YoYo Games is a Scottish software development company based in Dundee, Scotland. From February 2015 to January 2021, the company was owned by Playtech; afterwards, it was sold to Opera to launch its new gaming division.
History
YoYo Games was founded in 2007 by Michel Cassius, Sandy Duncan, Spencer Hyman and James North-Hearn, former entertainment and video game industry executives. Duncan was appointed chief executive officer of the company.[1] On 26 January 2007, Mark Overmars announced his partnership with a company based in Dundee, Scotland, called YoYo Games.[2][3]
The company established its European office in Dundee in May 2010 by opening an office within Abertay University with two team members.[4] The company currently employs more than 25 employees.[5] YoYo Games has announced plans to create an additional 25 positions, over the next 18 months, in systems development, software engineering, sales and customer service.[6] The employees will be hired to help the company keep pace with the rapid evolution of the global games market and demand for Game Maker: Studio.[7] To accommodate this expansion, in June 2013, YoYo Games moved from its old location within Abertay University[7] into new office space on Dundee’s Waterfront redevelopment.[5] On 16 February 2015 it was announced that Playtech acquired YoYo Games for £10.65 million (USD$16.4 million).[8][9] Shortly thereafter, Duncan stepped down from his position.[10] He was later replaced by James Cox as general manager, who himself stepped down in October 2018 to be replaced by Stuart Poole in January 2019.[11]
Playtech sold YoYo Games to Opera for US$10 million in January 2021. Opera announced with YoYo's acquisition, it was launching a new Opera Gaming division alongside their browser software.[12][13]
In February 2021, Stuart Poole left the role of General Manager and Russell Kay was named Senior Product Director (Head of GameMaker).[14]
External links
References
- YoYo Games University of California, Santa Barbara^
- Public announcement from Mark Overmars, Game Maker Community^
- Erick Schonfeld, Yi-Wyn Yen. It's a Web, Web, Web 2.0 world CNN Money, CNN, retrieved 28 April 2019^
- YoYo Games Expands Into Dundee Waterfront Dundee Waterfront, Dundee City Council, 22 April 2013, retrieved 28 April 2019^
- James Williamson. Dundee's YoYo Games looks to next level - The Courier The Courier, DC Thomson, 23 April 2013, retrieved 28 April 2019^
- YoYo Games to Double its Staff to 50 Interactive Tayside, 22 April 2013, retrieved 28 April 2019^
- scottishgames. YoYo Games Expanding, Recruiting New Staff, Moving To New Office | Scottish Games Network Scottish Games Network, 23 April 2013, retrieved 28 April 2019^
- Dan Pearson. YoYo Games sells to PlayTech for $16.4 million GamesIndustry.biz, Gamer Network, 16 February 2015, retrieved 28 April 2019^
- Craig Chapple. PlayTech buys GameMaker creator YoYo Games for £10m Develop, NewBay, 16 February 2015, retrieved 28 April 2019^
- Alysia Judge. YoYo Games CEO steps down following $16 million Playtech deal Pocket Gamer.biz, 17 February 2015^
- Matthew Handrahan. YoYo Games promotes Stuart Poole to general manager GamesIndustry.biz, 16 January 2019^
- Chris Kerr. Playtech sells GameMaker Studio maker YoYo Games for $10 million Gamasutra, 19 January 2021, retrieved 19 January 2021^
- Dean Takahashi. Opera acquires YoYo Games for $10 million and launches Opera Gaming division Venture Beat, January 20, 2021, retrieved January 20, 2021^
- GameMaker Update 2022 retrieved 2022-04-22^