Rovio Bets on Match-3 Formula as Angry Birds Seeks Revenue Rebound

• Angry Birds Match World soft launches amidst Rovio’s declining revenues.
• The new game hopes to revive the company’s profit as a third Angry Bird movie is announced.
  
• Rovio and SEGA readies for Sonic Rumble’s release in Nov 2025.

Rovio Entertainment Corp. has quietly rolled out a new Angry Birds title in Finland, marking the latest attempt by the struggling mobile-gaming company to reverse declining revenues through a formula popularized by breakout hits like King's Candy Crush Saga and Playrix's Homescapes.

The game, Angry Birds Match World, is currently available only through Apple’s App Store in Finland as part of a limited soft launch. The title blends match-3 puzzle mechanics with the franchise's signature slingshot gameplay, tasking players with recovering eggs from antagonist King Pig while traveling through various global locations.

The soft launch represents a strategic return to proven territory for Rovio, which is majority-owned by Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. following its $776 million acquisition in 2023. The company's previous match-3 entry, Angry Birds Match 3, generated $85 million in lifetime player spending across iOS and Android platforms since its 2017 release, according to mobile analytics firm Pocket Gamer. That title still produced approximately $191,000 in revenue during September alone.

Increasing Business Pressure on Rovio

The new release comes as Rovio faces mounting pressure to stabilize its business. The company reported a 7.9% decline in group revenue to €221.8 million in 2023, with key titles including Angry Birds 2 and Angry Birds Journey showing signs of fatigue.

The company is also preparing for the Nov. 5 launch of Sonic Rumble, a 32-player party battle royale game developed in partnership with parent company Sega. That title, originally slated for winter 2024, has been delayed twice.