Kabam
{{Short description|Canadian video game developer}}
{{cleanup press release|1=article|date=May 2014}}
{{update article|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Kabam Inc.
| logo = Kabam Logo.png
| company_type = Private
| foundation = 2006
| headquarters = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| industry = Video game
| key_people = {{Plainlist|
- Seungwon Lee (CEO)
- Tim Fields (CEO March 2017-January 2021)
- Kevin Chou (co-founder)
- Holly Liu (co-founder)
- Michael Li (co-founder)
- Wayne Chan (co-founder)
}}
| revenue = {{increase}} 360 million
| num_employees = 700 (March 7, 2017)
| parent = Netmarble
| subsidiaries = Kabam Games, Inc.
Kabam Games UK LTD.
Kabam Acadia Inc.
Kabam Montreal, Inc.
Kabam Software Inc.
Kabam LA, Inc
Kung Fu Factory
| homepage = {{Official website}}
}}
Kabam (formerly Watercooler, Inc.) is a Canadian video game developer and publisher founded in 2006 and headquartered in Vancouver, with offices in Montreal, San Francisco, and Austin, Texas. The company develops and publishes massively multiplayer social games such as Marvel Contest of Champions and Transformers: Forged to Fight for mobile devices. Before expanding into gaming, Kabam established itself as a social applications developer with focusing on entertainment and sports.
The company has focused on developing "real games," or games with immersive gameplay mechanics akin to more traditional MMOs with an emphasis on the spending and gambling of virtual currency. In late 2009, Kabam launched Kingdoms of Camelot, one of the first successful strategy games on Facebook, but in June 2010, the number of players began constantly shrinking.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidesocialgames.com/2010/06/16/verdonia-game-facebook-playdom/|title=Playdom Reaches Out to Strategy Gamers with Verdonia|publisher=Inside Social Games|date=June 16, 2010}} In April 2015, Kabam announced a shift in its focus to developing AAA mobile games.{{cite web|author=Kevin Chou|url=http://corporate.kabam.com/blog/fewer-bigger-bolder-kabam-is-singularly-focused-on-aaa-mobile-games/|title=Fewer, Bigger, Bolder: Kabam is Singularly Focused on AAA Mobile Games|publisher=Kabam|date=2015-04-20|access-date=2015-06-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628034654/http://corporate.kabam.com/blog/fewer-bigger-bolder-kabam-is-singularly-focused-on-aaa-mobile-games/|archive-date=2015-06-28}}
History
Kabam was founded in 2006 as Watercooler by Kevin Chou, Michael Li, Holly Liu, and Wayne Chan, the company started off focused on building community apps for sports and entertainment fans, amassing more than 25 million users on Facebook and other social networks.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/10/26/daily4.html|title=Sports fantasty social startup Watercooler raises $5.5M|publisher=San Jose Business Journal|date=October 26, 2009}} In October 2009 Watercooler, secured $5.5 million in Series B funding from Betfair, the world's largest Internet betting exchange, and Canaan Partners, which participated in the company's Series A funding in 2007.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2009/10/25/watercooler-raises-55-m-to-create-fan-communities-and-social-games/|title=Watercooler raises $5.5M to expand social fantasy sports game business|publisher=VentureBeat|date=October 25, 2009}} On November 2, 2009, Watercooler, launched Kingdoms of Camelot on Facebook.{{cite web|url=http://ca.ign.com/games/kingdoms-of-camelot/web-70631 |title=Kingdoms of Camelot – Web Games – IGN |publisher=Ca.ign.com |date=2010-04-16 |access-date=2015-06-12}}
On August 3, 2010, Watercooler changed its name to Kabam.{{cite web|author=Chris Morrison |url=http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/watercooler-changes-name-kabam-deeper-social-games/572686 |title=Watercooler Changes Its Name to Kabam, Focuses in on Deeper Social Games | SocialTimes |publisher=Adweek.com |date=2010-08-03 |access-date=2015-06-12}}
