Digital Bros

Digital Bros is an Italian company that develops, publishes, and sells video games on international markets.[1] The group is active worldwide with offices in Italy and abroad in United Kingdom, the United States, France, Spain, Germany, China and Hong Kong.[2][3]

Digital Bros
TypeListed
BIT: DIB
FTSE All-Share Index
ISINIT0001469995
IndustryVideo games
Founded1989 (1989)
FoundersAbramo and Raffaele Galante
Headquarters
Milan
,
Italy
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Abramo Galante
  • (Chairman, CEO)
  • Raffaele Galante
  • (CEO)
  • Davide Galante
  • (Director)
  • Dario Italo Treves
  • (Director)
  • Stefano Salbe
  • (chief financial officer)
Subsidiaries§ Subsidiaries
Websitedigitalbros.com

The brands with which the Group is present in the world of video games are Halifax and 505 Games.[2]
In detail the activity of the Group is currently organized into five operating segments:[2]

  • Premium Games: the activity consists in the acquisition of exploitation rights of video game developers and their subsequent distribution is through an international sales network and through the distribution of digital marketplaces such as Steam, Sony PlayStation Network, Microsoft Xbox Live, Nintendo eShop. Video games are normally acquired under an exclusive license and with a multi-year right of international exploitation.
    The brand used worldwide by the group in this sector is 505 Games.[2]
  • Free to Play: works in the development and publication of video games that are distributed for free and that provide the possibility for the player to make purchases during the various phases of the game. The brand used by the group worldwide in this sector is 505 Games Mobile.[2]
  • Italian distribution: it consists in the distribution in Italy of video games purchased from international publishers.[2]
  • Other Operations: includes minor activities, including Digital Bros Game Academy Srl, whose object is the organization of specialized and training courses in the field computing and gaming.
  • Holding: includes all the features coordination of the various operating sectors carried out directly by the parent company.[2]

History

1989–2000: Founding and growth

Digital Bros was founded in 1989, based in Milan, Italy, by the brothers Abramo and Raffaele Galante for their interest in technology and entertainment. In the 1990s, the company had the rights to distribute the major successes of the major international publishers on the Italian market through its Halifax brand; some of these, including Pro Evolution Soccer, Tomb Raider and Resident Evil, have helped to create the video game market in Italy.[4] It was listed on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange in 2000.[5]

Digital Bros also operated the pan-European television channel Game Network from 1999 to 2006[6] and operated European servers for The Legend of Mir series and various other online games under the Game Network brand until 2009.

2001–2014: Strengthening and internationalization

In 2007, Digital Bros founded 505 Games, a new subsidiary company, and started the internationalization process by creating a distribution network with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain. In 2012, The evolution of the video game market and the ever greater diffusion of digital content alongside traditional formats, allow the company to expand the business and consolidate its presence in the gaming sector through the distribution of digital marketplaces such as Steam, Sony PlayStation Network, Microsoft Xbox Live.[4] In 2013, the strong growth of the Mobile entertainment market (for smartphones and tablets) and the social network Facebook, led to the creation of a dedicated division, 505 Games Mobile, to focus the distribution of video games for these markets.[4]

2015–2020: Continued investments

In 2015, Digital Bros started an acquisition strategy to implement its product portfolio through both studio acquisition and long-term agreements with video games developer studios.

DR Studios, a development studio based in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, was acquired and is now responsible for the Free to Play video games.[4]
The company acquired a stake of 49% in Ovosonico,[7] an Italian development company based in Varese.[4]
Digital Bros opened a new office, focused on breaking into the main emerging markets, in Shenzhen, China.[4]

In 2017, the group acquired Kunos Simulazioni, an video game developer studio, specializes in creating driving simulations, headquartered in ACI Vallelunga Circuit, Rome, Italy.[8]
In 2019, the company continues its global strengthening on the Asian market, with its branches in China, Hong Kong and Japan.

In 2020, despite the COVID-19 epidemic, the group confirmed its growth and consolidation prospects for turnover, thanks to the global growth of the video games market due to the effect of the cities lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] [10][11] On 3 March 2020, Digital Bros acquires 51% of the remaining shares of the Ovosonico studio from Massimo Guarini.[12] The Ovosonico brand remains the property of Massimo Guarini, controlled by Guarini Design, while the development studio, with its employees, has been acquired by Digital Bros.

Subsidiaries

See also

References
  1. "Digital Bros SpA". bloomberg.com/. bloomberg.com/. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. "Digital Bros". ilsole24ore.com. ilsole24ore.com. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  3. "Digital Bros SpA". bloomberg.com. bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  4. "Overview A Global Company in the Digital Entertainment Industry". digitalbros.com. digitalbros.com.
  5. "Digital Bros". borsaitaliana.it. borsaitaliana.it. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  6. "Digital Bros. Concentrates on Entertainment Through New Media" (PDF). Digital Bros. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  7. Calvin, Alex (14 September 2015). "505 Games parent invests in Murasaki Baby studio Ovosonico". MCV. Intent Media. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  8. "BRIEF-Digital Bros signs prelim. agreement to buy 100 pct Kunos Simulazioni". 20 January 2017 – via Reuters.
  9. "Sales of video games soar as the coronavirus leaves millions trapped in their homes". cnbc.com. cnbc.com. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  10. "Digital Bros punta a più ricavi dai videogiochi di proprietà". ilsole24ore.com. ilsole24ore.com. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  11. "Boom per i videogame nel lockdown: la formazione non si ferma e si digitalizza". ilsole24ore.com. ilsole24ore.com. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  12. "Ovosonico, Massimo Guarini lascia. L'azienda acquisita da Digital Bros, si chiamerà Avantgarden". ilmessaggero.it. ilmessaggero.it. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  13. "Digital Bros. acquisisce Kunos Simulazioni, lo studio di Assetto Corsa". multiplayer.it. multiplayer.it. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
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