About the gamigo group
The gamigo group is one of the leading publishers of online and mobile games in Europe and North America. The group’s diverse game portfolio includes free-to-play titles such as Fiesta Online, Trove and Rift and upcoming mobile games. Counting more than 300 employees, gamigo group is one of the largest players in the gaming industry. Besides its German locations in Hamburg (HQ) and Berlin, the gamigo group also has branches in Austin and Bellevue (US), Sevilla (Spain), and in Seoul (South Korea).
In addition to gamigo AG, the group includes companies such as gamigo Inc. operating as “WildTangent”, gamigo US Inc., gamigo Publishing GmbH, gamigo Portals GmbH, KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. and AxesInMotion, S.L.
The gamigo group strives to grow organically as well as through acquisitions. Since 2013, it has made more than 25 acquisitions, including titles, gaming and technology companies as well as individual game assets. The gamigo group is part of MGI – Media and Games Invest SE.
Learn more about gamigo group at https://corporate.gamigo.com/. Learn more about MGI at https://mgi-se.com/.
Management
Jens Knauber
Chief Executive Officer of the gamigo AG
Jens Knauber was appointed CEO and Chairman of the Board of gamigo AG in March 2021. Previously, he served as COO and as Vice President Publishing of the group. He has accumulated over 15 years of management experience in the gaming industry and has overseen the publishing processes of over 300 games. He has held a series of leadership positions during his time at the Hamburg publisher dtp entertainment AG and has built up a comprehensive global network in the gaming industry. With his many years of experience and leadership skills acquired in the fast-paced industry, Jens has the necessary expertise to lead the gamigo group.
Christian Schommer
Chief Technology Officer
Christian Schommer joined the gamigo group as Chief Technology Officer in October 2021. Christian has held various leading positions which include CTO at e-commerce and shopping rewards company Sovendus and as Vice President Technical Development at online games publisher Gameforge. Christian says that the buy and build strategy makes the gamigo group stand out from competitors. His extensive experience in technology, development and e-commerce has made him a technology leader and a perfect fit for the future plans of the gamigo group.
Miguel Oliveira
CEO Casual Business
Miguel Oliveira serves as CEO of gamigo’s casual games business unit since 2021 and is also responsible for its M&A activities. Miguel joined the gamigo group with over 20 years of digital game distribution experience. Most recently, he served as WildTangent’s VP of Business Development (acquired in 2019). Miguel has sold his own company Bluefish Media GmbH to SCi/Eidos in 2007, built Encore’s online business and worked on projects with McKinsey & Co and Roland Berger consultants. Prior to gaming, he worked in strategy and planning roles in the automotive and aviation industries. Before moving to the US, Miguel has lived and worked in Germany, Portugal, and France and holds a B.S. in Marketing and an MBA.
Wolfgang Duhr
Chief Operating Officer
Wolfgang Duhr has more than 25 years’ experience and a proven track record within the PC and video games industry and holding a professional degree in business economics. Wolfgang has held a series of leadership positions at different companies like Infogrames, Electronic Arts Partner Studios or Kalypso Media Group. Within the gamigo Group, he is responsible for operations in publishing and games development at the Hamburg, Berlin, and Austin-based studios KingsIsle. He had a significant influence on international well-known IPs like ANNO, Jagged Alliance, STALKER, or Tropico and was also integral part to bring various IPs from Warner or TV Shows like The Voice to the video- and mobile game sector. Wolfgang has acted as a founder and investor in the games industry on several occasions in the past and has successfully supported both developers and publishers in business development in areas such as restructuring, publishing, financing, and IPOs.
HistorY
2020
2019
In October, gamigo successfully launches its highly anticipated buy2play Online RPG ArcheAge: Unchained. In this version, players are able to access the entirety of the ArcheAge universe for one single purchase.
Aiming to expand business further in the US, gamigo AG acquires the US-based game publisher WildTangent Inc. in the form of an asset deal. In March, gamigo AG successfully places a tap issue of its senior secured listed bond in the amount of 10 million euros. Accompanied by a digital billboard on Times Square, the gamigo group celebrates issuing its 32 million Bond on NASDAQ Stockholm. Following the tradition, Remco Westermann (CEO) and Paul Echt (COO), rang the bell at the listing ceremony.
2018
The gamigo group acquires the majority of assets from Trion Worlds Inc., including publishing rights for the renowned MMOs ArcheAge, Trove, RIFT and Defiance 2050. The gamigo subsidiary gamigo US Inc. will publish and develop those titles in the future.
