eBay has announced a TCGPlayer acquisition deal. eBay has been around since the earliest days of the internet, allowing people to buy and sell secondhand products around the world. TCGPlayer has provided a similar service, allowing avid collectors of various card games to buy and sell among themselves. In context, this acquisition by eBay is consistent with the services they provide and will bolster their services in a large market of tradeable card collecting.
Why is the TCGPlayer acquisition happening?
According to an official statement the TCGPlayer acquisition by eBay is meant to build on their offerings of trading cards as well as bring more selection to their users. The statement continues with how the acquisition will affect both companies going forward. First and foremost, TCGPlayer will continue to operate autonomously rather than be folded into eBay itself. In a personal post on TCGPlayer's website, CEO Chedy Hampson restates this independence as well as an ongoing dedication to quality and customer support. It must also be noted that this acquisition includes channelfireball, an online card platform dedicated to Magic: The Gathering, as it was bought by TCGPlayer back in July. Alternatively, TCGPlayer now has the benefits of eBay's various resources as well as their extensive industry experience.
"eBay continues to build on our 26 years of experience in trading cards, powering local hobby stores and Main Street retailers to deliver an online destination that collectors love," said Dawn Block, VP of Collectibles at eBay. "eBay has always fueled our customers' passion in this space and facilitated connections between buyers and sellers, and with TCGplayer, we can enhance the customer experience across categories, forge even more relationships, and cater to enthusiasts around the world."
The news of the TCGPlayer acquisition continues a certain trend happening in the industry. Recently, Asmodee Publishing, one of the largest tabletop publishers in the world, joined Embracer Group. If that name sounds familiar, it is because they have bought up the rights to several multimedia franchises. These include several videogame IPs like Deus Ex, Tomb Raider and Thief, comic book publisher Dark Horse, and even the IP rights to JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
The TCGPlayer acquisition by eBay will be for a total deal value of $295 million dollars. The deal is expected to close on Q1 2023.
