Gameloft, Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment Reach 50 Million Downloads of Top Mobile Game, "Despicable Me: Minion Rush"

PARIS, July 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Following the launch of Gameloft's hit mobile title, "Despicable Me: Minion Rush," the game reached more than 50 million downloads on the App Store and Google Play in one month.  Since its release on June 13, 2013, the game reached #1 of the Top Free Apps in more than 100 countries on iOS, and maintained that peak position for three consecutive weeks in the U.S. Customer ratings are also exceptional, with an average rating of 4.5/5 on the App Store and Google Play.  The game was developed in coordination with Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) and Illumination Entertainment.

"We are proud to have brought all the fun, humor and mischief of the film into this original game, said Gonzague De Vallois, Senior Vice-President Publishing at Gameloft.   "Despicable Me: Minion Rush is a huge success for Gameloft, Universal and Illumination alike, and we are thrilled that our players have put so much support behind this franchise!"

"We are excited to see the amazing success of the game and the fact that players are so engaged with the characters from Despicable Me that audiences have come to know and love," said Stephanie Sperber, President of Universal Partnerships & Licensing.  "The teamwork between Gameloft, Universal and Illumination resulted in a visually stunning game, offering hours of fun for everyone."

Gameloft plans to continue to support "Despicable Me: Minion Rush" with new content, beginning with the first free update, available on iOS and very soon on Android.  The update is directly inspired from the 3D-CG comedy adventure, Despicable Me 2, which set new box office records across the globe and placed number one in 45 of 53 markets, including North America, in its opening week.

New game features include:

• A full new environment: El Macho's Lair, including the film's new villain El Macho and the purple Evil Minions.
• New costumes for Minions: The Golfer and highly popular "Bee-do" alarm Minion!
• New challenges: more than 150 new missions and achievements

This first update to "Despicable Me: Minion Rush" is now available on the App Store and very soon on Google Play.

About Despicable Me 2

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's worldwide blockbuster Despicable Me entertained audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10^th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history.   

Released this July, Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team created an all-new comedy adventure featuring the return of (former?) super-villain Gru (Steve Carell), his adorable girls, the unpredictably hilarious Minions...and a host of new and outrageously funny characters.  http://www.despicable.me

About Gameloft

A leading global publisher of digital and social games, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000.  Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, including mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (including Apple® iOS and Android® devices), set-top boxes and connected TVs.  Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Real Football®, Modern Combat, and N.O.V.A.: Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance®, and also partners with major rights holders including Disney®, Marvel®, Hasbro®, FOX®, Mattel® and Ferrari®.  Gameloft is present on all continents, distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs over 5,000 developers.

Gameloft is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (NYSE Euronext: GFT.PA, Bloomberg: GFT FP, Reuters: GLFT.PA).  Gameloft's sponsored Level 1 ADR (ticker: GLOFY) is traded OTC in the US.

About Universal Partnerships & Licensing

UP&L oversees Universal's consumer product licensing, film and home entertainment promotions, and all corporate alliances for Universal's theatrical, home entertainment, theme parks and stage productions.  This dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the Studio's vast library of films and characters through licensing, branding and marketing opportunities.  UP&L is part of NBCUniversal.  NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks.  NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation.

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SOURCE Gameloft