Games Investment Returned to Pre-Zynga Levels in 2013, Thanks to Mobile

Gaming investment in 2013 returned “to 2010 levels,” an increase of 16 percent over the year before, according to the latest Global Games Investment Review, released by Digi-Capital today.

Why is 2010 interesting? Because Zynga’s not-so-awesome IPO scared off many investors after the company’s stock cratered in early 2012. Now at a safe remove from that episode, those investors have forgiven or forgotten, or just noticed new opportunities that weren’t as obvious in the heyday of social-gaming hype.

Unsurprisingly, Digi-Capital attributes the return last year to approximately $1 billion in games investment to mobile games and gaming technology/B2B companies, with little investment activity in the social/casual, console/PC or advertising sectors of the industry.

The report also notes a new record for gaming mergers & acquisitions, up to a value of $5.6 billion in 2013, attributed to “mobile and Asia.” Read: Thanks a bunch, SoftBank and GungHo, for plunking down $1.5 billion on Supercell last year.

Digi-Capital predicts that by 2017, mobile and online games will represent 60 percent of a $100 billion overall revenue tally for gaming.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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