Kabam
27 documents in the library are about Kabam, from writers such as PocketGamer.biz, ESAC – Entertainment Software Association of Canada and Mobilegamer.biz, the newest from 2026. Each has a summary and key insights with the page they come from.
A publisher focused on free to play games with micro transactions. Mainly focusing on games available to play in browsers and mobile devices.
- Games
- Star Wars: Uprising, Marvel Realm of Champions, Heroes of Camelot, Marvel Contest of Champions
Company data from IGDB.com
Key figures
Corporate restructuring persists as Electronic Arts continues workforce reductions during a $55 billion acquisition process, alongside notable layoffs at Netmarble subsidiary Kabam.
Two & a Half Gamers, 2026 · 🚨📢 BREAKING NEWS: New Hoyoverse game, D2C stuff, layoffs and a WhatsApp game, p. 3
Netmarble acquired Kabam’s Vancouver studio for $750 million in February 2017, primarily driven by the success of the studio's breakout hit, Marvel: Contest of Champions.
Deconstructor of Fun, 2017 · Transformers: Forged to Fight - A Game Worth Paying $750M For?
Kabam utilizes a dual-currency model for Heroes of Camelot, featuring earnable gold and a hard currency (gems) purchased through a six-tier pricing structure ranging from £0.99 to £69.99.
PocketGamer.biz, 2013 · Monetizer: Kabam's Heroes of Camelot, p. 10
King and Kabam are the primary candidates for a post-Zynga gaming IPO, with both companies successfully transitioning from 100% web-based revenue in 2011 to approximately 50% mobile revenue by early 2013.
Mobile Dev Memo, 2013 · King vs. Kabam on the Road to IPO
Documents about Kabam
Direct-to-consumer banks $17 billion and Google rolls out fee changes | Week in Mobile Games podcast
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) platforms have emerged as a critical pillar of the mobile gaming economy, currently generating $17 billion in annual revenue and capturing 15% of the global market.
- Direct-to-consumer (DTC) platforms now generate $17 billion annually, accounting for 15% of the global mobile gaming market.
- While 92% of publishers expect DTC growth, only 25% of organizations currently possess the mature infrastructure required to scale these operations.
- The mobile gaming industry is experiencing a period of significant contraction, marked by recent layoffs at Electronic Arts, operational consolidation at Kabam, and anticipated restructuring at Xbox.
Weekly Industry Brief: Google Play Fees, Kingshot Ads, and Funding
The mobile gaming industry experienced significant shifts in late June 2026, characterized by major regulatory changes, substantial capital investments, and strategic corporate restructuring.
- Google Play will open up billing options and lower store fees for developers in the US, EU, and UK starting June 30, with other regions to follow.
- AppsFlyer received a $1 billion investment from Google, Unity, Meta, and Moloco, valuing the ad measurement firm at approximately $2.7 billion.
- Kabam, the developer of Marvel Contest of Champions, is undergoing layoffs and downsizing its Los Angeles office to streamline operations.
🚨📢 BREAKING NEWS: New Hoyoverse game, D2C stuff, layoffs and a WhatsApp game
The current state of the mobile gaming industry is defined by a significant shift toward direct-to-consumer (D2C) monetization, ongoing corporate restructuring, and the integration of artificial intelligence in operations.
- Mobile game direct-to-consumer (D2C) revenues are projected to reach $17 billion this year, driven by 53% of publishers planning to port titles to browser platforms to bypass traditional app store billing.
- AppsFlyer secured over $1 billion in funding at a $2.7 billion valuation, signaling continued investor confidence in mobile infrastructure despite broader industry volatility.
- Corporate restructuring persists as Electronic Arts continues workforce reductions during a $55 billion acquisition process, alongside notable layoffs at Netmarble subsidiary Kabam.
Google Play store fees, Kingshot's World Cup ads, AppsFlyer gets $1bn, Kabam layoffs, more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating significant shifts in platform policy, investment trends, and studio operations. A primary development is Google’s adjustment of Play Store fees, effective June 30.
- Starting June 30, Google Play is lowering store fees for most developers in Western markets, effectively reducing the standard 30% fee to approximately 25% for in-app purchases.
- AppsFlyer secured a $1 billion investment from Google, Meta, Unity, and Moloco, a move analysts suggest is intended to bolster the company's independence and measurement capabilities against AppLovin's market dominance.
- Queen Digital Entertainment, a startup founded by former King executives that raised up to $50 million in VC funding, has ceased operations after failing to scale its casual puzzle game portfolio.
The Ares Gameplan: UA Financing, Non-US Developers, and Kim Kardashian
Ares Interactive is positioning itself as a successor to Glu Mobile, leveraging a strategic focus on user acquisition (UA) financing and partnerships with non-US development studios.
- Ares Interactive has secured $70 million in funding to expand its portfolio of cross-platform free-to-play games.
