Bejeweled and Zuma Developer Details Growth Plans

PopCap Games, the developer behind hit casual titles like Bejeweled, Zuma or Plants vs. Zombies, has just detailed its growth strategy for the new year, and even teased at a potential initial public offering (IPO), which could draw in investors.

PopCap is currently an extremely profitable independent games developer, raking in over $100 million in revenue each year, thanks to hit franchises like Zuma, Plants vs. Zombies or Bejeweled, the latter seeing the release of Bejeweled 3 last month.

The company isn't showing signs of slowing down, however, and, speaking with Forbes magazine, PopCap CEO Dave Roberts revealed that that an initial public offering of stock might be made soon enough.

"We'll look at [an IPO] for the second half of next year," said Roberts, who continued by saying that investors must be interested before his company commits to it.

"There are no investors pushing for it, so we will really only look at it if the markets align," he concluded.

An IPO will allow stock market investors to acquire shares in PopCap, and then steer it into making even more profitable decisions.

PopCap is making a lot of money, but an IPO might net it even more cash in order to open up new studios or even acquire existing ones, in order to compartmentalize its development projects.

While PopCap hasn't been evaluated at a concrete price, it's a pretty safe bet that the cost per share will be pretty high, considering the popular franchises inside the company's portfolio.

The casual games company has just launched Bejeweled 3, and is getting ready to expand into the Asian market with a special online title that will incorporate its previous titles, including Zuma, Peggle or Plants vs. Zombies.

PopCap has also expanded its franchises with the help of Facebook, through special apps for the social network, so its potential for growth is even bigger.