If you’ve been watching the European tech sector lately, you’ve probably noticed that Modern Times Group isn't the same company it was five years ago. Honestly, it’s not even the same company it was eighteen months ago. They’ve basically stopped being a "media group" in the traditional sense and transformed into a highly specialized gaming titan. But the latest modern times group news isn't just about another acquisition; it's about a fundamental shift in how they’re running the business in 2026.
People still associate MTG with old-school broadcasting or the ESL gaming days. That’s a mistake. Since divesting their esports arm for over 8 billion SEK in 2022, they’ve been on a mission to prove that they can build a "Gaming Village" that actually makes money. And based on the most recent updates from January 2026, the strategy is entering its most aggressive phase yet.
The Plarium Effect and the New "District" Era
The biggest piece of modern times group news to drop recently involves the total restructuring of the company into two distinct commercial divisions: the Midcore District and the Casual District. This isn't just corporate jargon. It’s a massive organizational pivot that went live at the start of January 2026.
Why does this matter? Because of Plarium. When MTG snagged Plarium Global Ltd from Aristocrat for roughly $620 million in late 2024, they didn’t just get RAID: Shadow Legends. They got a massive engine of free cash flow—over $110 million annually, according to their filings. By creating the "Midcore District," led by CEO Oliver Bulloss, they are trying to squeeze every bit of synergy out of titles like RAID and Snowprint’s Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus.
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On the other side, you’ve got the Casual District. This is the playground for PlaySimple and InnoGames. Interestingly, MTG is currently conducting a "pre-IPO preparedness study" for PlaySimple in India. Think about that. They are looking at potentially listing their Indian studio on the public markets in 2026 to unlock value. It’s a bold move that shows Maria Redin, the Group CEO, isn't afraid to be creative with the capital structure.
The January 2026 Share Transfer
Just a few days ago, on January 7, 2026, MTG made a significant move regarding its ownership of PlaySimple. They announced the transfer of over 6 million class B shares to the founders of PlaySimple. This was part of the original earn-out agreement from back in 2021. It’s a housekeeping move, sure, but it also means MTG now holds less than 5% of its own shares.
Is the Gaming Village Actually Profitable?
Let’s talk numbers because that’s where things get kinda messy but interesting. In 2025, MTG hit a milestone. Their total reported revenues for the year were projected to land between 11.4 and 11.7 billion SEK. That’s a huge jump from previous years, largely because they finally consolidated Plarium’s earnings.
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But it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. Simply Wall St data shows that while the company has been growing earnings at an average rate of 8.7% over the last five years, they’ve also faced "surprise losses" in recent quarters due to high marketing spend (UA or User Acquisition) and the costs of integrating these massive studios.
- User Acquisition Spend: In early 2025, they were spending about 38% of their revenue just to keep players coming in.
- Cost Savings: The new 2026 structure is expected to save the group about $20 million annually by streamlining tech and headcount.
- Share Buybacks: They are currently in the middle of a 400 million SEK share buyback program that runs until May 2026. This tells you they think the stock is undervalued.
What Most People Miss About Ninja Kiwi and Snowprint
While everyone looks at RAID, the real "under the radar" modern times group news is coming from the smaller studios. Ninja Kiwi, the folks behind Bloons TD 6, recently acquired AutoAttack Games. They are doubling down on the tower defense genre. Meanwhile, Snowprint Studios—the Swedish team they bought a majority stake in back in 2023—has been the organic growth star of the group.
Snowprint’s Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus has been a monster for them. It’s one of the few games in the portfolio that has consistently delivered double-digit organic growth. It proves that the "Gaming Village" concept—where studios share marketing tech and "best-in-class" publishing tools—isn't just a slide deck fantasy.
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The Strategy for 2026 and Beyond
So, where is this all going? Maria Redin has been very clear: the goal is to double the size of the group again. To do that, they are moving away from being a loose collection of studios and toward a "platform" model.
Basically, they want to take the publishing tools that Plarium used to make RAID a global hit and give them to every other studio in the group. If they can make a casual word game from PlaySimple benefit from the high-end analytics used in a midcore RPG, they win.
Actionable Insights for Investors and Industry Observers
If you’re tracking MTG, here’s what you need to keep your eyes on over the next few months:
- The PlaySimple India IPO: If this moves forward in mid-2026, it could lead to a massive cash injection and a re-rating of MTG’s stock.
- Synergy Savings: Watch the Q1 and Q2 2026 reports. If the $20 million in promised savings doesn't materialize, the "District" restructuring will look like a distraction.
- RAID's Longevity: RAID: Shadow Legends is an evergreen title, but even evergreens need watering. The collaboration with NetEase to push the game into China is a critical growth lever for 2026.
- Buyback Completion: The 400 million SEK buyback ends in May. Whether they renew it or shift that cash toward another M&A deal will tell you everything you need to know about their confidence in the current portfolio.
MTG has definitely stopped being a "legacy" company. It’s now a pure-play mobile gaming machine with some of the best IPs in the business. The 2026 restructuring is the final piece of the puzzle to see if these different "districts" can actually live together in one village and stay profitable.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should monitor the official MTG pressroom for the upcoming Q4 2025 year-end report, which will be the first real look at how the new divisional structure is impacting the bottom line. You can also track the STO:MTG-B ticker for the progress of the ongoing share buyback program.