:

TENCENT IN TALKS TO BUY SUPERPLAY FOR $1B+

DEV DESK1 MIN READ
MON, JUL 20, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Tencent is negotiating to acquire Israeli game developer SuperPlay in a deal valuing the studio between $1B-$1.5B, less than a year after Playtika purchased it for $690M.

The potential acquisition would transfer SuperPlay, a fast-growing gaming studio, to the Chinese technology giant along with a significant earnout commitment. Playtika acquired SuperPlay in early 2024 for $690 million. The reported new valuation represents a substantial increase in the studio's worth in a short timeframe. Tencent's interest in SuperPlay underscores the tech giant's continued expansion in gaming. The Israeli developer has positioned itself as a competitive asset in the mobile and casual gaming markets. The deal, if completed, would mark another high-profile acquisition by Tencent in the gaming sector. The transaction's earnout structure—performance-based payments tied to future milestones—adds complexity to the valuation.

■ SOURCES

Techmeme

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE STARTUPS DESK

A proposed Utah data center project has been drastically reduced in size following backlash from lawmakers and the public. The facility was originally planned to span an area nearly three times larger than Manhattan.

2H AGOIndustry Desk

Natural, a one-year-old startup, secured $30 million in funding to develop payment infrastructure designed specifically for autonomous AI transactions, positioning itself as a competitor to Stripe's payment ecosystem.

2H AGOAI Desk

Infinity, an AI infrastructure startup founded by Jeremy Nixon, secured $15 million in seed funding to build an inference library compatible across all chip architectures. The company reached a $100 million valuation.

4H AGOAI Desk

Cambridge-based CuspAI closed a $450M Series B round led by Kleiner Perkins and NEA. The funding supports the startup's AI platform for discovering new materials used in chip manufacturing and other industries.

13H AGOAI Desk

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

ONE EMAIL, 5 STORIES, 06:00 UTC. UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME.