Miniclip
{{short description|Swiss mobile game publisher}}
{{Advert|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Miniclip
| logo = Miniclip.svg
| screenshot =
| caption =
| screenshot_size = 300px
| collapsible =
| company_type = Subsidiary
| foundation = 30 March 2001
| founder = Robert Small
| location_city = Neuchâtel
| location_country = Switzerland
| key_people = Robert Small (President)
Marius Manolache (COO)
James Russell (CPO)
Sérgio Varanda (CCO)
Claudia Gorman (GC)
Stefan Beurier (CFO)
| CEO = Saad Choudri (CEO)
| parent = Tencent (since 2015){{cite web |publisher=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tencent-takes-majority-stake-in-miniclip |title=Tencent takes majority stakes in Miniclip |date=19 February 2015 |access-date=11 August 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811082215/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tencent-takes-majority-stake-in-miniclip }}
| url = {{URL|miniclip.com}}
| registration = Optional
| current_status = Active
| language = English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish, Russian, Polish, Romanian, Hungarian, Korean, Chinese, Turkish, Hindi, Japanese
| language_count = 16
| advertising = No
| website_type = Online games
}}
Miniclip is a Swiss mobile game publisher and former browser game website that was first launched on 30 March 2001.{{cite web|last1=Weber|first1=Rachel|title=From MiniClip to Mega Brand|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-05-17-miniclip-interview|website=Game Industry Biz|date=17 May 2013|access-date=3 November 2016|archive-date=7 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607181314/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-05-17-miniclip-interview|url-status=live}} It was started by Robert Small and Tihan Presbie with a budget of £40,000.{{cite web|publisher=The Financial Times|title=Game Plan Keeps It Simple |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d074cf50-7375-11dd-8a66-0000779fd18c.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603015821/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d074cf50-7375-11dd-8a66-0000779fd18c.html |archive-date=3 June 2009 }} In 2008, Miniclip was valued at over £275 million.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Miniclip has been shut down forever |url=https://www.gamingbible.com/news/miniclip-has-been-shut-down-forever-20221024 |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=GAMINGbible |language=en}} In 2018, the company gained over $400 million in revenue through its mobile gaming hit, 8 Ball Pool.{{cite web| website= Pocketgamer.biz| publisher= Pocket Gamer| title= Miniclip pockets over $400 million from 8 Ball Pool on mobile| last= Iain| first= Harris| date= 14 September 2018| access-date= 7 August 2023| url= https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/69033/miniclip-pockets-over-400m-through-8-ball-pool-revenue/| url-status= live| archive-date= 7 August 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230807105632/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/69033/miniclip-pockets-over-400m-through-8-ball-pool-revenue/}}{{cite web |publisher=Sensor Tower |title=Miniclip Racks Up $400 Million in 8 Ball Pool Revenue |url=https://sensortower.com/blog/8-ball-pool-revenue |last=Oliver |first=Yeh |access-date=8 August 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=23 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723124905/https://sensortower.com/blog/8-ball-pool-revenue}}
History
As of July 2009, over 400 applications were hosted on its own website.{{Cite web |date=2009-07-07 |title=About Miniclip - Miniclip Corporate Site {{!}} Free Online Games |url=http://corporate.miniclip.com/about-miniclip.htm |access-date=2022-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707104815/http://corporate.miniclip.com/about-miniclip.htm |archive-date=7 July 2009 }}
In February 2015, Tencent acquired majority stakes of Miniclip.{{cite news|title=China's Tencent moves into Europe with investment in mobile and online game publisher Miniclip (exclusive)|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/02/18/chinas-tencent-invests-in-europes-mobile-and-online-game-publisher-miniclip-exclusive/|work=VentureBeat|date=18 February 2015|access-date=7 May 2017|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617015304/https://venturebeat.com/2015/02/18/chinas-tencent-invests-in-europes-mobile-and-online-game-publisher-miniclip-exclusive/|url-status=live}} In December 2016, Miniclip surpassed 1 billion downloads across its published mobile games on iOS-based, Android-based, and Windows Phone-based devices. In March 2022, Miniclip announced that it had reached 4 billion downloads worldwide with 8 Ball Pool alone accounting for 1 billion of them.