On September 19, 2012, CEO Kevin Chou announced that Kabam was considering an IPO.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-18/kabam-weighs-ipo-as-game-maker-expands-beyond-facebook.html|title=Kabam Weighs IPO as Game Maker Expands Beyond Facebook|publisher=Bloomberg|date=September 19, 2012}} A secondary stock sale was agreed at the end of 2013 which valued the company at $700 million, it was also announced at this time that four of its games – led by Kingdoms of Camelot – grossed more than $100 million, with $360 million in revenues for 2013.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/03/10/free-to-play-games-company-kabam-buys-phoenix-age-as-it-pushes-for-650m-in-2014-sales/ |title=Free-To-Play Games Company Kabam Buys Phoenix Age As It Pushes For $650M In 2014 Sales |publisher=TechCrunch |date=2014-03-10 |access-date=2014-04-18}}
In June 2014, Kabam hired former EA Mobile VP Aaron Loeb as Senior Vice President of its North American Studios (San Francisco and Vancouver). While at EA Mobile, he worked on The Simpsons: Tapped Out and Monopoly Slots. Kabam hoped he would provide a link to Hollywood studios.{{cite news|title=Former EA VP Aaron Loeb joins free-to-play mobile company Kabam|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/24/5837756/former-ea-vp-aaron-loeb-joins-free-to-play-mobile-company-kabam|access-date=2 January 2017}} Also in June, Kabam shut down servers for The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age.{{cite web |url=http://www.castleageforums.com/cforum/showthread.php?74646-Kabam-pulls-the-plug |title=Kabam pulls the plug |date=2014-05-22 |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-date=2017-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103003922/http://www.castleageforums.com/cforum/showthread.php?74646-Kabam-pulls-the-plug |url-status=dead }}
Alibaba announced in July 2014 that it planned to invest $120 million in Kabam, giving the company a $1 billion valuation. This allowed its games to be distributed through Alibaba's apps, including Mobile Taobao and the Laiwang messaging app.{{cite news|title=Alibaba pours $120M into Kabam to challenge Tencent|url=http://seekingalpha.com/news/1891675-alibaba-pours-120m-into-kabam-to-challenge-tencent|access-date=1 August 2014}}
In April 2015, Kabam switched its focus to developing AAA mobile games. As a result, several Kabam games were shut down, older Kabam games transferred to other companies and Kabam support for third-party games decreased.
On August 13, 2015, Machine Zone, maker of Game of War: Fire Age, sued Kabam for trade secret theft.{{cite web|author=Dean Takahashi|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/08/21/party-foul-game-of-war-studio-sues-rival-kabam-after-friendly-soiree-banter-got-out-of-control/|title=Party foul: Gameof War studio sues rival Kabam after friendly soirée banter got out of control|publisher=VentureBeat|date=2015-08-21|access-date=2016-03-11}} The conflict was resolved to both companies' satisfaction on September 10.{{cite web|author=Dean Takahashi|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/09/10/machine-zone-and-kabam-politely-resolve-their-trade-secret-lawsuit/|title=Machine Zone and Kabam politely resolve their trade secret lawsuit|publisher=VentureBeat|date=2015-09-10|access-date=2016-03-11}}
On September 10, 2015, Kabam, Disney Interactive, and Lucasfilm released Star Wars: Uprising. In September 2015, Nick Earl, president of worldwide studios, resigned. Mike Verdu was promoted to president of Kabam Studios and chief creative officer in charge of the publisher's game design and game quality. Aaron Loeb was promoted to president of Kabam Studios and live services, in charge of service quality.{{cite web|author=Dean Takahashi|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/09/11/ex-ea-exec-leaves-kabam-as-two-others-get-promotions/|title=Ex-EA exec leaves Kabam as two others get promotions|publisher=VentureBeat|date=2015-09-11|access-date=2016-03-11}}
On January 7, 2016, Kabam announced it had sold its legacy games and third-party-published games to Chinese publisher GAEA Mobile.{{cite web|author=Ric Cowley|url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/62535/kabam-sells-old-titles-to-gaea-mobile/|title=Kabam continues to narrow focus, offloading old mobile titles to Gaea Mobile|publisher=Pocket Gamer|date=2016-01-08|access-date=2016-03-11}} After the downsizing in April 2015, Kabam shut down several older games that were not transferred.
