MUMBAI: DeNA Co, Japan‘s leading mobile social gaming platform operator, and The Walt Disney Company (Japan) have joined hands to create social mobile games through DeNA Group‘s Mobage social gaming platform.
The tie-up also underscores the push by Disney, which two years ago bought social network game developer Playdom, to get more of its characters online to help promote its businesses and films such as the upcoming "The Avengers."
The two companies launched their first jointly developed social game, Disney Party, on 28 March on the Mobage network in Japan, which currently serves over 35 million in the country.
DeNA and Disney plan to launch their second title, Disney Fantasy Quest, on 2 April, and the third title based on Marvel Comics characters this summer in Japan.
Localised versions of Disney Party, Disney Fantasy Quest and the Marvel-based title are also scheduled to launch as smartphone apps after July on Mobage Global for North America and Europe, Mobage China, and Daum Mobage for South Korea.
The three titles will be DeNA‘s first jointly developed titles to be released outside of Japan. DeNA and Disney are considering development of additional new titles for worldwide market in the future.
Under the agreement, the two companies plan to work together in areas beyond social games, such as Disney movies, Disney TV programmes and Disney smart phone apps.
"Disney‘s characters and stories have cross-border and cross-generational appeal," said DeNA Representative Director and President Isao Moriyasu. "DeNA has enormous reach around the world with its proven cross-device platform for mobile social games. Together, we can delight millions of players with games featuring Disney‘s and Marvel‘s beloved characters."
"We are very excited about working closely with DeNA, which is the market leader of mobile games, to provide great new services," said The Walt Disney Company (Japan) President Paul Candland. "We are also looking forward to inviting our audiences all over the world to enjoy Japan made original game content through DeNA‘s global platform."
