Zynga reportedly almost acquired Supercell for $400m in 2012, but deal fell through following failure of OMGPop
Supercell came close to being acquired by Zynga for $400 million in 2012, according to founder and former CEO Mark Pincus. In a recent podcast interview on Deconstructor of Fun, Pincus revealed that he and Supercell CEO and co-founder Ilkka Paananen had reached an agreement on the all-cash acquisition deal.
The transaction never materialized after Zynga’s board of directors rejected the proposal, demanding the company first prove it could effectively manage its existing portfolio before pursuing additional acquisitions. The board’s conservative stance came amid challenges with OMGPop, the Draw Something developer that Zynga had acquired.
Reflecting on the decision, Pincus expressed regret about his inability to challenge the board’s judgment, stating: “I wish I had more confidence as a founder and CEO to go against the grain and fire my board for being idiots.” The failed deal represents a significant what-if moment in mobile gaming history, as Supercell would go on to become one of the industry’s most successful and valuable companies.