Rovio Entertainment

"We're ambitious, take risks, move fast, and are the best at getting better."
―Rovio[2]

Rovio Entertainment, formerly known as Relude Oyj and Rovio mobile is a Finnish video game development studio best known for the Angry Birds series. From 2012 to 2020, Rovio developed two Star Wars crossovers for the Angry Birds franchise, Angry Birds Star Wars, and its sequel, Angry Birds Star Wars II.

Rovio also produced several Star Wars-themed animated shorts promoting the games. Rovio was founded on November 10, 2003 in Helsinki, Finland. Including the Star Wars Angry Birds games, Rovio has produced 65 games since its creation. Rovio Entertainment is currently led by Alexandre Pelletier-Normand.

History

Founding

"Established in 2003, Rovio has been making smash hit games and entertainment for over 16 years."
―Rovio[2]

Rovio Entertainment was founded by Niklas Hed, Jarno Väkeväinen and Kim Dikert in Helsinki, Finland[2] on November 10,[1] 2003 as Relude. In 2005, Relude received funding through an inversion and changed its name to Rovio. In December of 2009, Relude, now Rovio mobile, released Angry Birds, Rovio's 52nd game.[2] The game involved using a slingshot to launch birds into structures protecting at least one pig.[7]

Angry Birds Star Wars

"This is the best Angry Birds game we've ever done, […] As a big Star Wars fan myself, I'm really excited about this new universe. The Force is definitely strong with this one."
―Peter Vesterbacka, CMO of Rovio[8]
Angry Birds Star Wars, a crossover between the Angry Birds and Star Wars saga

Angry Birds Star Wars, a crossover between the Angry Birds and Star Wars saga

In 2011, Rovio received financial success with Angry Birds and changed its name to Rovio Entertainment Ltd.[2] On October 8, 2012, Rovio announced Angry Birds Star Wars, a collaboration with LucasArts crossover game with the Star Wars franchise featuring characters, worlds and levels inspired by the original trilogy films. They also announced merchandise consisting of Halloween costumes, plush toys and action figures, which would be available on October 28. The company's members marked the announcement day as a "banner day" for them, believing that the new Angry Birds Star Wars products and animated trailers would be liked by fans. In the announcement, they also shared that they collaborated with LucasArts in development[8]

Angry Birds Star Wars was released on November 8, 2012,[9] initially on OS|iPhone, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, Mac, Personal computer, Windows Phone, and Nintendo 3DS[10] and BlackBerry 10.[11]

Angry Birds Star Wars II, a crossover with content and characters from Lucasfilm's most recent works, such as the prequels and Star Wars Rebels.

Angry Birds Star Wars II, a crossover with content and characters from Lucasfilm's most recent works, such as the prequels and Star Wars Rebels.

Following the game's success, Rovio announced in July 15, 2013 their next game, Angry Birds Star Wars II, stating that as the prequel had been a blockbuster, they were thrilled to introduce the new "exciting" chapter in the Angry Birds Star Wars Saga, as well as introducing "Telepods," a way to "expand" the players' experience by buying real-life birds and pigs, and using the telepods to obtain them in the game.[12] On September 18, 2013, Angry Birds Star Wars II released,[13] which featured content and characters from the animated TV show Star Wars Rebels's first season, and content from the prequel trilogy. The game released on iPhone, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, Mac, Personal computer, and Windows Phone 8.[14] The first game later released on October 29, 2013 on Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U, as well as the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS,[15] as well as on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, which Rovio expected to release in November.[16]

The Angry Birds Star Wars Saga also contained various books.[17] In February 1, 2013, Angry Birds Star Wars Sticker & Poster Activity Annual 2013 was released.[18] It was followed by Ultimate Sticker Collection: Angry Birds Star Wars, which released on February 18,[19] and the March 1 Angry Birds Star Wars: Yoda Bird's Heroes.[20] Angry Birds Star Wars: Lard Vader's Villains was published on March 1 of the same year.[21] In 2014, Angry Birds Star Wars Character Encyclopedia was released on January 6[22] and Ultimate Factivity Collection: Angry Birds Star Wars was published on December 15.[23]

