Xbox One backlash likely impacted the exec's departure but analysts are upbeat on move for Zynga.
Zynga has appointed Don Mattrick as CEO and a member of the Board of Directors, effective July 8, 2013. Mattrick has been at the forefront of the industry and brings more than 30 years of executive experience developing, building and managing profitable entertainment businesses. Mark Pincus, Zynga's founding CEO, remains Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Product Officer of the Company.
While Zynga has had some trouble recently acquiring and maintaining users, the number of people in US who play games online, through their phones or on social networks continues to grow. The number of people who play games on their phones is expected to grow 18.4% to 125.9 million in 2013, according to eMarketer, up from 106.3 million last year. Just over half of US mobile phone users will become active game users this year.
The number of people playing casual games on desktop devices is growing more slowly. eMarketer estimates the number or casual game players on desktop and laptop devices will reach 96.6 million, or 30.5% of the US population, this year, up just 3.7% from 93.2 million last year.
The number of people who play games through social networks is expected to grow 5.6% to reach 80.3 million in the US this year-just under half of US social network users and about 25% of the US population.
Colin Sebastian, analyst for Baird, believes this is a good hire for the troubled Zynga game maker.
