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The original FarmVille is shutting down for good

Eric Abent | Sep 28, 2020

Back when Facebook was really getting going, it seemed that the only thing anyone could talk about was FarmVille. Seemingly everyone on the platform was playing that game, and those who were using Facebook when FarmVille reached peak popularity can tell you stories of notification inboxes full of FarmVille invites - even if they didn't play the game themselves. We're approaching the end of an era for the original FarmVille, as Zynga has announced that it's shutting down at the end of the year.

Zynga’s Tiny Royale brings bite-sized battle royale to Snapchat

Eric Abent | Jun 5, 2019

Almost a month ago to the day, Snapchat rolled out Snap Games. The feature is pretty self-explanatory from the name alone, as it focuses on small games that can be played with friends from within the Snapchat app. At the time of its reveal, Snapchat announced the first six titles slated for Snap Games, and today one of those titles, Zynga's Tiny Royale, is going live.

Zynga continues to fall as new mobile gaming kings rise

Brittany A. Roston | Feb 12, 2015

Zynga, for a brief while, was chief among game creators in the mobile gaming world, laying claim to some of Facebook's then-famous games. Its reign started slipping a couple of years ago, however, as mobile gaming trends shifted, and though it has tried different things to reverse that trend, the company has largely continued in its downwards spiral. All the while, competitors have risen to fill its void, most notable among them being King Digital, the company behind Candy Crush.

Zynga planning NFL game despite continued woes

Brittany A. Roston | Aug 8, 2014

Zynga's persistent troubles have continued to follow the company, but despite them it is still trying to keep itself afloat. As part of this, Zynga has announced that it'll be launching a mobile game called NFL Showdown under a licensing deal with the league.

FarmVille goes mobile as Zynga tries smartphone gaming

Chris Davies | Apr 17, 2014

Zynga may best be known for its Facebook games, but the company is bringing a new mobile FarmVille to iPhone, iPad and Android in an attempt to turn around its underwhelmed players. FarmVille 2: Country Escape can be played in both single-player and multi-player modes, with gameplay on the phone or tablet synchronized with what's happening online on Facebook.

Zynga purchases NaturalMotion then lays off 15 percent of own workforce

JC Torres | Jan 30, 2014

In a rather ironic turn of events, game maker Zynga acquired gaming company NaturalMotion for a whooping amount of $527 million. And then on the same day, it also let go 314 employees, around 15 percent of its entire roster.

Facebook investigates tracking users’ cursors and screen behavior

Will Conley | Oct 30, 2013

Facebook has been actively researching the feasibility, effectiveness, and profitability of tracking users' cursors and screen positions, reports the Wall Street Journal. The data would give the social media giant the ability to analyze the ways in which users interact with Facebook content and advertising. This would in turn let it change the site and its advertising methods according to where users hover their mice and scroll their device displays.

Zynga settles lawsuit with Kixeye and former employee over confidential data theft

Brittany A. Roston | Sep 11, 2013

Alan Patmore found himself hit with a lawsuit from his former employer Zynga late last year after he left the ailing company for another called Kixeye. According to Zynga, Patmore had pilfered 763 files when he left the company, among them being confidential designs, while also claiming that Kixeye was aware of this theft and accessed the data. Nearly a year later, the matter has been put to rest.

Zynga CEO Don Mattrick makes changes, three executives to leave says sources

Brittany A. Roston | Aug 13, 2013

Earlier this summer, Zynga's previous CEO stepped down to make way for former Microsoft executive Don Mattrick, who has the substantial task of pulling the company from its dregs. As part of that task, Mattrick has reportedly made some restructuring changes and as a result three top executives will be resigning and leaving the company.

Zynga puts the kibosh on OMGPOP as woes increase

Brittany A. Roston | Aug 6, 2013

Modern times have not been kind to Zynga, the maker of online video games that once enjoyed wealth and prosperity as the top dog in the world of Facebook-centric games. Now others have arisen to fill the company's shoes (King of Candy Crush fame being one of them), and Zynga has been steadily suffering since. Gamers are losing interest in once-staples like Mafia Wars, FarmVille, and more, and once again the company has announced a closure.

Zynga reportedly had three top executives resign in July

Brittany A. Roston | Jul 29, 2013

It is no secret that Zynga, maker of several popular Facebook games, has been having considerable financial trouble over the past months. Earlier this month, Microsoft's Don Mattrick went on to become the company's CEO, and following this three top executives have resigned from their position. The information comes from sources said to be familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg.

Microsoft’s Mattrick led 2010 Zynga acquisition talks insiders claim

Chris Davies | Jul 8, 2013

Microsoft explored acquiring Zynga as early as 2010, sources claim, with former entertainment division chief Don Mattrick driving discussions around the company he would, most recently, go on to lead as new CEO. Mattrick, who was named Zynga's chief executive in a multi-million job jump earlier this month, opened negotiations in 2010 with the social gaming company's founder Mark Pincus, sources tell Bloomberg, in what was believed to be an attempt to boost the range of titles on Xbox Live.