Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies *Organization and Description of Business* Zynga Inc. (“Zynga,” “we” or “the Company”) develops, markets, and operates online social games as live services played over the Internet and on social networking sites and mobile platforms. We generate revenue through the in-game sale of virtual goods and through advertising. Our operations are headquartered in San Francisco, California, and we have several operating locations in the U.S., as well as various international office locations in Canada, Asia and Europe. We completed our initial public offering in December 2011 and our Class A common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ZNGA.” *Basis of Presentation and Consolidation* The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the operations of us and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation. The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements and these related notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. *Unaudited Interim Financial Information* The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015, the interim consolidated statements of operations, the interim consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the interim consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and the related footnote disclosures are unaudited. These unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In management’s opinion, the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s statement of financial position and operating results for the periods presented. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year or any other future period. *Use of Estimates* The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in the financial statements include, but are not limited to, the estimated lives of virtual goods that we use for revenue recognition, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, accrued liabilities, income taxes, accounting for business combinations, stock-based expense and evaluation of goodwill, intangible assets, and long-lived assets for impairment. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Changes in our estimated average life of durable virtual goods during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 for various games resulted in an increase in revenue and income from continuing operations of $7.4 million and $8.2 million, respectively, which is the result of adjusting the remaining recognition period of deferred revenue generated in prior periods at the time of a change in estimate. We also recorded $9.9 million of revenue and income from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to changes in our estimated average life of durable goods for games that have been discontinued as there is no further service obligation after the closure of these games. These changes in estimates and discontinuance of games resulted in a $0.01 per share and $0.02 per share impact on our reported earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. *Accounting Policy Updates* In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) which requires an acquirer in a business combination to recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which adjustment amounts are determined rather than retrospectively, including the effect on earnings of any amounts that would have been recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed as of the acquisition date. This standard will be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date. This standard will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2016; however, early adoption is permitted. We do not expect this standard to have a material impact on our financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires revenue to be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the existing revenue recognition guidance in “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)”. In July 2015, the FASB voted to amend ASU 2014-09 by approving a one-year deferral of the effective date as well as allowing early adoption as of the original effective date. Accordingly, the Company may adopt the standard in either the first quarter of 2017 or 2018. We are currently in the process of evaluating the timing of adoption of ASU 2014-09 as well as the impact on our consolidated financial statements.

1. Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Description of Business

Zynga Inc. (“Zynga,” “we” or “the Company”) develops, markets, and operates online social games as live services played over the Internet and on social networking sites and mobile platforms. We generate revenue through the in-game sale of virtual goods and through advertising. Our operations are headquartered in San Francisco, California, and we have several operating locations in the U.S., as well as various international office locations in Canada, Asia and Europe.

We completed our initial public offering in December 2011 and our Class A common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ZNGA.”

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the operations of us and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation.

The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements and these related notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015, the interim consolidated statements of operations, the interim consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the interim consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and the related footnote disclosures are unaudited. These unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In management’s opinion, the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s statement of financial position and operating results for the periods presented. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year or any other future period.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in the financial statements include, but are not limited to, the estimated lives of virtual goods that we use for revenue recognition, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, accrued liabilities, income taxes, accounting for business combinations, stock-based expense and evaluation of goodwill, intangible assets, and long-lived assets for impairment. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Changes in our estimated average life of durable virtual goods during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 for various games resulted in an increase in revenue and income from continuing operations of $7.4 million and $8.2 million, respectively, which is the result of adjusting the remaining recognition period of deferred revenue generated in prior periods at the time of a change in estimate. We also recorded $9.9 million of revenue and income from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to changes in our estimated average life of durable goods for games that have been discontinued as there is no further service obligation after the closure of these games. These changes in estimates and discontinuance of games resulted in a $0.01 per share and $0.02 per share impact on our reported earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

Accounting Policy Updates

In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) which requires an acquirer in a business combination to recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which adjustment amounts are determined rather than retrospectively, including the effect on earnings of any amounts that would have been recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed as of the acquisition date. This standard will be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date. This standard will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2016; however, early adoption is permitted. We do not expect this standard to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires revenue to be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the existing revenue recognition guidance in “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)”. In July 2015, the FASB voted to amend ASU 2014-09 by approving a one-year deferral of the effective date as well as allowing early adoption as of the original effective date. Accordingly, the Company may adopt the standard in either the first quarter of 2017 or 2018. We are currently in the process of evaluating the timing of adoption of ASU 2014-09 as well as the impact on our consolidated financial statements.