Epic Games Acquires SuperAwesome and Invests $15M in Manticore

Epic Games, maker of the uber-popular online video game Fortnite, acquired SuperAwesome, a platform that helps developers and brands like Lego and Hasbro ensure online experiences and advertisements are kid friendly.

In an age when many children master iPads before talking or walking, this move builds upon Epic’s strategy to connect with the next generation, though the gaming giant said it has no plans to put ads in Fortnite. About 53% of Fortnite’s 350 million players are ages 10 to 25, according to a July 2020 survey by gaming research firm Newzoo. SuperAwesome has raised over $35M since launching in 2013 and counts Microsoft as an investor. The deal comes after Epic invested $15M in game-development platform Manticore, though it continues to battle Apple in an antitrust lawsuit regarding in-app purchasing methods on its iOS platform.