The Multiplayer-Shooter Ironsight is launched in Open Beta. Additionally, gamigo is celebrating two Anniversaries: Fiesta Online and Last Chaos celebrate their 10th birthday together with their loyal Online communities.
2017
The Mediakraft group, an online video network and leading player in the YouTube and Influencer marketing, is being acquired by gamigo to strengthen its B2B strategy. It is also decided to restart the launching of gamigo’s own games, such as the mobile game Heroes and Puzzles, anime MMORPG Twin Saga and fantasy online role-playing game Echo of Soul – Phoenix. The previously spent corporate bond can be bought back one year in advance and is released by a bank credit.
2016
gamigo acquires the games publisher Aeria Games from ProSiebenSat.1 Media, whose game portfolio includes i. a. Aura Kingdom and Echo of Soul. During the transaction, ProSiebenSat.1 acquires an interest of 33 percent in the gamigo AG. Additionally, further investments are being acquired, such as the Analytics Software Solution HoneyTracks in the B2B platform area, as well as the developer studio playzo games (Looki Assembly Studios) in the B2C area who i. a. further develops Desert Operations. In addition, the worldwide licensing rights of Fiesta Online are being acquired.
2015
gamigo acquires Looki Publishing, GameSpree and Infernum Games, and thereby extends its games portfolio with i. a. Desert Operations, Kings and Legends and Dragon’s Prophet. In the B2B area, gamigo takes over mobile payment specialist Mobile Business Engine and games marketer Poged.
2013 - 2014
In 2013, a strategic reorientation of gamigo is taking place. Investments in high-risk game development are being stopped and a new platform strategy concentrating on game publishing is being introduced. A further goal is to reach a critical mass by focusing on growth through acquisitions. First acquisitions are being accomplished, including assets of Outspark (US), the North American license, as well as the game service for Last Chaos, the online community gulli.com, and Hamburg’s games provider INTENIUM GmbH including i. a. the games platform Deutschland Spielt. In June 2013, a mid-tier loan of 15 m EUR is being placed to finance this growth.
2010 - 2012
In 2010, gamigo publishes its first self-produced game, Cultures Online, developed by the German developer team Funatics. At the end of 2010, the company furthermore acquires shares of the German developer studio Reakktor Media. The online action game Black Prophecy is being developed collectively. In 2011, gamigo acquires a minority holding on the Korean developer studio of Fiesta Online, OnsOn Soft. In October 2012, the Axel Springer AG divests all shares of the gamigo AG to the strategic investor Samarion S.E. from Düsseldorf.
2008 - 2009
In 2008, the games Last Chaos and Fiesta Online are published. gamigo expands into the rest of Europe and publishes Shot Online and Last Chaos. In the same year, Axel Springer AG buys the entire BMP AG stake in gamigo. gamigo becomes a 100% subsidiary of Axel Springer in 2009. Last Chaos is also published in Polish and is the first of the publisher’s games to get over 1 million players in Europe.
2000 - 2007
In 2000, gamigo is being founded in Rheine as a start-up for an online magazine for PC and console games. In May 2001, gamigo buys the licensing rights of the game Die 4. Offenbarung and publishes the very first German-language localized online role-playing game. In the same year, the corporation gamigo AG is being founded.
In the following years, many german language games are released. These include: Anarchy Online (May 2002), Tactical Commanders (June 2003), Puzzle Piraten (May 2004), Goal United (June 2006), Shot Online (May 2007), Dreamlords (July 2007), Regnum Online (August 2007) and Smash Online (December 2007).
Acquisitions
In the last years, gamigo successfully aquired and integrated more than 20 companies as well as game and technology assets.
Awards
gamigo AG has been nominated for and won a diverse range of international games industry awards for the quality of the work done by the studios as well as for the titles in the gamigo portfolio.
2019
TOMMI Deutscher Kindersoftwarepreis 2019
1st Place: Rug Tales (gamigo / Purple Hills)
2018
Focus Money – Deutschlands Beste
Test winner: Germany’s best console and PC games
2014
European Games Award
Winner: Best European Community Management
Nominated: Best European Multiplayer Game, Loong: Dragonblood
2013
MMO of the Year / Browser Game of the Year
Nominated: Pirate Galaxy
2012
German Developer Awards
Winner: Best Browser Game, Jagged Alliance Online
Nominated: Best Browser Game, Asterix and Friends
2010
Massively’s Best of E3
Winner: Biggest Surprise, Black Prophecy
German Video Game Awards
Winner: Best Browser Game, Pirate Galaxy