Tag: softbank

Softbank invests in Finnish mobile games developer

| October 22, 2013

Softbank continues showing strong interest in mobile games

Softbank, a Japanese telecommunications corporation, has invested some $1.53 billion in a mobile games developer based in Finland. Per the investment, Softbank now owns a 51% stake in Supercell, developer of popular games like Clash of Clans and Hay Day. Despite the success of its games, Supercell is still considered a small development studio, but the developer is growing quickly and has established a formidable presence in the mobile games space.

Supercell boasts of strong revenue in games sector

Supercell has surpassed Zynga in terms of market value. The developer is currently valued at $3 billion and the developer’s games produce estimated daily revenue of over $2.4 million. The majority of this revenue comes from in-game purchases on virtual items and digital currencies. The financial clout that Supercell represents demonstrates the economic promise that can be found in the mobile games sector. As mobile games continue to grow in popularity, large companies like Softbank are looking to establish a lead in the sector.

Mobile Gaming - Softbank takes over Finish mobile games developerGlobal game industry revenue expected to hit $86 billion by 2016

Market research firm Newzoo predicts that the global revenue produced by the game industry as a whole will reach $86.1 billion by 2016. The firm expects the mobile games sector to grow quickly over that time, accounting for approximately 30% of global gaming revenue. Mobile games currently represent 17% of the revenue produced within the game industry. Consumers have shown that they are willing to spend money on mobile games despite the fact that the majority of these games are free to play.

Softbank aims for the global stage with mobile games

Approximately 20% of the investment coming from Softbank will be funneled through the company’s own mobile games studio, GungHo Online Entertainment. Softbank has already established a formidable presence in the Asian game market through its subsidiaries, but the company is not turning its interests to the global stage. Softbank is well positioned to compete with other large companies, such as Electronic Arts, that have begun entering into the mobile games sector.

New mobile games launched in India

| September 4, 2013

Bharti SoftBank launches its first mobile games

Bharti SoftBank, a joint venture between India’s Bharti Enterprises and Japan’s SoftBank, has begun its foray into the world of mobile games. This week, the company launched two mobile games that are targeted at a general demographic that has exhibited interest in such games in the past. The two games, called Songquest and Shiva: The Time Bender, are currently available on the Google Play store. Bharti SoftBank expects to have a total of five games in its portfolio by March of next year.

Company takes aim at young consumers

Like other game developers and publishers, Bharti SoftBank is taking aim at young consumers. This particular demographic has shown a strong interest in mobile games and most of these young people have mobile devices of some kind. Bharti SoftBank’s current goal is to capture approximately 10% of the 12 million smartphone users that exist in its chosen market.

India Mobile GamesGames to include microtransactions

The games released by the company are free to play and are currently only available for the Android platform. These games will be made available for other platforms in the near future in order to engage a wider audience of mobile consumers. Like other free mobile games, those offered by Bharti SoftBank will allow players to purchase additional features in-game. This will be how these games generate revenue, but the company will have to find a balance between its in-game transactions and the content it offers for free lest it alienates consumers.

Companies show more interest in mobile games

Mobile games have become quite popular in India and other parts of the world. These games have also become a very lucrative sector for the global game industry. Large development studios and publishing companies are becoming more involved in the mobile sector in order to take advantage of the popularity of these mobile games. Consumers, however, have shown concerns that many of these games are nothing more than cash grabs from these companies, citing an obsessive focus that companies seem to have on in-game purchases.