King Digital Entertainment PLC (NYSE:KING) had launched a match-three puzzle video game Candy Crush Saga on April 12, 2012 for Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), and on November 14, 2012 for smartphones. Over the two years, this game has gained a lot of popularity among the users of this app. Now, the leading interactive entertainment company for the mobile world is all set to launch a Chinese version of this game.
Candy Crush – a massively popular game
The game maker will make the Chinese version of this game available via Tencent’s Mobile QQ and Weixin Game Centers. King has successfully launched this game in Korea and Japan in 2013. With this new launch in China, King’s presence in key Asian markets will extend further.
On partnering with Tencent, Riccardo Zacconi, CEO of King commented, “I am thrilled to be launching Candy Crush Saga with Tencent in China. Tencent has the largest mobile social network in China and is a great partner to work with.”
King Digital Entertainment PLC (NYSE:KING) has made its IPO registration filing this year, and claim that Candy Crush is one of the most downloaded apps in 2013 and topped the sales charts around the world. In the last three months of 2013 alone, it brought in about $493 million.
Last year, Candy Crush had about 93 million daily average users. The game could help certainly help to attract China’s more than 500 million mobile internet users to Tencent’s platforms.
King and Tencent tie-up – future ahead
Not only King Digital Entertainment PLC (NYSE:KING) but Tencent too stands to benefit from the huge popularity of Candy Crush Saga. Tencent has a wide array of online and mobile offerings that range from social media platforms to online finance, and this tie-up will greatly help them attract more users towards these offerings.
Steven Ma, Senior Vice President of Tencent said, “Tencent always hopes to bring global premier mobile games to China, and Candy Crush is one of the best….We are looking forward to bringing great moments of fun to Chinese users soon.”
Tencent is trying hard to gain online supremacy in China, and Alibaba Group Holding is a tough competitor. Tencent has even acquired a stake of 28% in March, worth $500 million in CJ Games, which is a South Korean mobile gaming firm.
