TOKYO -- Sony plans to ready five or more smartphone games for release around late March 2018, targeting Japan and other parts of Asia.
Sony Interactive Entertainment will create new offerings based on popular PlayStation series. Mobile game arm ForwardWorks will handle distribution.
Some older games that cannot be played on the latest hardware will be revived. Games may be linked to consoles as well. Titles in development will likely be announced by year-end.
Consumers tend to be drawn to smartphone games associated with well-known consoles. SIE hopes to capitalize on this and so lure more of the vast pool of mobile players to its consoles.
Sony is not alone in such efforts. The wildly successful "Pokemon Go" debuted in July, and Nintendo plans to launch "Super Mario Run" by the end of the year.
(Nikkei)
