Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
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 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 North America, India 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, 2015. Unaudited Interim Financial Information The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016, the interim consolidated statements of operations, the interim consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the interim consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 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, 2016 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 resulted in an increase in revenue and income from operations of $0.5 million and $0.5 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, 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 recognized $0.2 million and $3.8 million of revenue and income from operations in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, due to changes in our estimated average life of durable virtual goods for games that have been discontinued as there is no further service obligation after the closure of these games. These changes in estimates did not impact our reported earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and resulted in a $0.01 per share impact on our reported earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” 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. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net),” which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent consideration in determining whether an entity controls a specified good or service before it is transferred to the customer. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact and adoption method of ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2016-08 on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with lease terms greater than 12 months. For lessors, accounting for leases will remain substantially the same as in prior periods. The standard is effective in the first quarter of 2019 and early adoption is permitted. While the Company expects adoption of this new standard to increase reported assets and liabilities, we are currently in the process of evaluating the timing of adoption of ASU 2016-02 as well as the full impact on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” to simplify the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income taxes and classification in the statement of cash flows. It also provides an option to recognize gross share-based compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur. The standard is effective in the first quarter of 2017 and early adoption is permitted. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-09 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 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 North America, India 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, 2015.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016, the interim consolidated statements of operations, the interim consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the interim consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 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, 2016 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 resulted in an increase in revenue and income from operations of $0.5 million and $0.5 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, 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 recognized $0.2 million and $3.8 million of revenue and income from operations in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, due to changes in our estimated average life of durable virtual goods for games that have been discontinued as there is no further service obligation after the closure of these games. These changes in estimates did not impact our reported earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and resulted in a $0.01 per share impact on our reported earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” 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. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net),” which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent consideration in determining whether an entity controls a specified good or service before it is transferred to the customer. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact and adoption method of ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2016-08 on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with lease terms greater than 12 months. For lessors, accounting for leases will remain substantially the same as in prior periods. The standard is effective in the first quarter of 2019 and early adoption is permitted. While the Company expects adoption of this new standard to increase reported assets and liabilities, we are currently in the process of evaluating the timing of adoption of ASU 2016-02 as well as the full impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” to simplify the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income taxes and classification in the statement of cash flows. It also provides an option to recognize gross share-based compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur. The standard is effective in the first quarter of 2017 and early adoption is permitted.

We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-09 on our consolidated financial statements.