Asmodee

Asmodee was founded in 1995 by Marc Nunès, with the idea to not only develop their own board games but to reach out to other smaller publishers of board games and offer to publish and distribute for them, primarily in France.{{cite web | url = https://lentreprise.lexpress.fr/creation-entreprise/idees-business/asmodee-la-bonne-pioche-avec-des-jeux-bien-reels_1512975.html | title = Asmodée, the good pick with real games | first = Nathalie | last = Mourlot | date = August 30, 2012 | access-date = August 18, 2018 | work = L'Express }} One of the company's early successes was Jungle Speed, which they acquired in 1998 and promoted heavily to various toy stores and retail outlets in France, selling over 4 million copies. In 2003, the company obtained the rights to publish the French version of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which further helped in their sales outreach. Around 2007, Nunès directed Asmodee towards the European and international market. The company gained a 40% investment from Montefiore Investment, which helped them acquire additional small publishers. Acquisitions during this period include Esdevium, the largest hobby games distributor in the UK, in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/17597/asmodee-acquires-distributor|title=Asmodee Acquires Distributor|website=icv2.com}}

In January 2014, Asmodee was acquired by the French private equity firm Eurazeo for {{€|143 million}}. Under Eurazeo's ownership, Asmodée became more active in its acquisitions of other board game publishers and developers.{{cite web | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/eurazeo-asmodee-idUSASA08DVE20131112 | title= Eurazeo to buy French board game maker Asmodee | date = November 12, 2013 | access-date = August 18, 2018 | publisher = Reuters }}{{cite web |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asmodee-m-a/board-game-company-asmodee-explores-sale-sources-idUSKBN1IA38V | title = Board game company Asmodee explores sale: sources | date = May 7, 2018 | access-date = August 18, 2018 | publisher = Reuters }} Asmodee currently distributes games under the imprints Descartes Editeur and Eurogames, acquired when they purchased Descartes. However, they have not used these imprints for any original publications since the purchase.

In August 2014, Asmodee agreed to a merger with American board game publishers Days of Wonder.{{cite web| author= W. Eric Martin | title= Asmodee Buys Days of Wonder | url= https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/33352/asmodee-buys-days-wonder | date=2014-08-25 | access-date= 2016-01-29}}{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/08/25/frances-asmodee-group-acquires-ticket-to-ride-board-game-maker-days-of-wonder/|title=France's Asmodee Group acquires 'Ticket to Ride' board-game maker Days of Wonder|date=August 25, 2014}} Later that year, they also merged with Fantasy Flight Games.{{cite web | title= Fantasy Flight Games Merging With Asmodee | website= Forbes | url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2014/11/17/fantasy-flight-games-merging-with-asmodee/ | date=2014-11-17 | access-date= 2014-11-20}}

In January 2016, Asmodee acquired the English language rights to the Catan games from Mayfair Games, creating a new company Catan Studio, Inc.{{cite web | author= Charles Rice | title= Asmodee Acquires Catan™ from Mayfair Games | url= http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/asmodee-acquires-catan-mayfair-games | date= 2016-01-07 | access-date= 2016-01-29 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160201005644/http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/asmodee-acquires-catan-mayfair-games | archive-date= 2016-02-01 | url-status= dead }}{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/9/16996882/mayfair-games-lookout-games-acquired-by-asmodee-north-america-catan | title = The company that helped lead a revolution in board games is shutting down | first = Charlie | last =Hall | date = February 9, 2018 | access-date = August 18, 2018 | work = Polygon }}{{cite web| author= Sam Machkovech | title= Asmodee becomes board gaming's new monster, acquires English rights to Catan | url= http://arstechnica.co.uk/gaming/2016/01/asmodee-becomes-board-gamings-new-monster-acquires-english-rights-to-catan/ | date=2016-01-08 | access-date= 2016-01-29}} Also on the 27th in that same month, Asmodee announced that they had acquired Nordic/Dutch-based European board games and cards developer Bergsala Enigma which it will be rebranded to its original name Enigma Distribution, thrust Asmodee expanded their operations into Eastern Europe and the first time they entered the Nordic and Dutch game business{{cite web|title=Asmodee Acquires Another European Distributor|url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/33571/asmodee-acquires-another-european-distributor|website=ICV2|first=Nicole|last=Bunge|date=January 27, 2016|access-date=May 21, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Asmodee acquires Bergsala Enigma and strengthens its operations in Europe|url=https://corporate.asmodee.com/news/asmodee-acquires-bergsala-enigma-strengthens-operations-europe/|website=Asmodee|date=January 27, 2016|access-date=May 21, 2024}} Two years later Enigma was fully absorbed into Asmodee and annoucued that they rebranded the company to Asmodee Nordic.

