AFP, HELSINKI: Finland’s Rovio Entertainment, creator of the popular smartphone game Angry Birds, yesterday posted a loss for the third quarter despite rising sales, as it increased its investments with a view to boost its winnings in future. Sales reached 70.7 million euros (nearly $84 million) in the third quarter compared to 50 million the previous year, but year-on-year the company lost 800,000 euros. Rovio posted a profit of 3.9 million euros in the third quarter of 2016. The company said this quarter’s negative result was expected as it invested 22 million euros in top performing games, hoping this would boost its profits in future.

“In line with our growth strategy, we significantly increased our investments in user acquisition, which predictably led to a decline in profitability,” Rovio chief executive Kati Levoranta said in a statement.

“We expect the payback time for these investments to be 8 to 10 months,” Levoranta said, adding the launch of the new Angry Birds Match game could become one of the company’s “best performing”.

Rovio has accelerated its diversification in recent years.

The release of the “Angry Birds” movie (2016), produced by Sony Entertainment, was a huge success as it grossed $350 million worldwide, and is expected to help bolster Rovio profits in 2017 and 2018.