In 2013, Mark Pincus stepped down from the role of CEO from social gaming operator Zynga. The role was taken over by Don Mattrick. Now, the tables are turning, as Mattrick resigns to be replaced by Pincus. Pincus stepped down from his role, as Zynga continued to fail at monetising its social games. The company had laid off hundreds of employees and withdrew plenty of games – but still struggled to recover.
Don Mattrick was brought in as CEO to help turn things around, as he helped gaming ventures like Electronic Arts and XBOX thrive. During his time at Zynga, Mattrick was focused on the company’s mobile offerings. Over the years, Zynga thrived in the Facebook Games world, but failed to break into mobile gaming.
With the help of Mattrick, Zynga was able to launch many successful mobile versions of its online games, including Zynga Poker and Words With Friends. Now, Mattrick has suddenly stepped down from his role. He states that he will be returning to Canada to start his next venture, although has not given specific details on his future plans.
“Don is departing the company and I am returning to Zynga as CEO effective immediately,” Pincus says. “I want to thank Don for his incredible efforts and leadership. He has laid groundwork that will benefit our players and company into the future.” While Mattrick has made a big difference in Zynga’s gaming operations, the company still has a long way to go before it can compete with other social gaming developers.
According to The Guardian, Zynga brought in $690.4 million in 2014, less than half King’s $2.26 billion and Supercell’s $1.67 billion. There is no word yet on how Zynga plans to boost profits, but Pincus seems optimistic about the company’s future.
About the Author
