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Glu Mobile has raised $53.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Key people at Glu Mobile.
Glu Mobile has raised $53.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
San Francisco, California-based Glu Mobile develops and publishes freemium mobile games for smartphones and tablets across the sports, lifestyle, mid-core, and casual gaming genres. In April 2021, the previously publicly traded enterprise was acquired by Electronic Arts for $2.1 billion and subsequently consolidated under the EA Mobile division. Operating a free-to-play business model supported by consumer in-app purchases, the publisher generated historical annual revenues reaching $411.4 million under the leadership of executives like Nick Earl and Greg Ballard. The organization was originally founded as Sorrent in 2001 by Scott Orr and Paul Zuzelo before officially rebranding to its current name in 2005 following a corporate merger with Macrospace. Employing a workforce of approximately 500 people, the firm previously expanded its technological capabilities by acquiring multiplayer software provider GameSpy Industries in 2012.
Key people at Glu Mobile.
Glu Mobile has raised $53.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $28.0M Series D in April 2005.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2005 | $28M Series D | — | ACME Capital, Clearstone, Composite Ventures | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2004 | $20M Series C | — | Alsop Louie Partners, Broadway Angels, DFJ, George Hoyem, Mike Gordon | Announced |
| Apr 1, 2003 | $5M Series B | — | Alsop Louie Partners, DFJ, George Hoyem, Mike Gordon | Announced |
Glu Mobile was a leading developer and publisher of mobile games, specializing in freemium 3D interactive experiences for iOS, Android, and other platforms, including original titles like Deer Hunter and Design Home, as well as licensed games such as Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.[1][2][5][6] The company served a global audience of mobile gamers across genres like social, RPG, racing, sports, and simulation, solving the demand for engaging, accessible free-to-play games on smartphones by shifting from paid downloads to freemium models that drove massive revenue through in-app purchases.[1][2][6] Founded in 2001 and headquartered in San Francisco with offices worldwide, Glu achieved strong growth, raising over $56 million and going public in 2007, before being acquired by Electronic Arts (EA) in April 2021 for $2.1–2.4 billion, significantly expanding EA's mobile portfolio.[2][3][5]
Glu Mobile's roots trace to 2001 with Sorrent, Inc., a mobile game developer that spotted the untapped potential of phones as gaming platforms amid rising mobile adoption and digital distribution.[1][2] In 2005, Sorrent merged with Macrospace to officially form Glu Mobile, enabling a focus on games for feature phones and early smartphones via paid downloads.[1] Key early pivots included a 2007 IPO for expansion funding and a 2010 shift to freemium models, culminating in the 2014 launch of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, which generated $160 million in its first two years and marked a commercial breakthrough through celebrity tie-ins.[1][2] The company evolved through acquisitions like Blammo Games in 2011, building a creative culture of smart risks that propelled it to over 600 employees across studios in San Francisco, San Mateo, Toronto, and Hyderabad.[5][6]
Glu Mobile rode the mobile gaming revolution in the early 2000s, capitalizing on smartphone proliferation and app store ecosystems to pioneer paid-to-freemium transitions, which became the industry's dominant model amid rising digital distribution.[1][2] Its timing aligned with iPhone/Android booms, enabling hits that influenced free-to-play norms and celebrity licensing trends, while market forces like global mobile penetration (now the largest gaming platform) favored its scalable, engaging titles.[5] Post-acquisition by EA in 2021, Glu amplified EA's mobile presence, doubling its business and injecting expertise into major genres, thus shaping the ecosystem by merging indie agility with AAA resources to compete in a $100B+ mobile market.[2][3][5]
Glu Mobile's legacy as a mobile gaming innovator endures within EA, where its studios continue fueling titles in high-growth genres amid trends like cross-platform play, live services, and AI-enhanced personalization. Expect deeper EA integration to drive new IPs and revivals, shaped by metaverse expansions and emerging markets in Asia/Latin America, evolving its influence from standalone disruptor to cornerstone of a mobile-first gaming giant—cementing the vision that turned phones into gaming powerhouses.[2][5]
Glu Mobile has raised $53.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Glu Mobile's investors include ACME Capital, Clearstone, Composite Ventures, Alsop Louie Partners, Broadway Angels, DFJ, George Hoyem, Mike Gordon.
