Shift Up Valuation Multiples

Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).

Tencent is the world's largest game publisher, with top-grossing mobile hits like Honor of Kings and Peacekeeper Elite and a steady pipeline of new titles. It also operates WeChat-China's super-app with roughly 1.3 billion users-embedded in daily life for messaging, short video, mini programs, payments, and shopping. Beyond its own platforms, Tencent is a prolific strategic investor, holding stakes in leading internet companies such as PDD, Kuaishou, and Xiaohongshu.

Founded in the late 1990s as an internet portal, NetEase has evolved into China’s second-largest online gaming company. Its early success was anchored by the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Fantasy Westward Journey, which laid the foundation for a durable franchise strategy. Over the past decade, the company has expanded its portfolio with successful titles such as Justice, Identity V, Naraka: Bladepoint, and Eggy Party, all of which continue to maintain sizable and engaged player bases.In addition to its in-house development capabilities, NetEase partners with global IP holders such as Microsoft and Marvel to develop and publish titles based on established franchises, including World of Warcraft, Diablo Immortal, and Marvel Rivals, further strengthening its global presence.

Sea started as a gaming business, Garena, but in 2015 expanded into e-commerce. Sea operates Southeast Asia's largest e-commerce company, Shopee, in terms of gross merchandise value. Shopee is a hybrid C2C and B2C marketplace platform operating in Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brazil. For Garena, Free Fire is the key revenue generating game. Sea’s third business, SeaMoney, provides lending, payment, digital banking, and insurance services.As of March 31, 2025, Forrest Xiaodong Li, the founder, chairman and CEO, owned 59.1% of voting power. Tencent owned 18.5% of issued shares with no voting power.

Nintendo started its video game console business in 1983 by launching the NES, and started its portable console business in 1989 by launching the Game Boy. Since then, the firm has focused on expanding the gaming population by delivering unique entertainment experiences on its original console systems. However, Nintendo not only makes game consoles, but also owns world-renowned IPs such as Super Mario, Pokemon, and Zelda, which have been a source of cash flow for 40 years.

Electronic Arts is one of the largest global developers and publishers of video games. Its most important franchises are the Madden NFL and FC soccer games, which it releases annually. In 2024, it also relaunched its American college football game. Other major franchises include Apex Legends, Battlefield, and The Sims. Typically, about three quarters of the firm’s sales are from in-game spending, with the remainder coming from initial game sales.

Take-Two is one of the largest global developers and publishers of video games, with labels including Rockstar, 2K, and Zynga. Grand Theft Auto is the firm's biggest franchise, accounting for about 30% of total sales for the past decade. NBA 2K is the industry's dominant basketball video game, with Take-Two releasing a new version annually. Other notable franchises include Red Dead Redemption, Borderlands, and Civilization. Typically, more than three-fourths of the firm's sales are from in-game spending, with the remainder coming from initial game sales. Since acquiring Zynga in 2022, mobile makes up about half of total sales.

Roblox operates a free-to-play online video game platform with nearly 150 million daily active users. This platform has spawned a virtual universe and a Roblox economy based on the Robux currency. The platform houses millions of games from a wide range of creators—spanning from young gamers themselves to professional development studios. Roblox offers creators the tools, publishing abilities, and platform for their games, enabling anyone to create a game. Creators earn money when gamers make optional in-game purchases within their games and by offering space for real-world advertising, and Roblox earns revenue primarily by taking a cut of these earnings.

Konami is a Japanese video game and entertainment company best known for its eFootball, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Powerful Pro Baseball, and Metal Gear franchises. It operates four business divisions—digital entertainment, amusement, gaming and systems, and sports. Overseas sales account for the majority of the company’s revenue.

Zhejiang Century Huatong Group Co Ltd is a China-based company engaged in three main businesses: Internet games, auto parts manufacturing, and artificial intelligence cloud data, as well as brain science research, artificial intelligence, metaverse platform and application development and investment.

Nexon is a South Korean online game developer and publisher, founded in 1994 in Korea by Kim Jung-ju. In 2005, the company moved its headquarters to Tokyo, Japan, and has operations in Korea, the US, Taiwan, and Thailand. The company’s most notable franchises are MapleStory, Dungeon & Fighter, Sudden Attack, and KartRider. Nexon has been the publisher for EA’s FC Online game franchise in Korea and Japan since 2013. Nexon acquired an independent game developer, Embark Studios AB, located in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2019.

