Candy Crush Saga publisher acquires its first U.S. game studio

Mobile gaming publisher King is finally making games in one of its biggest markets: the United States.

The company revealed that it is acquiring a Seattle-based game developer called Z2Live. The studio is responsible for the iOS flight sim MetalStorm: Online as well as the cartoony strategy game Battle Nations for mobile and PC. King has agreed to pay $45 million in cash upfront for the studio, but it is also on the line for up to $105 million depending on the revenues the game creates. The Candy Crush company just reported a very strong quarter thanks to its launch of Candy Crush Soda Saga as well as the continued diversification of its revenues from other apps, and this acquisition should help the company get into even more new genres.