Tripledot To Acquire AppLovin’s Games Division In $400M Power Move
Tripledot is leveling up. The UK mobile games powerhouse is acquiring AppLovin’s entire games business in a bold $400 million deal, plus handing over 20% of its common equity to AppLovin. This game-changing transaction is expected to close by early summer 2025.
Deal Breakdown:
- $400M total: $150M in upfront cash, $250M as a secured promissory note via Eton Games Inc.
- 20% equity: AppLovin gets a significant stake in Tripledot’s future.
This acquisition includes a roster of well-known studios such as Lion Studios, Belka Games, Machine Zone, Clipwire Games, Magic Tavern, PeopleFun, Leyi, Athena Studio, ZenLife, and Zeroo Gravity — all becoming part of the Tripledot family.
AppLovin had previously pitched the business at $500M in cash and $400M in equity, but the finalized structure reflects a new strategic alignment.
Why It Matters
AppLovin is exiting the game development scene to double down on its booming ad tech empire. While the buyer’s identity was initially under wraps, the secret’s out — it’s Tripledot, the studio behind hit titles like Woodoku, Solitaire, and Triple Tile.
This isn’t Tripledot’s first acquisition. They previously snapped up Zephyr Mobile (Get Color) and raised $116M in Series B funding in 2022, hitting a $1.6B valuation.
Both companies were featured in PocketGamer.biz’s Top 50 Mobile Game Makers for 2024, with Tripledot also ranking 11th in the Top 50 UK Game Makers for 2025.
A Growing Empire
With this acquisition, Tripledot will now oversee 12 studios across 23 cities, with a global team of 2,500+ employees. They’re now serving a whopping 25 million daily active users, projecting $2 billion in annual gross revenue.
Tripledot’s CEO Lior Shiff called it a leap from “high-performing challenger to true global leader,” adding, “We’re thrilled to welcome these incredible teams.”
On the other side, AppLovin CEO Adam Foroughi explained the company’s pivot: “We’ve never been game developers at heart. Lior and his team are some of the best operators in the business.”
The Road Ahead
It’s still unclear how the newly acquired studios will be reshaped under Tripledot. Machine Zone, known for hits like Mobile Strike and Game of War, has already seen significant layoffs, including top executives, per California WARN filings.
Tripledot’s roots are in casual gaming, not the midcore and 4X strategy titles that define Machine Zone, so expect some big strategic shifts.
This is more than just a sale. It’s a reshuffling of the mobile gaming hierarchy. Tripledot isn’t just growing, it’s taking aim at the global throne.
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