Zynga, meanwhile, is cutting jobs but still has about 2,100 employees, down from a peak of 3,300 in 2012, at the tail end of the 'FarmVille' craze. King had 665 employees at the end of 2013. Zynga's 2013 revenue, meanwhile, was $873.3 million, down from $1.28 billion in 2012.Īnother major difference: King is profitable, while Zynga is not. King is five years older than San Francisco's Zynga, and thanks largely to in-app purchases people make while playing 'Candy Crush,' the company generated 2013 revenue of $1.88 billion, more than 10 times its 2012 revenue of $164.4 million. 'They have been around longer and are much larger,' said John Fitzgibbon, the founder of. But several analysts say any comparisons between King and Zynga are unfair - to both companies.

And in 2011, the company went public riding the popularity of an addictive game, 'FarmVille.' Founded in 2002, King only decided to go public once 'Candy Crush' had achieved the pinnacle of popularity. Zynga, too, once ruled the realm of online games. maker of 'FarmVille' and 'Mafia Wars'- as the No. The game's success helped King replace Zynga Inc. 'Candy Crush' was the most downloaded free app on iPhones and iPads in 2013, beating Facebook, Google Maps and YouTube. The amount could change in the coming weeks as the company and the IPO's underwriting banks gauge investor demand. In papers filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it hopes to raise as much as $500 million in the offering. King Digital Entertainment PLC, which also makes lesser-known games such as 'Bubble Witch Saga' and 'Pet Rescue Saga,' did not disclose how many shares it expects to offer in the IPO or a projected price range for the stock.

NEW YORK - The company behind 'Candy Crush Saga' is going public, hoping the popularity of its addictive online game will translate to sweet returns for itself and its investors.

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