Zynga announces Sports 365 franchise and Looney Tunes deal
Football, golf and a multi-year agreement with Warner Bros.
As it reported its financial results today Zynga also revealed two significant additions to its gaming portfolio; a new sports franchise and a deal with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment regarding the Looney Tunes IP.
Two new sports games are in the works as part of a new brand for the company, Zynga Sports 365. NFL Showdown, which goes live in selected territories today, will feature real world players thanks to a deal with the National Football League and NFL Players Inc. Zynga's other sporting gamble? A multi-platform golf game in collaboration with Tiger Woods that's due in 2015.
The Looney Tunes deal is a multi-year agreement and will see a runner featuring the iconic animations released before the holidays.
"Our Sports effort introduces a new franchise brand for us - Zynga Sports 365"
"Today we are announcing that we are expanding our game development efforts in two new additional categories: Sports and Runner," said CEO Don Mattrick.
"Our Sports effort introduces a new franchise brand for us - Zynga Sports 365 - and with it, new mobile games in football with the NFL and NFL Players Inc. and in golf with one of the most iconic athletes in the world, Tiger Woods.
"Our Runner expansion features a new partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to bring to life their beloved Looney Tunes brand for mobile consumers. We are pleased to launch the geo-lock for our new football game - NFL Showdown - today and look forward to making it, along with our Tiger Woods golf game and Looney Tunes runner game available globally to fans around the world."