Recent public posts by Volkan Erinç, Head of Studio at Rovio, indicate that the company is simultaneously strengthening its global footprint and investing in new game development.
Angry Birds Returns to Mainland China
The company confirmed that Angry Birds games are returning to mainland China through a new strategic partnership with Kingsoft Shiyou. The agreement enables the franchise to re-enter one of the world’s largest gaming markets after a period of absence.
The move signals renewed ambitions for Angry Birds in Asia and reflects Rovio’s continued focus on leveraging its flagship IP across key territories.
Smash Ball: Rovio’s New PvP Action Title
Angry Birds developer is also actively building its PvP action game, Smash Ball.
The company is currently hiring for both a Game Lead and a Lead Game Developer, with teams located across Izmir, Istanbul, and Barcelona.
Smash Ball is positioned as a high-speed, player-versus-player sports action title, and the development team includes professionals with experience at companies such as Scopely, Ubisoft, King, Zeptolab, as well as prior experience within Rovio and Sega.
The Lead Game Developer role outlines responsibilities that include defining the project’s technical direction, overseeing gameplay systems, mentoring developers, and contributing directly to the codebase.
The position emphasizes Unity and C# expertise, live game experience, leadership capabilities, and strong technical architecture knowledge.
The company notes that the majority of one Smash Ball team is currently based in Izmir, with expansion underway in Barcelona. Relocation support within Türkiye is available, and work permit sponsorship may be provided in Spain under certain conditions.
Data on Smash Ball
According to AppMagic data:
- The game has achieved 1,823,993 lifetime downloads since its launch, peaking at 429,661 in September 2024.
- 40% of downloads come from the U.S., and the Philippines, Brazil, and France share the second spot at 6%, while India follows with 5%.
- The game’s lifetime revenue is $651,566, with 58% coming from U.S. players.
Hiring Momentum During a Brand Milestone Year
Rovio is also looking for new team members for the Angry Birds team. The recruitment activity comes as the Angry Birds brand enters another high-visibility year, with The Angry Birds Movie 3 scheduled for release. While the film’s cast is finalized, Rovio’s focus appears firmly centered on strengthening its game development pipeline.
The hiring push also follows restructuring efforts reported in late 2025, during which the company reduced headcount amid organizational adjustments under parent company Sega. The current wave of openings suggests renewed production focus, particularly around new titles rather than solely LiveOps support.
Open positions at Rovio can be found here.
Related content: Interview with Luis de la Cámara on Rovio’s experience working with Turkish game developers
