SYBO Acquired by Miniclip

SYBO has announced it has been acquired by Miniclip, a game developer and publisher. The acquisition is set to complete this July following the legacy game’s 10th anniversary. 

"We are so thankful for the vision, expertise and execution from Mathias and the whole SYBO team, who have strengthened ‘Subway Surfers’ both creatively and commercially during this past decade," says Sylvester Rishøj Jensen, co-founder, SYBO. “’Subway Surfers’ has continued to be a successful mobile game for millions of fans worldwide, year after year." 

“When we started this 10 years ago, our dream was to create something special that would be loved for generations to come,” says Bodie Jahn-Mulliner, co-founder, SYBO. “The whole company, and our incredible fans, have driven the game to stellar heights. We have really had perfect flow in our partnership and gaming adventure, which has now culminated in what is one of the biggest – if not the biggest – deals in Danish gaming history.” 

The company plans to keep the current management team in place with David Byrne, who joined in 2018 as chief operating officer and head of games; Naz Amarchi-Cuevas, who joined in 2017 as chief commercial officer and head of marketing; Anne Schnack Hansen, who joined in 2018 as chief people officer and Andreas Glenvig, who joined in 2019 as finance director.  

"We are incredibly thankful to our founders for their vision and trust,” says Mathias Gredal Nørvig, chief executive officer, SYBO. “15 years after Sylvester and Bodie started working together, 10 years after ‘Subway Surfers’ came to market and five years after I took the helm as CEO, we now wrap up the first season of SYBO’s journey with a great promise of what’s to come. Miniclip brings to SYBO added experience, reach and strength as we celebrate our tenth anniversary and look to the next decade and beyond. I am so proud! Proud of our game development teams, all support functions, and management team, for passionately expanding the ‘Subway Surfers’ game experience, remaining committed to the formula our community loves, and to continue delivering surprise and delight for ‘Subway Surfers’ fans on multiple platforms and genres." 

"Since its launch in May 2012, the ‘Subway Surfers’ mobile game has grown to more than 150 million monthly active players, it holds the title as the most downloaded mobile game, it was the world’s first game to cross one billion downloads on Google Play and the most downloaded endless runner game in Apple's App Store's history,” says Saad Choudri, chief executive officer, Miniclip. "Miniclip has always had a strong focus on building high-quality games that unleash the gamer in everyone, which has helped define the business and allowed us to lead in a crowded marketplace, delivering consistent growth through building our M&A with fantastic and innovative new partners. Which is why the SYBO team felt like such a natural fit, having developed one of the world’s most popular games. They have a proven record of delivering and maintaining an incredible gamer experience, as well as continuing to grow virally."