Ludia plans mergers and acquisitions and hiring spree post Jam City departure.

After separating from its parent company, Jam City, Ludia, a Montreal-based developer known for popular titles like Jurassic World: The Game and Jurassic World Alive, is setting its sights on expansion through acquisitions and increasing its workforce. The company was acquired by Jam City in a $165 million deal three and a half years ago. Although the original plan was for Jam City to go public, the acquisition still took place, resulting in nearly 400 employees at Ludia at that time.

Since the acquisition, Ludia saw some downsizing, and now, with 130 employees, it is looking to grow even more. The split from Jam City happened when members of the senior management team, along with a group of Canadian investors, finalized the purchase of Ludia for an undisclosed amount of money. Some of the backers include Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Investissement Québec, BDC Capital Growth Equity Partners, Export Development Canada (EDC), and Groupe W, with additional assistance from National Bank.

Jimmy Gendron, the CEO of Ludia, revealed that the decision to sell was not driven by an active search from Jam City but rather by the opportunity to explore potential deals with investors. By mutually deciding to pursue an acquisition, Ludia now has the freedom to focus on creating new games, both based on licensed properties and original ideas. The financial backing from the consortium of investors provides ample support for Ludia to invest in new games and media, as well as explore growth opportunities through acquisitions.

Gendron emphasized that no staff were let go as a result of the acquisition. In fact, Ludia is planning to add 50 new jobs over the next year, focusing on rebuilding its corporate functions that were previously scaled back under Jam City’s ownership. Additionally, the company aims to continue developing new games while maintaining its existing portfolio.

While the specific details of Ludia’s plans for mergers and acquisitions were not disclosed, Gendron mentioned that the company would be targeting studios and games within the stable and profitable mobile gaming sector. For the time being, Ludia will not venture into other platforms beyond mobile.

Discussing the challenges facing the gaming market, Gendron acknowledged the difficulties related to user acquisition and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, he believes there is room for innovation in the industry, particularly in creating new games that can break into the top-grossing charts. Gendron expressed confidence in the potential for growth and success through innovation and adapting to the current trends in mobile gaming.

Looking ahead, Gendron expressed that the goal for Ludia is not to be acquired again in the near future but rather to establish itself as a leading independent publisher in Canada. The company envisions a long-term growth strategy with the full support of its investors.