Eurazeo began searching for a potential buyer for Asmodee in early 2018, and announced in July 2018 that it was selling the company to another French private equity firm, PAI Partners at a price of about {{€|1.2 billion}}.{{cite web | url = https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/40926/eurazeo-finds-buyer-asmodee | title = Eurazeo Finds Buyer For Asmodee | first = Milton | last =Griepp | date = July 21, 2018 | access-date = August 18, 2018 | work = ICv2 }} Asmodee launched the book publisher Aconyte in 2020 to publish tie-in works.{{cite web | url=https://aconytebooks.com/press-releases/aconyte-press-release/ | title=Press Release: Asmodee Announces the Creation of New Fiction Imprint, Aconyte – Aconyte Books }}

In October 2020, Asmodee announced that they sold British-based board game, puzzle and book publishing company The Lagoon Group to American game company University Games and placed Lagoon under their UK-based subsidiary University Games UK.{{cite web|title=University Games acquires The Lagoon Group from Asmodee|url=https://www.mojo-nation.com/university-games-acquires-lagoon-group-asmodee/|website=MojoNation|first=Billy|last=Langsworthy|date=October 5, 2020|access-date=May 21, 2024}}

The company acquired Board Game Arena, a digital tabletop simulator, in February 2021, for which they plan to adapt their games to add to its available library.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/asmodee-acquires-digital-multiplayer-board-game-platform-board-game-arena | title = Asmodee acquires digital multiplayer board game platform Board Game Arena | first= Chris | last= Kerr | date = February 12, 2021 | access-date = February 12, 2021 | work = Gamasutra }}

In September 2021, PAI Partners announced that Asmodee was up for sale for 2 billion euros.{{cite web | url = https://www.boardgamequest.com/asmodee-owners-looking-to-sell-company-for-2-billion-euros/ | title = Asmodee Owners Looking to Sell Company for 2 Billion Euros | first= Tony | last= Mastrangeli | date = September 23, 2021 | accessdate = September 25, 2021 | work = Board Game Quest }} Embracer Group in December 2021 launched a takeover bid for €2.75 billion, which would make it a ninth operating group within Embracer.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-12-15-embracer-purchases-asmodee-for-275bn|title=Embracer purchases Asmodee for €2.75bn| first= Jeffrey| last = Rousseau | date = December 15, 2021 | accessdate = December 15, 2021 | work = GamesIndustry.biz }}{{Cite web|title=Embracer Group intends to make a strategic acquisition of leading board gaming group Asmodee that would form the ninth operating group|url=https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-intends-to-make-a-strategic-acquisition-of-leading-board-gaming-group-asmodee-that-would-form-the-ninth-operating-group/|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Embracer}} During this announcement, they also revealed acquiring the online retail site Miniature Market sometime in 2021. Embracer Group officially completed its takeover of Asmodee on 8 March 2022.{{Cite web|title=EMBRACER GROUP COMPLETES THE ACQUISITION OF ASMODEE|url=https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-completes-the-acquisition-of-asmodee/}}

After a failed {{US$|2 billion|long=no}} investment deal, in April 2024, Embracer Group announced that it would split up into three separate publicly-traded companies on the Swedish stock market with Asmodee Group AB, incorporated in Karlstad, Sweden, formed as a holding company to manage all Asmodee assets. In February 2025, Asmodee announced it will start trading at Nasdaq Stockholm, marking the completion of the split from Embracer.

In addition to its physical publishing rights, Asmodee began developing video games based on their board game properties for personal computers and mobile gaming. Many of these games were built atop the software libraries that Days of Wonder had crafted for their digital version of Ticket to Ride. As of January 2017, the company had published digital versions of Mysterium and Potion Explosion in addition to existing titles published by their acquired companies. Philippe Dao, the chief marketing officer for Asmodee Digital, stated that they anticipated to have 20 more games out by the end of 2017.{{cite web | url = http://www.polygon.com/2017/1/27/14415270/asmodee-mysterium-app-potion-explosion-zombicide | title = Digital board games are booming, and one company is holding an awful lot of cards | first = Charlie | last = Hall | date = 2017-01-27 | access-date = 2017-01-27 | work = Polygon }}