{{Cite web |last=Orr |first=Aaron |title=Miniclip exceeds 4 billion downloads |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/78493/miniclip-exceeds-4-billion-downloads/ |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=pocketgamer.biz |date=28 March 2022 |archive-date=29 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329111029/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/78493/miniclip-exceeds-4-billion-downloads/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |website=Gameworldobserver |publisher=Game World Observer |last=Evgeny |first=Obedkov |title=8 Ball Pool publisher Miniclip surpassed 4 billion downloads across its portfolio of mobile games |date=28 March 2022 |access-date=7 August 2023 |url=https://gameworldobserver.com/2022/03/28/8-ball-pool-publisher-miniclip-surpassed-4-billion-downloads-across-its-portfolio-of-mobile-games |url-status=live |archive-date=7 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807104633/https://gameworldobserver.com/2022/03/28/8-ball-pool-publisher-miniclip-surpassed-4-billion-downloads-across-its-portfolio-of-mobile-games }}{{cite web |publisher=Game News 24 |title=Three world-wide miniclip games have been downloaded four billion times |last=Ron |first=Nash |url=https://www.game-news24.com/2022/03/28/three-world-wide-miniclip-games-have-been-downloaded-four-billion-times/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=8 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808010322/https://game-news24.com/2022/03/28/three-world-wide-miniclip-games-have-been-downloaded-four-billion-times/ }}
In April 2021, Miniclip had celebrated its 21st anniversary. In response, the CEO of Miniclip claimed that it would be keeping away from developing browser-based games to prioritize its mobile gaming products, including Agar.io, 8 Ball Pool, Mini Militia, Ludo Party and more.{{cite web |publisher=Pocket Gamer |last=Aagon |first=Orr |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/78565/miniclip-to-focus-on-mobile/#:~:text=The%20current%20Miniclip.com%20website,on%20both%20browser%20and%20mobile. |title=Miniclip commits to mobile games publishing, pivots from web browser games |date=7 April 2022 |access-date=10 August 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231434/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/78565/miniclip-to-focus-on-mobile/#:~:text=The%20current%20Miniclip.com%20website,on%20both%20browser%20and%20mobile. }}
In April 2022, Miniclip announced that it would begin prioritizing its mobile games. As a result, the browser game portal was shut down in July 2022 and the website lost all but its two most popular games of the time, Agar.io and 8 Ball Pool.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-07 |title=The evolution of Miniclip.com - Player FAQ |url=https://support.miniclip.com/hc/en-us/articles/5091169897617 |url-status=live |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=support.miniclip.com |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715093620/https://support.miniclip.com/hc/en-us/articles/5091169897617 }}{{cite web| publisher= Give Me Sport| title= Miniclip is officially closing down its online servers| last= Oscar| first= Rihll| date= 21 October 2022| access-date= 7 August 2023| url= https://www.givemesport.com/88073966-miniclip-is-officially-closing-down-its-online-servers/| url-status= live| archive-date= 7 August 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230807110713/https://www.givemesport.com/88073966-miniclip-is-officially-closing-down-its-online-servers/}}{{cite web|publisher=Games Industry|access-date=7 August 2023|last=Danielle|first=Partis|title=Miniclip has not shut down its website|date=26 October 2022|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/miniclip-has-not-shut-down-its-website|url-status=live|archive-date=7 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807111937/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/miniclip-has-not-shut-down-its-website}}
In June 2022, Miniclip agreed to acquire SYBO, the co-publisher and co-developer of Subway Surfers, in an undisclosed deal.{{cite web |publisher=Venture Beat |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/miniclip-will-acquire-subway-surfers-maker-sybo/ |title=Miniclip will acquire Subway Surfers maker Sybo |date=24 June 2022 |access-date=24 June 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816043717/https://venturebeat.com/games/miniclip-will-acquire-subway-surfers-maker-sybo/ }}{{cite web |publisher=Pocket Gamer |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/79057/miniclip-to-acquire-subway-surfers-studio-sybo/ |last=Dave |first=Bradley |title=Miniclip to acquire Subway Surfers studio Sybo |date=25 June 2022 |access-date=8 August 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418054524/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/79057/miniclip-to-acquire-subway-surfers-studio-sybo/ }} The deal with SYBO went through in July 2022.{{cite web |publisher=Game Developer |last=Chris |first=Kerr |title=Miniclip acquires Subway Surfers developer Sybo |date=27 June 2022 |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/miniclip-acquires-subway-surfers-developer-sybo |url-status=live |access-date=8 August 2023 |archive-date=8 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808003641/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/miniclip-acquires-subway-surfers-developer-sybo }}
In November 2024, Embracer Group announced that they would divest Easybrain to Miniclip for a consideration of $1.2 billion, with the transaction expected to close in early 2025.{{cite web |last1=McEvoy |first1=Sophie |title=Embracer divests Easybrain to Miniclip in $1.2bn deal |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/embracer-divests-easybrain-to-miniclip-in-12bn-deal |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=14 November 2024 |language=en |date=14 November 2024}}
Studios
Mobile games
Miniclip has developed and published numerous mobile games for iOS, Android, Symbian, and Windows Phone. This includes 8 Ball Pool, Golf Battle, Gravity Guy, Bloons Tower Defense, On The Run, Plague Inc. for Android, Berry Rush, Agar.io, Diep.io, Mini Militia, Ludo Party and Head Ball 2.
