Current studio focus
Founder and CEO of Fun and Games, a mobile game studio building word and puzzle experiences for broad consumer audiences.
Founder & CEO, Fun and Games · Product Builder · Investor
Founder & CEO of Fun and Games.
Co-creator of Words With Friends.
David Bettner is founder and CEO of Fun and Games, co-creator of Words With Friends, and co-founder of Newtoy with Paul Bettner. He is also the creator and director of Disney SpellStruck, co-developed with Artist Arcade.
Founder & CEO, Fun and Games
Co-creator, Words With Friends
Co-founder, Newtoy (with Paul Bettner)
Creator & Director, Disney SpellStruck
Proven category impact
Co-created Words With Friends and co-founded Newtoy with Paul Bettner, then helped scale into a major franchise and acquisition outcome.
Creative leadership
Creator and director of Disney SpellStruck, co-developed with Artist Arcade, bringing modern word-game craft to new IP and platform contexts.
Selected Journey
Core milestones across studio building, product creation, and game leadership.
1997-2008
Ensemble Studios
Built deep roots in game development during the Age of Empires era.
2008
Newtoy Co-founded
Co-founded Newtoy with Paul Bettner to build polished, social-first mobile games.
2009
Words With Friends
Co-created a breakout mobile title that became a defining social game franchise.
2010
Zynga Acquisition
Newtoy became Zynga With Friends and expanded the franchise's reach.
2012+
Studios / Investing
Continued building companies and backing ambitious founders.
2020s
Fun and Games
Founder & CEO, building new word and puzzle experiences with a modern studio model.
2023+
Disney SpellStruck
Creator and director; co-developed with Artist Arcade for Apple Arcade and Disney.
Selected Products & Platforms
Selected products and platforms connected to David's work across studio building, game direction, and product leadership.
Flagship
Words With Friends
Social gameplay design, retention loops, asynchronous multiplayer, and mainstream product intuition at mobile scale.
Product
Game Design
Social Systems
Studio Era
Halo Wars
Ensemble Studios-era strategy title work that reflects deep craft roots in game development.
Creator / Director
Disney SpellStruck
Creator and director of Disney SpellStruck, co-developed with Artist Arcade, with Disney and Pixar gameplay worlds and recent Star Wars content updates on Apple Arcade.
Platform Distribution
Facebook Crossword
Crossword experiences on Facebook powered by Fun and Games technology and word-game know-how.
Current Company
Fun and Games
Founder and CEO of Fun and Games, a mobile game studio focused on making games fun again and building the next generation of word and puzzle products.
Company Building
Newtoy
Co-founded with Paul Bettner. Small-team execution, product craft, and strategic acquisition outcomes.
Partnerships & Platforms
Franchise collaboration
Experience shipping across original IP, major franchises, and platform partnerships while balancing game feel, product execution, and long-term audience engagement.
Core Strengths
Product Strategy
Game Design
Mobile Social Experiences
Founder Mentorship
Studio Building
Team Leadership
Early-Stage Investing
Strategic Advisory
Get In Touch
Reach out for product, studio, partnership, or advisory conversations.
Press Clips & References
Selected coverage and official references related to David, Newtoy, Fun and Games, and Disney SpellStruck.
FG
Fun + Games | Mobile Game Development Studio
Official studio site: “We’re a mobile game studio…” and current company positioning.
Apple launches 20 fun new games for Apple Arcade
Official Apple announcement for Disney SpellStruck (Artist Arcade), noting development partnership with a Words With Friends co-creator.
DP
New Disney SpellStruck Word Game Now On Apple Arcade
Official Disney post describing Disney SpellStruck as created by Artist Arcade and Fun + Games in collaboration with Walt Disney Games.
AS
Disney SpellStruck on the App Store
Live listing for the game, including release notes and current update information.
TC
A Look Behind The 'Words With Friends' iPhone Gaming Phenomenon
TechCrunch interview coverage featuring Paul and David Bettner on Newtoy and Words With Friends.
WI
Halo Wars Devs Form iPhone Game Studio
Early coverage of Paul and Dave Bettner leaving Ensemble Studios to form Newtoy.
CN
Zynga expands its social circle with Words With Friends
Mainstream business coverage referencing the Bettners and the growth of the franchise.
DM
Words With Friends Tests Your Vocabulary
Regional profile coverage on Newtoy and the cultural rise of Words With Friends.
GH
Words With Friends co-creator reveals Disney game, SpellStruck
Coverage and interview context tying Disney SpellStruck to David Bettner and Fun + Games.
Additional coverage and official assets can be added over time as new releases, interviews, and announcements go live.