Wargraphs, the one-man startup behind the popular League of Legends companion app called Porofessor, is being acquired by MOBA Networks for up to €50 million ($54 million). MOBA Networks, a Swedish company that acquires and operates online gaming communities, plans to expand Wargraphs’ products to more markets, particularly in Asia, and develop analytics for additional titles.

Despite being a solo operation, Wargraphs has achieved impressive success. Its Porofessor app has garnered 10 million downloads on Overwolf, the platform where it was built, and boasts over 1.25 million daily active users from both Overwolf and its own direct website. While Wargraphs also provides analytics for Legends of Runeterra and Teamfight Tactics, its League of Legends business has been the most significant, generating revenues of €12.3 million in the last fiscal year.

This acquisition highlights an interesting trend in the startup world. After a decade of exuberance where startups often raised massive funding at sky-high valuations without substantial revenues or viable business models, the landscape has shifted. Now, funding is more challenging to secure, particularly for consumer-focused products. However, Wargraphs and Jean-Nicholas demonstrate that an alternative approach can be equally lucrative, if not more so, in the consumer segment.

The deal also reflects the evolution of the consumer technology industry. Gaming has become a massive business, as evidenced by Microsoft’s contested acquisition of Activision for $68.7 billion. However, companies like MOBA, Overwolf, and Wargraphs showcase a broader ecosystem of products and services within the gaming sector that can hold significant value, even if they are not the blockbuster games themselves.

Looking ahead, advancements in gaming technology, such as interactive headsets and generative AI, will likely contribute to further ecosystem development. In the midst of this, Jean-Nicholas has his sights set on building a new game, specifically a card game that will compete with Hearthstone, coincidentally published by Activision Blizzard. Although he does not plan to raise external funding for this venture, he may hire a couple of employees to support the project.

Wargraphs, the one-man startup behind the popular League of Legends companion app called Porofessor, is being acquired by MOBA Networks for up to €50 million ($54 million). MOBA Networks, a Swedish company that acquires and operates online gaming communities, plans to expand Wargraphs’ products to more markets, particularly in Asia, and develop analytics for additional titles.

Despite being a solo operation, Wargraphs has achieved impressive success. Its Porofessor app has garnered 10 million downloads on Overwolf, the platform where it was built, and boasts over 1.25 million daily active users from both Overwolf and its own direct website. While Wargraphs also provides analytics for Legends of Runeterra and Teamfight Tactics, its League of Legends business has been the most significant, generating revenues of €12.3 million in the last fiscal year.

This acquisition highlights an interesting trend in the startup world. After a decade of exuberance where startups often raised massive funding at sky-high valuations without substantial revenues or viable business models, the landscape has shifted. Now, funding is more challenging to secure, particularly for consumer-focused products. However, Wargraphs and Jean-Nicholas demonstrate that an alternative approach can be equally lucrative, if not more so, in the consumer segment.

The deal also reflects the evolution of the consumer technology industry. Gaming has become a massive business, as evidenced by Microsoft’s contested acquisition of Activision for $68.7 billion. However, companies like MOBA, Overwolf, and Wargraphs showcase a broader ecosystem of products and services within the gaming sector that can hold significant value, even if they are not the blockbuster games themselves.

Looking ahead, advancements in gaming technology, such as interactive headsets and generative AI, will likely contribute to further ecosystem development. In the midst of this, Jean-Nicholas has his sights set on building a new game, specifically a card game that will compete with Hearthstone, coincidentally published by Activision Blizzard. Although he does not plan to raise external funding for this venture, he may hire a couple of employees to support the project.