponent.
Chess With Friends is a popular multiplayer chess game for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Play multiple games against your friends online at your own pace, pass and play locally, or match-make with a random opponent.
In We Rule, you will govern your very own kingdom. You will act as a city planner and landscaper–customizing your realm with buildings, banners, and botany. You’ll decide what crops to plant and ensure they are harvested on time. You will collect taxes from your citizens and manage a variety of shops and businesses – from bakeries and inns to lumber mills and ore mines.
ABOUT ZYNGA
Zynga Inc. is the world’s largest social game developer with more than 215 million monthly active users playing their games which include FarmVille, FrontierVille, Mafia Wars, Zynga Poker, Café World, Treasure Isle, YoVille, FishVille and PetVille. Zynga has 1300 full time employees servicing 10 major games — 13 game studios in 5 counties. Zynga Inc. games are available on a number of global platforms including Facebook, MySpace, the iPad and iPhone. In 2011, Zynga launched FarmVille on both the iPhone and the iPad. Through Zynga.org, Zynga players have raised more than $5 million for world social causes. Zynga Inc. is headquartered in San Francisco.
For more information, visit www.zynga.com or www.zynga.org.
