Rovio Entertainment has announced a new deal with China’s Gougou Group to launch nine Angry Birds family entertainment centres, with the first to be built in the Anhui province of China and the remaining 8 to come over the course of the next four years.

‘‘China is an extremely important market for us and we’re constantly looking for ways to provide innovative fan experiences by bridging the digital with the physical,” said Pekka Rantala, chief commercial officer for Rovio Entertainment.

“Through this partnership, we not only achieve that, but set a strong foot in one of the world’s fastest growing theme park markets with a key player in the industry.

The strategic partnership marks Rovio Entertainment’s first foray of this kind into the Asian market. Several Angry Birds attractions have launched in recent times, with notable attractions popping up at Thorpe Park in the UK and in Dubai.