Bilibili is a Chinese online entertainment platform best known for its YouTube-like video-sharing site. Founded in 2009, it first focused on long-form content centered around anime, comics, and gaming, catering primarily to Gen Z users. Over time, the platform has broadened its content offerings to include a wider range of interests, successfully attracting a more diverse audience beyond the Gen Z demographic.

Kunlun Tech Co Ltd engages in the development and distribution of online games in China. It also operates software application stores. The company develops and distributes web games, social games, mobile games, and software applications. Geographically, the company distributes its products in domestic and overseas markets.

Capcom was founded in 1979, originally an arcade game producer, but gradually transitioned to focus on producing console games, with the popularization of console gaming throughout the years. Capcom is currently one of the top video game producers in the world, with several long-lived popular series Resident Evil (since 1996), Monster Hunter (since 2004) and Streetfighter (since 1987). It was the top highly reviewed game publisher in 2019 and 2023 in Metacritic’s Annual Game Publisher Rankings. It also runs several side businesses including arcade operations, slot machines and e-sports.

Krafton Inc is a South Korea-based game developer and publisher engaged in creating and distributing PC, mobile, and console games. Its activities also extend to game software services, mobile app development, video content production, and related investment and consulting work. The company manages multiple studios, including PUBG Studio, Bluehole, RisingWings, Striking Distance Studios, Dreamotion, and Unknown Worlds, and is known for titles such as PUBG: Battlegrounds, New State Mobile, BGMI, Defense Derby, The Callisto Protocol, Ronin: The Last Samurai, Road to Valor, Moonbreaker, and Subnautica.

Giant Network Group Co Ltd is engaged in Internet culture and entertainment business, research and development and operation of Internet games, and other Internet business.

International Games System Co Ltd plans, designs, researches, develops, manufactures, markets, and services commercial electronic arcade games, related software and hardware products, online games and mobile games. It offers arcade game, online game, mobile game, simulator machine games and online games. All the business activity is operated through Taiwan. There are two segments namely: Arcade game division, which derives maximum revenue and Online game division.

37 Interactive Entertainment Network Technology Group Co Ltd is involved in the interactive entertainment business, mainly focused on the research, development, publishing, and operation of mobile games and browser games, while arranging the pan-entertainment business, including film and TV, animation, and music. Its operating segments include the Mobile Gaming business and the Web Game business.

CD Projekt SA is the holding company of CD Projekt capital group. The firm with its subsidiary develops and publishes videogames for hardware platforms such as Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, Nintendo, App Store, Humble Bundle, Origin, and its own proprietary GOG.com platform. It is also involved in international digital videogame distribution. The firm has CD Projekt Red and GOG.com segments. It derives the majority of its revenues from CD Projekt Red segment.

Square Enix is a Japanese video game publisher and entertainment company that was formed in 2003 through the merger between Square and Enix. The company is best known for its role-playing game franchises such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, and Nier. The company also operates publishing, merchandise, and amusement businesses.

Talkweb Information System Co Ltd is a provider of software and hardware integrated products and solutions in China. It offers software cloud services, intelligent computing, Hongmeng ecology, and mobile games. The company provides services to approx. 31 provincial-level administrative regions across the country and more than 10 overseas countries. It focuses on key areas and industries such as digital government, intelligent manufacturing, intelligent transportation, intelligent education, and intelligent parks.

Kingnet Network Co Ltd is a Chinese-based online game company. The company's main business covers research and development as well as the operation and publishing of quality entertainment content, including mobile games, web games, and PC games. It also engages in the operation of web game platforms and mobile app distribution platforms.

Oriental Pearl Group Co Ltd operates a media integration and distribution platform in China. The various business units of the company comprise Channel Products Operation, Video Shopping, and E-Commerce, Culture and Entertainment Themed Tourism, Mobile Transmissions and Video Games among others.

Kingsoft Corp Ltd is a Chinese software and Internet services company. The company's operating segment includes entertainment software and others and office software and services. It generates maximum revenue from the entertainment software and others segment. The entertainment software and others segment is engaged in the research and development of games, and the provision of online games, mobile games and casual game services. Geographically, it derives a majority of revenue from Mainland China, and also has its presence in Hong Kong, and Other Countries.