In October 2017, Asmodee and Fantasy Flight announced the formation of Fantasy Flight Interactive, a division of the merged companies to bring more of Fantasy Flight's physical board games to digital implementations.{{cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/2017/10/24/asmodee-partners-with-fantasy-flight-for-new-digital-board-game-studio/ | title = Asmodee partners with Fantasy Flight for new digital board game studio | first= Mike | last = Minotti | date = October 24, 2017 | access-date = October 24, 2017 | work = Venture Beat }} Among the games, developed by the studio were The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game and The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth. However, as part of company-wide layoffs, the Fantasy Flight Interactive division was closed down in January 2020 and the mobile version of The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game was never released.{{Cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/fantasy-flight-interactive-to-close-after-company-wide-layoffs | title = Fantasy Flight Interactive to close after company wide layoffs | first= Alex | last =Wawro | date = January 7, 2020 | access-date = January 7, 2020 | work = Gamasutra }} Following the closure of Fantasy Flight Interactive, by February 2020, Asmodee announced that it was opening up its library of board games to be made into digital versions through licensing options to any developer.{{cite web | url = https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/082309/big-news-for-digital-board-games-as-asmodee-group-open-up-licensing-options/ | title = Big news for digital board games as Asmodee Group open up licensing options | first = Dann | last = Sullivan | date = February 27, 2020 | access-date = February 28, 2020 | work = Pocket Gamer }} On 11 February 2021, Asmodee announced acquisition of digital multiplayer board game platform, Board Game Arena.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gameosity.com/2021/02/11/asmodee-acquires-digital-gaming-platform-board-game-arena/|title = Asmodee Acquires Digital Gaming Platform Board Game Arena | Gameosity|date = 11 February 2021}} Asmodee Digital was rebranded as Twin Sails Interactive in August 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-17 |title=Asmodee Digital rebrands as Twin Sails Interactive |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/08/asmodee-digital-rebrands-as-twin-sails-interactive |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}

Games published by Asmodée include:

{{colbegin|colwidth=30em}}

• 7 Wonders
• 7 Wonders Duel
• Bloodlust
• Carcassonne
• Catan
• Citadels
• Diplomacy
• Dixit
• Dobble
• Formula De
• Hanabi
• Jaipur
• Jungle Speed
• Liar's Dice
• Pandemic
• Splendor
• Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game
• Talisman: Digital Edition
• The Werewolves of Millers Hollow
• Ticket to Ride
• Time's Up!

{{colend}}

{{colbegin}}

• Access+
• Aconyte
• Asmodee Deutschland
• Atomic Mass Games
• Bezzerwizzer Studio
• Blackfire
• Board Game Arena
• Catan Studio
• Days of Wonder
• Dotted Games
• Edge Entertainment
• Exploding Kittens
• Fantasy Flight Games
• Galapagos
• Gamegenic
• Libellud
• Lion Rampant
• Lookout Games
• Mixlore
• Office Dog
• Philibert
• Plan B Games
• Rebel Studio
• Repos Production
• Space Cow
• Space Cowboys
• Tric Trac
• The Green Board Game Co.
• Unexpected Games
• Z-Man Games
• Zygomatic Games

{{colend}}Former Subsidiaries

• Pearl Games
• Twin Sails Interactive

{{Reflist| refs=

{{cite web |url=https://corporate.asmodee.com/our-corporate-locations |title= Our corporate locations |publisher = Asmodee |access-date= 15 February 2025 }}

{{cite web |url=https://corporate.asmodee.com/corporate-governance |title= Governance |publisher = Asmodee |access-date= 15 February 2025 }}

{{cite web |url=https://corporate.asmodee.com/legal-mentions |title= Legal notice |publisher = Asmodee |access-date= 15 February 2025 }}

{{cite press release |url=https://corporate.asmodee.com/news/asmodee-begins-trading-on-nasdaq-stockholm-today |title=Asmodee begins trading on Nasdaq Stockholm today |publisher = Asmodee |date = 7 February 2025 |access-date=7 February 2025 }}

{{cite press release |url=https://storage.mfn.se/8ad3d14f-83db-4c6f-878e-955540fc2787/asmodee-group-q3-24-25-interim-report-eng.pdf |title= Asmodee Q3 24/25: Double-digit sales and profit growth |publisher = Asmodee |access-date= 15 February 2025 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/05/24/embracer-group-deal-collapse |title=$2 billion partnership deal falls through for Embracer Group |first=Stephen |last=Totilo |date=24 May 2024 |website=Axios |access-date=15 February 2025 |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229194115/https://www.axios.com/2023/05/24/embracer-group-deal-collapse |url-status=live}}

}}

• {{official website}}
• {{official website|fr.asmodee.com|Asmodée Éditions'}} official (original) website {{in lang|fr}}
• [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepublisher/157/asmodee Asmodee] Bio on BoardgameGeek website

{{Asmodee |state=expanded}}

{{Embracer Group}}

{{Tabletop game industry}}

Category:Board game publishing companies

Category:Card game publishing companies

Category:Role-playing game publishing companies

Category:Publishing companies established in 1995

Category:French companies established in 1995

Category:PAI Partners companies

Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Embracer Group

Category:Companies based in Île-de-France

Category:Companies listed on Nasdaq Stockholm