In February 2024, Sky News reported that CVC Capital Partners was in exclusive talks to buy Jagex from Carlyle for about £900 million, then commonly reported as roughly $1.1 billion. That figure was a press estimate, not a disclosed sale price. Follow-up coverage on February 9 said CVC and Carlyle had confirmed an acquisition involving CVC and Haveli Investments, but had not disclosed the financial terms.
What was reported about the Jagex buyout?
Sky News reported on February 6, 2024, that CVC Capital Partners was in exclusive negotiations to acquire Jagex from Carlyle in a deal valued at about £900 million. The report described negotiations, not a completed sale announcement. Contemporary coverage converted that estimate to approximately $1.1 billion.
On February 9, Game Developer reported that CVC and Carlyle had confirmed an acquisition involving CVC and Haveli Investments. The companies did not disclose the financial terms, so the reported £900 million—and its roughly $1.1 billion conversion—should not be treated as an official transaction price.
Who was involved?
- Jagex: The Cambridge-headquartered game developer behind RuneScape.
- Carlyle: Jagex’s owner at the time of the reported negotiations. Sky said Carlyle had owned the company since January 2021.
- CVC Capital Partners and Haveli Investments: The investors named in Game Developer’s February 9 report on the confirmed acquisition.
Timeline of the reports
| Date | What the coverage said |
|---|---|
| February 6, 2024 | Sky News reported exclusive negotiations between CVC and Carlyle and a proposed value of about £900 million. |
| February 7, 2024 | Insider Gaming repeated the approximately $1.1 billion framing, attributing the report to Sky News. |
| February 9, 2024 | Game Developer reported that CVC and Carlyle had confirmed an acquisition involving Haveli Investments, while saying the terms were undisclosed. |
What does the $1.1 billion figure mean?
It is an approximate conversion of the £900 million value reported during negotiations, not a price publicly confirmed by the companies in the cited follow-up coverage. The available reporting does not establish whether the estimate referred to enterprise value, cash consideration, or another measure. Those terms should not be inferred from the headline figure.
#1 Best Overall
- Grab your capes and party hats, because we’re going to Gielinor!
- Inspired by the record-breaking online universe that’s captured the imagination of millions worldwide, RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is the official cooperative board game for 1-5 players.
Why Jagex attracted attention
Jagex is best known for RuneScape. Sky News reported that the game had attracted well over 300 million players over its existence as of February 2024. That is a cumulative historical reach figure, not a count of current active accounts.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Deep in the dangerous wasteland to the north east — the place they call the Wilderness — lies the lair of the King Black Dragon. A fearsome, three-headed beast infamous for dealing burning, freezing, electrifying, poisonous death to unfortunate adventurers. But lucky for you, Bob the Cat is here to lend a helping paw! Still, you may want to say a prayer before taking this quest on…
- The King Black Dragon expansion grows your RuneScape Kingdoms universe with an infamous new boss to face, Bob the Cat to meet, Prayer skill to master, Wilderness location to explore, and a whole new campaign, A Cat’s Tale of Triple Trouble, that will test your dragon-slaying mettle!
- It’s packed with new side quests, vault cards, and events, plus new items to discover, craft, and equip on your path to victory.
- Please note, you’ll need a copy of RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg to use this expansion.
Rank #3
- CATCH THE CHAMELEON: A bluffing board game where players must race to catch the chameleon before It's too late
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- EASY TO LEARN, QUICK TO PLAY: Like all good family board games, it takes 2 minutes to learn and only 15 minutes to play. Recommended for 3-8 players and ages 12+
- MULTI-AWARD WINNING: "Best Party Game" At UK games expo. "Seal of excellence" From dice tower games. A perfect board game for adults and teenagers
Rank #2
- Immerse yourself in a thrilling tabletop adventure filled with strategy, storytelling, and dynamic character interactions designed to challenge every decision.
- Experience high replayability through immersive roleplay, unpredictable encounters, and evolving tactical choices that keep every session intense and fresh.
- Master your destiny with customizable heroes, intricate quests, and deep world-building that fuel creative expression and competitive gameplay.
- Perfect for RPG enthusiasts seeking complex mechanics, cooperative missions, and richly detailed scenarios that spark imagination and rivalry.
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Sources
- Sky News, February 6, 2024: exclusive talks and reported £900 million value.
- Game Developer, February 9, 2024: acquisition confirmation and undisclosed terms.
- Insider Gaming, February 7, 2024: contemporary coverage attributing the estimate to Sky News.
- Carlyle’s January 2021 announcement concerning its acquisition of Jagex.
- Game Developer’s February 9, 2024 coverage, including comments from then-CEO Phil Mansell.
- Sky News’s February 6, 2024 report of RuneScape’s historical player reach.
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