Will Aristocrat Sell Raid?
Recently, some rumours have circulated suggesting that Aristocrat will sell Raid. More specifically, there are signs that the company is considering selling their mobile game studio portfolio, which includes Raid developer Plarium.
According to Pocket Gamer, Aristocrat Leisure is conducting a “strategic review” of its mobile gaming assets in light of the fact that mobile games are no longer in close alignment with the company’s increasing focus on social casino games.
This news is understandably of interest to all Raid players. Just how likely is it that the company will sell Raid, and what would that mean for the game’s future?
Raid and Plarium Financial Performance
Is Raid dying, then? It’s easy to jump to such a conclusion when we hear about a potential sale, but the truth is more complicated.
HellHades took a look at Aristocrat’s Half-Year 2024 results and highlighted a few important aspects of the report (you can find the full video below this article).
- Aristocrat is performing well financially
- Raid is still performing well as Pixel United’s highest-earning title
- Aristocrat’s non-casino mobile gaming revenue is not growing in line with global gaming trends
Based on this, it does seem that any move to sell Plarium and Raid would be a strategic business decision rather than shedding a dead product. This also echoes what Aristocrat CEO Trevor Croker said when interviewed about the company financials; casual mobile RPGs don’t sit well with their continued focus on social and mobile casino gaming.
On the other hand, the fact that Aristocrat’s non-casino gaming sales are not performing in line with global gaming sales could be something to keep an eye on. They may want to sell Raid while it’s still performing well.
What Happens if Raid is Sold?
In the event Plarium and Raid were to be sold, we as players probably wouldn’t see too much of a change in the short term. Game studios are bought and sold regularly, after all. Many continue with their projects and goals with minimal interference from their parent company.
This isn’t always the case of course. With a heavily monetized live service game like Raid, a sale could have different implications. It could mean a focus on new content, overhauls, and attracting new players. Alternatively, it could also mean Plarium are tasked with doubling down on recycling existing events like Soul Summons in order to increase player spend with minimal development time.
Until it happens, we won’t know.
Overall, then, we know that Raid is still a solid, fundamental title in Aristocrats’s gaming line-up. If anything, a sale would most likely show Aristocrat is simply shifting focus back to its casino roots.
Check out HellHades’ video below for his full breakdown and insights.