Sony PlayStation is set to release six mobile gaming titles in April. Avid gamers should expect popular PlayStation games to roll out on Apple's iOS and Google's Android devices. The company is looking to rival the success of Nintendo's Pokémon GO, a sign that Sony is keen on expanding its market in mobile gaming.
According to Reuters, Sony has announced on Wednesday that they are working on a total of 10 titles that will be first available in Japan. Though the company will also release them eventually to other markets in Asia. This information was shared by Sony's mobile gaming unit Executive Director Tomoki Kawaguchi.
Based on PlayStation's blog in Japan, the PlayStation games that are going to be releases are Arc the Lad, PaRappa the Rappa, Everybody's Golf, DASH!, Wild Arms, Summer Holiday 20th Century, a game starring PlayStation's Japanese mascot Toro Inoue, Disgaea, Night Time and Sora to Umi no Aida or Between Sky and Sea. Sony seems to go the opposite route compared to Nintendo. Pokémon is a popular franchise on its own before it became a worldwide hit mobile game.
On the other hand, the above-mentioned games are not really as recognizable globally. According to the Business Insider, the other difference in Sony's strategy is the decision to initially limit it to Japan before it actually gets to be enjoyed by wider audience around the world. This is not the first time that the company has tried to venture in mobile gaming. It had introduced PlayStation Mobile games on smartphones. The Sony Xperia Play phone is also a good example. However, none of these really worked out well.
Reuters further reported that even analysts still doubt that Sony can really make a break in mobile gaming. One of the obvious reasons is its lack of iconic characters such as its rival's Super Mario and Donkey Kong. Ace Research Institute's Hideki Yasuda said, Sony, unlike Nintendo, has failed to invest consistently in its intellectual property, due partly to the company's recent focus on profits."
In addition, the games that the company will introduce on mobile devices are "old and outdated". This means that though gamers might enjoy playing it on their iPhone or Android device, they can't possibly play it in their current PlayStation consoles. Yasuda added, "There will be little synergy between mobile and console gaming within Sony."
Though Nintendo certainly is more successful in this market than Sony, the result is different when it comes to console gaming. There have been over 40 million PlayStation 4 sales. In fact, Sony Corp proudly revealed that its PS4 video game console had exceeded 50 million units as of Dec. 6. Furthermore, it has become the company's fastest-selling game console.