On February 22, 2016, Kabam laid off 8 percent of its company workforce. Kevin Chou, Kabam's chief executive, said in an interview with GamesBeat that the company would focus on free-to-play massively multiplayer mobile games such as its then-current hits, Marvel Contest of Champions and Star Wars: Uprising, putting less emphasis on single-player games such as Fast & Furious.{{cite web|author=Dean Takahashi|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/02/22/kabam-lays-off-8-as-it-focuses-on-massively-multiplayer-mobile-games/|title=Kabam lays off 8% as it focuses on massively multiplayer mobile hits like Marvel: Contest of Champions|publisher=VentureBeat|date=2016-02-22|access-date=2016-03-11}} On June 23, 2016, Kabam announced that they would be selling Realm of the Mad God to DECA Games.
In July 2016, Kabam announced that Marvel Contest of Champions hit $100 million in gross revenue in seven months, the fastest of any game in the company's history (The Hobbit was next fastest at 13 months). In November 2016, Kabam appointed Jeff Howell to the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer.
In August 2016, Kabam partnered with Hasbro to develop Transformers: Forged to Fight. The title was released on April 5, 2017. The game was shut down in January 2023 but was remade available to Netflix members in May 2023.{{Cite web|last=Derrick|first=Connor|date=12 May 2023|title=Transformers: Forged to Fight, the previously shut down robot fighting game, reopens its doors courtesy of Netflix|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/transformers-forged-to-fight/netflix-revival/|access-date=20 July 2023|website=POCKETGAMER.com}}
As of March 1, 2017, Kabam was acquired by Netmarble.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-12-20-netmarble-buys-kabams-vancouver-studio/|title=Netmarble buys Kabam's Vancouver studio|website=gamesindustry.biz}} At this time, Tim Fields took over as CEO.
On August 17, 2020, Kabam released Marvel Realm of Champions, a spin-off of Marvel Contest of Champions. That game would go on to shut down on March 31, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MarvelRealm/status/1481702856533200902|title=It's with deep sadness that we will be bringing Realm to a close on March 31. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We've appreciated the time that you have spent with us, and are very sad to see our adventure come to an end.|date=January 13, 2022|work=Marvel Realm of Champions|publisher=Twitter|access-date=January 14, 2022}}
On January 17, 2022, Kabam announced that Seungwon Lee from Netmarble would assume the role of CEO at Kabam.{{cite web|url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/job-news/77905/kabam-appoints-seungwon-lee-as-ceo/|title=Kabam appoints Seungwon Lee as CEO|website=pocketgamer.biz|date=January 17, 2022}} The company later released Disney Mirrorverse, a Disney crossover mobile role-playing game, on June 23, 2022.
Company acquisitions
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%" |
| Date of Purchase
! Name of Company ! Key Targets ! References |
|---|
| October 22, 2010
| WonderHill | Dragons of Atlantis & Aquarium Life |
| December 20, 2011
| Gravity Bear | Battle Punks |
| June 19, 2012
| Wild Shadow Studios |
| January 27, 2012
| Fearless Studios | Haden Blackman – creator of Star Wars:The Force Unleashed & Cedrick Collomb – formerly Director of Engineering at LucasArts |
| December 3, 2013
| Bomb Buddies |
| January 15, 2013
| Exploding Barrel Games | Margaritaville |
| March 10, 2014
| Phoenix Age | Underworld Empire and Castle Age |
| January 12, 2015
| Tapzen | Mike Verdu – formerly worked on the Command & Conquer franchise at EA, also used to work for Zynga |
| January 12, 2015
| Michael Seegers – former EA games developer |
| May 26, 2016
| Superweapon | Dawn of Steel |
| March 25, 2019
| Riposte Games & Co | Mini Guns publishing |
Games and platforms
{{Update section|date=May 2015}}
= Games developed or acquired by Kabam =
= Games developed by 3rd parties and distributed by Kabam =
Notes:
Release date denotes when a game is first available to play, including closed and open beta releases.
For games that are developed by other studios and distributed by Kabam, the shutdown date is when Kabam discontinued their support of the games. Those games may still be distributed by other publishers, or available to play on servers hosted by companies other than Kabam.
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}