Oberon saunters into mobile gaming space with I-play acquisition

Online casual gaming giant Oberon Media bought its way onto the mobile playground, picking up London-based publisher I-play for an undisclosed sum.
Oberon powers storefronts customers such as MSN Games Network, Electronic Arts Inc., Verizon Broadband, Comcast and Orange/France Telecom. The New York-based company is looking to become a cross-platform game distributor, offering both licensed and original titles on the Internet, television sets and mobile phones.
The combined companies, which will count approximately 500 employees, are expected to work to leverage distribution relationships with 350 partners around the world.
“From our perspective, being acquired by Oberon really gives both companies a chance to change the rules of the game in terms of casual gaming,” said current CEO David Gosen, who will direct Oberon’s mobile business under the I-play brand. “Casual gaming is where the growth is going to come from. With this combination we will drive huge awareness of mobile gaming, which has been one of the huge issues in the past.”
The move was possible thanks to an additional round of funding for Oberon from new and existing investors including Goldman Sachs, Oak Investment Partners and Lehman Brothers.
I-play has gained substantial traction with licensed titles including “The Fast and the Furious” and “24” as well as original games such as “My Dog” and “Pillowfight.” The deal was rumored to be worth more than $100 million-a likelihood in light of the $358 million market capitalization of Glu Mobile Inc., which is considered a top-three publisher.
Oberon had previously waded into the wireless waters with the acquisitions Blaze and Cmate, two smaller players in mobile gaming.