DeNA, NetDragon form new Chinese localizing social games studio

Chinese online/mobile game developer and operator NetDragon revealed today that it is set to form a new social games studio with Tokyo-based social and mobile gaming giant DeNA, with the aim to develop mobile social games for the Chinese market. The two companies will form the new studio in the first quarter of 2012, with paid-in starting funds of $6 million, and initial staff numbers of around 30. The new studio will be looking to localize non-Chinese social smartphone games for the region, including a number of DeNA's own in-house titles, and some third-party titles. These localized games will then be operated through DeNA's Mobage network in China, and be made available via NetDragon's digital distribution platforms. Looking to the future, the studio also plans to develop original in-house titles, with a focus on MMORPG titles for mobile gamers around the world. "The joint venture will allow DeNA to leverage NetDragon Group's capability in developing and operating Chinese games, its proven business management experience in China, as well as NetDragon's highly popular mobile app store," the companies said in a joint statement. NetDragon and DeNA first announced a joint partnership back in April of last year, when they revealed they would be sharing mobile game development resources and distribution platforms with each other.