Micro-Star International Co Ltd is a manufacturer and distributor of computer hardware products, particularly gaming laptops and hardware. Its other products include laptops, motherboards, graphics cards, all-in-one PCs, mobile workstations, barebone computers, servers, multimedia peripherals to vehicle infotainment solutions, smart cleaning robots, and Wi-Fi cameras.

G-bits Network Technology (Xiamen) Co Ltd develops video games and other multiplayer online games. It offers client, Web, mobile, and VR games. Geographically, it operates through the region of China.

XD Inc is engaged in the development, operation, publishing, and distribution of mobile and web games and the provision of information services in China and overseas. It also operates TapTap, a game community and platform in China. It has two operating segments. The game segment, which is the key revenue driver, offers game publishing and operating services on its own and via other distribution channels. Revenues from this segment are derived from game publishing and operating services. The TapTap platform segment offers online marketing services to game developers, game publishers, or their agents. Revenues from this segment are derived from performance-based online marketing services. Its geographic areas are Mainland China and Other areas.

JOYY Inc is a technology company. The Company operates several social products, including Bigo Live for live streaming, Likee for short-form videos, Hago for multiplayer social networking, an instant messaging product, and others. The Company operates through two segments: BIGO and All other. The BIGO segment consists of several social entertainment platforms, including Bigo Live, Likee, imo, and others. The All other segment consist of Hago, Shopline, and certain audio live streaming platforms.

Koei Tecmo Holdings is a Japanese video game, amusement, and anime company created in 2009 by the merger of Koei and Tecmo, best known for their Nobunaga’s Ambition, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Nioh, and Atelier game franchises. The company also creates games based on third-party franchises, such as Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda and Fire Emblem, and Kodansha’s Attack on Titan.

Sega Sammy Holdings was established as a holding company in 2004, when video game developer Sega and pachislot and pachinko vendor Sammy merged. The company currently derives majority of its sales revenue from entertainment content and its pachislot and pachinko machine business, which contributed 75% and 23% of total revenue in fiscal 2024, respectively.

Yiyou Holdings Inc formerly, Nantai International Inc is an investment company planning to acquire liquor companies in China.

Ballys Intralot SA is a iGaming operator and a world-wide provider of lottery solutions. The company enables operators to modernize their retail and digital offerings, deliver personalized and responsible player experiences, and operate with greater agility and efficiency in an increasingly converging gaming ecosystem. Its products and services include: B2C operations, Gambling Solutions, Betting Solutions, Lottery Solution and Digital Transformation.

Netmarble Corp is an online gaming company in South Korea. Its core business include game development and game publishing throughout the world. Some of its games include Tera M, FishingStrike, Raven, Seven Knights, among others.

Hangzhou Shunwang Technology Co Ltd develops and sells Internet entertainment networking platforms. It focuses mainly on internet cafe technology development. It offers IcafeMavin, a software platform for Internet café management; system virtual disk, an operating system solution for diskless Internet cafes; and Game virtual disk, a game virtual service software for Internet cafes, as well as other Internet café integration solutions.

Ourpalm Co Ltd is a China-based company engaged in the development, publishing, and operation of games. Its main business includes mobile terminal games, internet page games and product development, agent distribution and operation and maintenance of its peripheral products.

DeNA Co Ltd is a social media service provider in Japan. It generates majority of the portion of its revenue by providing social media and Internet marketing-related services through its Social Media segment. The E-commerce segment offers E-Commerce related services, including the operation of auction shopping and cellular phone websites under the names DeNA shopping and Mobaoku, respectively. The Others segment is engaged in travel agency and insurance agency services, and professional baseball related business. The company has its primary market in North America.

PearlAbyss Corp is a game development studio. Its game includes Black Desert Online.

Modern Times Group MTG AB invests in esports, mobile games and other digital entertainment. The group’s companies offer a wide range of games available to audiences all over the world. MTG’s portfolio of IP spans across both the casual and mid-core segments of the gaming market. A vast majority of games are available to consumers on a free-to-play basis, and the group generates revenues from in-app purchases and in-app advertising. The Group operates in Europe, Singapore, USA, India and New Zealand.

