Zynga Acquires UK Mobile Studio Wonderland

Social gaming giant Zynga has expanded to the UK with it latest acquisition, mobile developer Wonderland Software (GodFinger), which will now operate as Zynga Mobile UK. Neither firm disclosed financial terms for the acquisition, but Zynga says it is only taking on Wonderland Software's team and select properties. The studio's most popular iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad game Godfinger is not included in the deal. Founded in 2009, Wonderland boasts an experienced staff pulled from various UK developers, such as Lionhead, Codemasters, and Bullfrog. The developer's chief executive, Matthew Wiggins, will remain with the team and serve as general manager for Zynga Mobile UK. This marks Zynga's thirteenth studio or talent acquisition in the past eleven months. In April alone, the company absorbed Wonderland, and the San Francisco-based teams from FooBrew (JamLegend) and MarketZero (PokerTableRatings). Its other recent purchases include Beijing's XPD, Austin's Challenge Games, Tokyo's Unoh Games, Boston's Conduit Labs and Floodgate Entertainment, Frankfurt's Dextrose AG, Dallas' Bonfire Studios, McKinney's (Texas) Newtoy Inc., Redwood City's Flock, and New York City's Area/Code. "Wonderland Software has always been dedicated to pursuing big and creative ideas and turning them into games that players love," says Wiggins. "We are thrilled to continue our vision as part of the Zynga family and to reach millions of mobile players across a spectrum of devices."