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NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
Konami wants to publish your game – from indie to AA – with new third-party publishing unit launched - MCV/DEVELOP
A turnaround at the Japanese publisher as it dives back into the console and PC publishing market
www.mcvuk.com
It’s fair to say that Konami’s dedication to console game publishing has been waning in recent years. You only have to look at the number of titles it’s been putting out a year to see that.
Once a big presence on the release schedule with top-selling titles such as Silent Hill, Pro-Evo soccer and Metal Gear Solid. It has more recently been taking what could best be described as a more pragmatic approach, concentrating on mobile titles in its domestic market and other elements of its business empire – rather than taking risks on big budget console releases.
Today, the company isn’t announcing a new Metal Gear Solid but it’s publicly stating that it’s coming back to the console (and PC) market with a new third-party publishing strategy. Yes, your next game could be published by Konami.
“We are open for business, we are looking for exciting and innovative titles of varying scale. And we’re really excited by this new programme. We can’t wait to show everyone where we’re going with it,” Konami’s Richard Jones, senior brand and business development manager, told MCV/DEVELOP this week.
And while he won’t be drawn on exact targets or budgets, the publisher is looking to build a considerable slate with third-party titles: “The primary objective of this programme is to bulk out our portfolio. And it is to bulk it out with exciting and diverse games, and specifically games that are targeting the western market as well.
“The idea is to diversify the portfolio. So we’re looking to work with external studios of all sizes, up to double-A and beyond at some point,” said Jones, hinting that top-tier budgets are a possibility in the future for the right title. But what is the right title for Konami? Is it something that will fit the brand’s traditional space, or is more looking to branch out and complement it, as Sega Europe has done with its strategy focus?
“I think that’s a really interesting analogy,” he says in reply. “We are looking to complement what is going on in Japan. So the dev teams in Japan are continuing to work on the Konami IP. And we will continue to publish those titles. And so the idea of what this programme offers is the chance for us at Konami Europe,and my colleagues in the US as well, is to find complementary titles.
Jones’s European team is looking for games that will appeal in Europe: “Western-centric IPs and games. Our main platform focus for now is premium PC and console. So those are the sort of areas where we’re looking to reinforce our release schedule.”
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