Embracer Group AB is a parent company of businesses led by entrepreneurs in PC, console, mobile, and board games and other related media. The Group has an extensive catalog of several owned or controlled franchises and has a presence in various regions through its operative groups namely THQ Nordic, Plaion, Coffee Stain, Amplifier Game Invest, and others. Its operating segments are; PC/Console Games, Mobile Games, Tabletop Games, and Entertainment & Services. The company generates key revenue from the development and publishing of games for PC, Console, and Mobiles. Geographically, it derives maximum revenue from the United States of America and the rest from Europe (excluding Sweden), Sweden, and other regions.

Alpha Group produces animated movies and television series as well as producing and distributing toys. It designs, develops, manufactures, and operates competitive toys, remote-controlled toys, and smart digital series and girl toy series. The company conducts its business in the Chinese and international markets.

Yoozoo Interactive Co Ltd is a game-based interactive entertainment company. The company implements the strategies of big data, globalization, and quality products to achieve integrated development across four major areas namely globalized game research and development and publishing, IP management, big data and intelligent technology, and pan-entertainment industry investment. It operates using a 'film-game integration' model to deliver a series of products such as films, games, cartoons, fiction, and commercial property, building a globalized ecosystem for the pan-entertainment industry.

Paradox Interactive AB is a Swedish company. It is engaged in the development and publishing of PC-based games. The company's product portfolio includes franchise brands such as Stellaris, Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Crusader Kings, Cities, Skylines, Tyranny and Magicka. Paradox is also involved in the publishing and internal development of games and licensing of White Wolf's brands. The company distributes its games through the digital platform Steam as well as on Apple, Google Play, and Sony stores. It operates its business across the world. The majority of the company's revenue comes from the United States.

Playtika Holding Corp is engaged in developing mobile games. Some of its games include Board Kings, House of Fun, Poker Heat, Slotomania, and Bingo Blitz. The company has built live game operations services and a proprietary technology platform to support its portfolio of games. It derives revenue from the sale of virtual items associated with online games. Geographically, the group has a business presence in the USA, EMEA, APAC, and Other regions of which key revenue is derived from the USA. It offers both Mobile and Web-based platforms.

PT MNC Digital Entertainment Tbk is a content provider in Indonesia, has its core business in producing, developing, and distributing content and intellectual properties across all existing media platforms. The company's main business is supported by its various business units engaged in media and entertainment activities, such as drama production houses, infotainment, reality shows, game shows, animation, films, original content, music labels, advertising agencies, content & IP licensing, talent management, social media, including multi-channel networks (MCN), OTT superapps, and online portals. The company's operating segments include Digital, Content and IP, Talent, and Subscription. The company generates maximum revenue from the Content and IP, Talent segment.

mixi Inc is a Japanese company which provides social networking services. The company conducts its business activities mainly including the operation of websites and provision of native smartphone games on the Internet. It business segments include, Entertainment Business and Media Platform Business. mixi provides games mainly including native smartphone games through Entertainment Business, and operates business-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer services utilizing the Internet and invests in operating companies of these services through Media Platform Business.

Nazara Technologies Ltd is a mobile game company in India. The company has offerings across the interactive gaming, eSports, ad-tech, and gamified early learning ecosystems including World Cricket Championship (WCC) and CarromClash in mobile games, Kiddopia in gamified early learning, Nodwin, PublishMe and Sportskeeda in eSports and eSports media, OpenPlay, Halaplay and Qunami in skill-based, fantasy and trivia games, and Datawrkz in digital ad tech. The company's segment includes Gaming; eSports; and Ad tech. It generates maximum revenue from the eSports segment. Geographically, it derives a majority of its revenue from the USA.

Sichuan Xun You Network Technology Co Ltd is an online game accelerator. The company solves the problem that players encounter excessive delays in online games, difficulty in login, and easy to drop.

Tanwan Inc Formerly ZX Inc is a publisher of online game products in China. It is devoted to marketing and operating online games (in particular mobile games) in China. The online games developed by its clients marketed and operated by the company are delivered to players under the Tan Wan brand. The company has enabled the marketing and operation of game products. Its geographic markets are Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Others. It generates revenue from marketing and operating online games and consumer product business, including sales of private-label and local-flavor rice noodle products and other fast consumer foods under the brand Zha Zha Hui.