EA snaps up Worms mobile rights

February 18th, 2010, 16:16 Posted By: wraggster

EA Mobile has announced a licensing deal with THQ Wireless and Team17 for the mobile rights to the Worms franchise. The publisher has already released a new version of Worms, while also assuming the rights to previous games including Worms 2008, Worms 2007, Worms Forts 3D, Worms Crazy Golf and Worms 2.
However, developer Team17 is hanging onto the iPhone rights to the franchise, having taken Worms to the App Store for the first time last year under its own steam.
The deal isn't particularly surprising, given that THQ Wireless exited the non-smartphone market last year, leaving Team17 in need of a new partner for non-iPhone platforms.
It is, though, a sign of EA Mobile's desire to cement its position as the leading mobile games publisher in that business, having previously signed deals to distribute and/or publish games by Taito, Eidos and Namco Bandai.
It's now openly acknowledged in the mobile games industry that Java and Brew revenues are in decline - both Gameloft and Glu admitted as such in their recent financials.
Deals like Worms will help EA Mobile stem the slide in that market during this industry transition, while continuing to invest heavily in iPhone and other smartphone platforms.

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/298...-mobile-rights

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