Tencent is planning to export its mobile games to Western markets. (Photo : China Daily)
After successfully dominating the Chinese market, Internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. has set another goal: taking the global mobile-game arena, whose value is estimated to grow to $30.1 billion.
With its collaboration with San Francisco-based mobile games publisher Glu Mobile Inc., Tencent eyes to bring its most popular shooting game, "We Fire," to the U.S. as well as in other Western countries next year, the Wall Street Journal reported.
This is in addition to its plan of introducing another game to the Japanese market in 2016 through a partnership with local firm Aiming Inc.
"Tencent already has a very large market share in China. If they want to grow faster, they need to grow in other countries," Glu Mobile CEO Niccolo de Masi shared.
De Masi added that they have dedicated a team of dozens of Tencent and Glu Mobile employees to redesign "We Fire" and make it more attractive to Western consumers.
The Glu Mobile executive also revealed that the mobile shooting game can be rebranded and released as part of their firm's franchises such as "Contract Killer" and "Frontline Commando."
According to Kevin Chou, CEO of the U.S. mobile-game firm Kabam Inc., a top-grossing mobile game could generate over $1 billion revenue. Meanwhile, a worldwide hit could pull off around $3 to $4 billion revenue.
For analysts, Tencent's move to export games to the international market is part of a much wider trend. Major Western firms have also been working to expand their products' reach to Asian markets.
China is currently the world's largest market for mobile games. This year, its revenue in the sector is estimated to reach $6.5 billion.