- The company is led by founder Niccolo de Masi and executive Mike DeLaet, both of whom are former Glu Mobile veterans, leading to industry comparisons of Ares as 'Glu 2.0'.
- Ares is actively exploring the development of a celebrity-licensed game similar to the success of 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood'.
Scaling Journeys: Pitfalls and Cheat Codes
The panel discussion, titled Scaling Journeys: Pitfalls and Cheat Codes, explores the operational and cultural challenges inherent in growing game studios and digital media companies.
- Founders must maintain direct involvement in hiring for the first 50 to 100 employees to ensure cultural fit and preserve the company's core vision.
- Transitioning from a startup to a global enterprise requires shifting from informal communication to formalized systems, such as biannual happiness surveys and structured recognition programs.
- Incentive systems should be designed to reward behaviors that align with core values, creating a cultural 'mythos' that guides decision-making in the absence of direct leadership.
Essential Facts Videos: Canada
The Essential Facts Videos series, released by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) in November 2022, presents a series of video profiles that showcase the Canadian video game industry’s growth and talent pipeline.
- The Canadian video game industry generates a $5.5 billion annual contribution to the national GDP.
- The ESAC released a video series in November 2022 profiling five major studios: Other Ocean Interactive, Ubisoft Toronto, Eidos Montréal, EA Bioware, and Kabam.
- The content is designed to influence policymakers and legislators by highlighting the economic benefits and innovation potential of the domestic gaming sector.
Games Industry M&A: Keys to Success with Chris Petrovic (Zynga, Kabam)
The gaming industry’s approach to mergers and acquisitions has shifted toward a model prioritizing long-term sustainability and the cultivation of forever franchises.
- Successful M&A in the gaming industry has shifted from volume-based acquisition to a disciplined framework focused on long-term sustainability and the cultivation of 'forever franchises.'
- The 'city-state' model is the preferred operational structure, balancing corporate-level infrastructure and user acquisition efficiencies with the preservation of studio creative autonomy.
- Strategic integration now relies on long-term relationship building, often spanning years, to ensure cultural alignment and strategic fit before a transaction is finalized.
Annual Report 2019 Entertainment
The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) positioned its 2019 annual report as a strategic overview of the organization’s role as the national voice for the Canadian video-game sector, emphasizing a “members-first” agenda built on six pillars that include regulatory advocacy, tax-credit preservation, policy…
- ESAC successfully lobbied government officials through its 'Video Games on the Hill' event, which drew 250 participants and 25 Members of Parliament to engage with major publishers including Ubisoft, Nintendo, EA, and Xbox.
- Market research conducted with the NPD Group established that over 23 million Canadians are regular video game players, a statistic used to drive national media campaigns and positive press coverage.
- The association actively opposed increased industry regulation by testifying before three parliamentary committees and one provincial commission while advocating for favorable economic and tax policies.
Rapport Annuel 2019 Entertainment
The 2019 annual report of the Canadian Entertainment Software Association (ALD) outlines the organization’s role as the principal advocate for Canada’s video-game sector, emphasizing a strategic focus on member-first principles, regulatory advocacy, and public perception.
- The Canadian video-game market remains robust, with a 2018 NPD Group survey identifying over 23 million regular gamers in Canada.
- The Entertainment Software Association (ALD) successfully engaged 25 federal legislators and major industry players including Ubisoft, Nintendo, EA, and Xbox during the 'Jeux vidéo sur la Colline' event.
- Lobbying efforts focused on securing tax-credit frameworks and innovation policies through direct dialogue with Minister Navdeep Bains and testimonies before parliamentary committees.
Transformers: Forged to Fight - A Game Worth Paying $750M For?
This analysis evaluates the commercial and design viability of Transformers: Forged to Fight, released by Kabam’s Vancouver studio following Netmarble’s $750 million acquisition of the developer.
- Netmarble acquired Kabam’s Vancouver studio for $750 million in February 2017, primarily driven by the success of the studio's breakout hit, Marvel: Contest of Champions.
- Marvel: Contest of Champions generated over $100 million in revenue within its first seven months of release, establishing a high-performing template for mobile fighting games.
- Transformers: Forged to Fight evolves the Contest of Champions framework by introducing ranged combat and sidestepping mechanics, creating a more complex metagame that requires strategic character selection.
Monetizer: Star Wars: Uprising
Star Wars: Uprising, a mobile RPG developed by Kabam, utilizes a complex monetization strategy centered on character progression and gear acquisition.
- Star Wars: Uprising utilizes a dual-currency model featuring soft currency earned through gameplay and hard currency, known as chromium, available for purchase.
- The game employs a tiered in-app purchase structure that restricts access to higher-value spending options until after initial transactions are completed to prioritize player retention.
- The primary monetization driver is the Premium Crane, a gacha-style mechanic where players spend hard currency to acquire high-rarity gear and crafting materials.