Rovio later removed some of its games from the Google Play and the Apple Store,[24] including both Angry Birds Star Wars games in March 2020, however, Rovio continued to support the game until the end of that year.[25]

Works

Gameography

Title Date
Angry Birds Star Wars November 8, 2012[10]
Angry Birds Star Wars II September 18, 2013[13]

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Premium-Era-real Rovio Entertainment Oyj by YTJ on YTJ (Finnish government service) (backup link archived on January 29, 2022)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Premium-Era-real About by Rovio on Rovio Entertainment: "We craft joy with player-focused gaming experiences that last for decades." (backup link archived on January 22, 2022)
  3. ↑ Premium-Era-real Game Studios on Rovio Entertainment: "Rovio's four locations in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Canada are home to five game studios, each with their own focus and mission. Learn more about the studios that make Rovio's unique brand of joy a reality." (backup link archived on March 5, 2021)
  4. ↑ Premium-Era-real Final Results: Requirements met for Sega Europe to acquire Rovio Entertainment Corporation on Rovio (August 10, 2023) (backup link archived on November 29, 2023)
  5. ↑ Premium-Era-real has acquired Playraven Rovio has acquired Playraven by Rovio on Rovio Entertainment (November 30, 2018): "PlayRaven joins the Angry Birds flock. The acquisition strengthens Rovio's expansion into mobile strategy games." (has acquired Playraven backup link archived on April 21, 2021)
  6. ↑ Premium-Era-real Rovio Entertainment acquires hyper-casual game studio Ruby Games by Rovio on Rovio Entertainment (August 12, 2021): "We have today announced that we have entered into an agreement under which we are acquiring 100% of the shares in Ruby Games, a hyper-casual studio based in Izmir, Turkey." (backup link archived on August 12, 2021)
  7. ↑ Angry Birds
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 StarWars.com Announcing Angry Birds Star Wars on StarWars.com (original site is defunct)
  9. ↑ StarWars.com Angry Birds Star Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Angry Birds Star Wars
  11. ↑ Premium-Era-real BlackBerry shows off some of its 70,000 new third-party apps, including Skype, Rdio, Kindle, and Whatsapp on www.theverge.com (January 30, 2013) (backup link archived on January 30, 2013)
  12. ↑ StarWars.com Angry Birds Star Wars II: Join the Pork Side on StarWars.com (backup link not available)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 StarWars.com Angry Birds Star Wars II Now Available on StarWars.com (backup link)
  14. ↑ Angry Birds Star Wars II
  15. ↑ Premium-Era-real Revamped 'Angry Birds Star Wars' will hit game consoles in October by LeJacq, Yannick on www.nbcnews.com (July 18, 2013) (backup link archived on April 2, 2016)
  16. ↑ Premium-Era-real Angry Birds Star Wars confirmed for PS4 and Xbox One by Eurogamer on Eurogamer (October 29, 2013): "Angry Birds Star Wars is coming to next-gen consoles." (backup link archived on April 26, 2022)
  17. ↑ Angry Birds Star Wars series
  18. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Angry Birds Star Wars Sticker & Poster Activity Annual 2013 on Amazon.co.uk (backup link)
  19. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Amazon:Ultimate Sticker Collection Angry Birds Star Wars on Amazon.com (backup link)
  20. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Angry Birds Star Wars Yoda Bird's Heroes on Amazon.co.uk (backup link)
  21. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Angry Birds Star Wars Lard Vader's Villains on Amazon.co.uk (backup link)
  22. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Angry Birds Star Wars Character Encyclopedia on Amazon.com (backup link)
  23. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Amazon:Ultimate Factivity Collection: Angry Birds Star Wars on Amazon.com (backup link)
  24. ↑ Premium-Era-real A letter to our fans by Rovio on Rovio Entertainment (June 22, 2021): "We're committed to our fans, and will start work on bringing some old games back." (backup link archived on December 24, 2021)
  25. ↑ Premium-Era-real Thank you Angry Birds Star Wars players by Rovio on angrybirds.com (backup link archived on September 27, 2020)

External links

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