Ubisoft has added a mobile publisher to its portfolio.
The interactive entertainment and services company last month acquired Ketchapp, the world's fourth-largest mobile game publisher, for an undisclosed sum.
Ubisoft said the Ketchapp acquisition "expands its footprint in digital and mobile gaming" and increases its mobile advertising expertise.
Furthermore, the Ketchapp acquisition highlights Ubisoft's interest in the mobile gaming space.
Ubisoft pointed out that Ketchapp games have been downloaded nearly 700 million times at an average of more than 23 million downloads per month. Thus, the Ketchapp acquisition may help Ubisoft bolster its presence in the mobile gaming sector for years to come.
In addition, entering the mobile gaming sector now may prove to be exceedingly important for mobile developers across the globe, as this segment is expected to expand rapidly.
Games, esports and mobile intelligence firm Newzoo has predicted the global games market will generate $99.6 billion in revenues this year. Also, Newzoo has estimated mobile gaming revenues will surpass PC gaming revenues for the first time, and mobile gaming revenues could total $36.9 billion in 2016.
Let's not forget about the low barriers to entry in the mobile gaming sector, either.
Professional services firm Deloitte stated roughly 500 mobile game titles are launched daily. Plus, mobile games often can be created in only hours, ensuring developers can release new titles consistently.
"We expect games play to remain a principal usage of mobile devices and predict that in subsequent years, mobile games revenues will continue to grow, propelled by both a rising base of mobile devices, and a marked increase in device specification, particularly for smartphones," Deloitte noted.
Ubisoft is ready to bolster its presence in the mobile gaming sector. And if mobile developers are searching for ways to boost their earnings, they may want to consider entering the mobile gaming segment as well. - Dan, @FierceDeveloper