ReportDrake Star Partners
Global Gaming Report Q1 2023
1 Mar 202319 pages~35 min full read
The Drake Star Gaming Index rose 12% in Q1 2023, signaling a robust public market recovery despite a temporary dip in M&A volume to 43 deals.
See it on page 3Private financing remained resilient with over 200 deals raising $1.3 billion, driven primarily by early-stage investments and a strategic pivot away from blockchain toward AI and gaming tools.
See it on page 11Embracer Group remained the most active consolidator, completing 18 deals totaling over $1.1 billion during the quarter.
See it on page 3Valuation disparities are significant, with Japan and Korea-based developers commanding median EV/EBITDA multiples of 9.2x, compared to 5.7x for Western PC and console firms.
See it on page 15Major capital injections included Savvy Gaming Group’s $265 million investment in VSPO and Believer’s $55 million raise for open-world development.
See it on page 11The industry faces financial complexity with only 1% median revenue growth for hardware and platforms, alongside negative average profit margins across several segments.
See it on page 16Industry outlook suggests a significant M&A rebound in the second half of 2023, supported by substantial capital reserves from sovereign wealth funds.
See it on page 3The global gaming industry entered 2023 showing signs of a robust public market recovery, evidenced by a 12% rise in the Drake Star Gaming Index and a notable expansion in valuation multiples. While the volume of mergers and acquisitions experienced a temporary dip to 43 deals, private financing remained resilient. Over 200 deals raised approximately $1.3 billion during the first quarter, driven primarily by early-stage investments. A strategic shift in investor interest became apparent as capital moved away from blockchain-centric projects toward gaming tools and artificial intelligence platforms.
Investment activity was characterized by significant capital injections from major players, most notably Savvy Gaming Group’s $265 million investment in VSPO and Believer’s $55 million raise for open-world development. Venture capital firms such as BITKRAFT and Andreessen Horowitz maintained high deal volumes across PC, console, and platform segments. Despite the broader slowdown in consolidation, Embracer Group remained highly active, completing 18 deals totaling over $1.1 billion. Public market valuations revealed distinct regional and sectoral trends, with Japan and Korea-based developers commanding higher median EV/EBITDA multiples of 9.2x compared to the 5.7x seen in Western PC and console firms.
The financial landscape remains complex and volatile, marked by modest median revenue growth of 1% for hardware and platforms and negative average profit margins across several segments. Regional disparities are particularly sharp in the Chinese market, where Shenzhen-listed firms maintain significantly higher valuation multiples than their counterparts. In the hardware sector, NVIDIA continues to dominate with a market capitalization exceeding $680 billion, despite facing substantial declines in EBITDA. Looking forward, the industry is positioned for a significant M&A rebound in the latter half of the year, supported by massive capital earmarks from sovereign wealth funds and high-profile acquisitions in the mobile and social gaming space.