Other platforms
In September 2012, Microsoft announced on the Windows blog on 31 August 2012 (see also List of Xbox games on Windows) that Miniclip games would be able to distribute their games on the Xbox division of Windows 8. Miniclip games that are supported by Xbox for Windows 8 include Gravity Guy, iStunt 2, and Monster Island. Gravity Guy was released on Windows Store on 29 November 2010.
In April 2013, most Miniclip games for Windows 8 and Windows Phone were distributed for free for one year.{{Cite web |last=updated |first=George Ponder last |date=2013-04-09 |title=MiniClip adds Windows Phone versions to free gaming offer |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/miniclip-windows-phone-games-free-limited-time |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Windows Central |language=en}}
On 14 February 2017, Miniclip released their first mobile racer game which was compatible with Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4, titled MX Nitro.{{cite web|url=http://blog.miniclip.com/2017/02/14/mx-nitro-now-ps4-xbox-one-pc/|title=MX Nitro - OUT NOW on PS4, Xbox One & PC - The Miniclip Blog|date=14 February 2017|access-date=16 February 2017|archive-date=16 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216220532/http://blog.miniclip.com/2017/02/14/mx-nitro-now-ps4-xbox-one-pc/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last=Kevin |first=Dooley |website=teamvvv.com |title=MX Nitro coming to PS4, Xbox One & PC in February |access-date=16 August 2023 |date=18 January 2017 |url-status=live |url=https://www.teamvvv.com/news/mx-nitro-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-pc-in-february/ |archive-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926120321/https://www.teamvvv.com/news/mx-nitro-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-pc-in-february/ }}
Malicious software issues
On 1 September 2005, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team issued an advisory concerning Miniclip:
{{blockquote|The Retro64 / Miniclip CR64 Loader ActiveX control contains a buffer overflow vulnerability. This may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute an arbitrary code on a vulnerable system. Although the ActiveX control is no longer in use by either retro64.com or miniclip.com, any system that has used certain pages of these websites in the past (prior to September 2005) may be vulnerable.{{cite web |
url=https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/649289 |
title=Vulnerability Note VU#649289, Retro64 / Miniclip CR64Loader ActiveX control buffer overflow |
publisher=United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, Department of Homeland Security |
date=1 September 2006 |
access-date=26 September 2006 |
archive-date=24 March 2019 |
archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324090700/https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/649289/ |
url-status=live }}}}
In 2006, several security firms reported that some Miniclip users had installed a "miniclipgameloader.dll" which contained the hostile code identified as "Trojan Downloader 3069.”{{cite web |
url=http://virusinfo.prevx.com/pxparall.asp?PXC=3176336828 |
archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215231213/http://virusinfo.prevx.com/pxparall.asp?PXC=3176336828 |
archive-date=15 December 2007 |
title=Trojan.DownLoader.3069 / MINICLIPGAMELOADER.DLL |
date=15 July 2005 |
publisher=Prevx }} In the same year, another download related to Miniclip installed "High Risk" malware called "Trojan-Downloader.CR64Loader.”{{cite web|
archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216012528/http://research.sunbelt-software.com/threatdisplay.aspx?name=Trojan-Downloader.CR64Loader&threatid=39303|
archive-date=16 December 2007 |
url=http://research.sunbelt-software.com/threatdisplay.aspx?name=Trojan-Downloader.CR64Loader&threatid=39303 |
publisher=Sunbelt Software |
title=Threat Details - Trojan-Downloader.CR64Loader |
date=14 September 2006 }}
References
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External links
- {{Official website|https://www.miniclip.com/}}
{{Tencent}}
Category:Browser-based game websites
Category:Internet properties established in 2001
Category:Mobile game companies
Category:2001 establishments in Switzerland
Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions
Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions