Disney to work with local studios in China market

Disney Interactive China has launched three mobile games and announced its intention to work with local studios to develop games for the fast-rising local market.

Disney Interactive, part of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media at The Walt Disney Company, is one of world's largest creators of interactive entertainment across digital media platforms and ranked the eighth most downloaded mobile publisher in the world.

The games include Star Wars?: Commander, a combat strategy game, jointly launched by China Mobile Games and Entertainment Group Ltd (CMGE).

The others are Marvel Future Fight, an action game developed by Netmarble Games Corp, and Marvel Contest of Champions, an action-fighting game developed by Kabam Inc.

Justin Scarpone, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Interactive Asia, said: "China is fast becoming the epicenter of gaming and we intend to work with the best developers to deliver high quality games that apply our global IP in a locally relevant and totally engaging format".

According to iResearch, the gaming market will grow from $18 billion this year to $31 billion by 2018 with mobile gaming set to account for 43 percent of the market by 2018.

"This is the hottest, most competitive market in the world and by working with leading developers and local studios we intend to ensure Disney's international portfolio of blockbuster games are hits in China too," said Scarpone.

Seungwon Lee, president of overseas at Netmarble Games, stressed the importance of the localization of the games. "Continuing our efforts of bringing mega hit mobile titles to China, we have worked with Disney Interactive and Marvel Entertainment to develop Marvel Future Fight that applies Marvel IP with a Chinese-friendly game system, creating an exciting experience with a differentiated quality for Chinese players entailing RPG lovers as well as casual gamers".

"Kabam has developed mobile games with their Beijing-based team, which allow them to take the global game and rebuild it in China with all the key elements that appeal directly to Chinese audiences," said Kabam co-founder and CEO Kevin Chou.

Disney Interactive also announced upcoming mobile titles to be co-developed with local partners including Inside Out: Thought Bubbles with iDreamSky, a Pirates of the Caribbean themed game with TipCat and a Star Wars themed game with Digital Sky.