DeNA is a Japanese mobile game developer that also deals in ecommerce, web advertising and global business. Yesterday they released the Operating Results for the financial year of 2018, and among their announcements was a new partnership with The Pokemon Company. DeNA will launch a "new and exciting smartphone game" based on the globally popular Pokemon franchise. The game will be released this fiscal year, which will end in March 2020. That was all the information that was released, but the company promises to release more details about the game and the release timing later. You can see the exact slide below.
Some of DeNA's mobile games include Final Fantasy Record Keeper, Engines of War, Godus, Shadow Wars, Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. They are also currently developing Mario Kart Tour. They have developed over a dozen other mobile games, many of which don't seem to have been very successful, but judging by their latest games, they are now focusing on strong franchises to produce more consistent and lasting mobile titles.
Pokemon as a franchise has been very strong for the past two years or so. Last year we had a Year of Pokemon, with plenty of detailed features. In February the TechRaptor staff shared some thoughts on Generation 8's Best Starter Pokemon. We've also reviewed Let’s Go Pikachu! last December. Last Monday we reported on a special event for Pokemon GO, as a tie-in for the Detective Pikachu live-action adventure feature film that is now available in theaters.
Last week we also reported on the results of the Earth Day events that Niantic Labs, the developer of Pokemon GO, had planned. It shows that game developers and gamers can make a difference, no matter how small it is.
What do you think of this new Pokemon game by DeNA? Have you played any of their mobile games before? Let us know in the comments below!