It's no surprise given the success of its games on Mobage, but DeNA has announced it's taking a stake in Japanese developer Cygames.

It will spend $92 million (¥7.4 billion) to acquire 20 percent of the developer of top grossing card-battling games such as Rage of Bahamut and Marvel: War of Heroes.

As DeNA pointed out yesterday, the former is the main driver of its fast-growing sales outside of Japan; $30 million during its past financial quarter.

Trump card

In terms of the detail of the deal, DeNA will acquire the 500 shares in Cygames - bought from its majority owner CyberAgent and the company's executive team - as the two companies set up what's described as "a capital and business alliance".

It will also get a seat on the Cygames' board.

The companies previously had a strategic alliance, and but the new deal will ensure DeNA is protecting this key development partner.

DeNA says it expects the deal to close on 28 December 2012.

[source: DeNA]