Finnish mobile game studio, Next Games, is partnering with AMC Networks to deliver the first mobile game based on the television hit, “The Walking Dead.”
The release of the as-yet untitled game is timed with the launch of the popular zombie drama’s fifth season in October. Few details are being released about the game but developers promise it will match the show’s intensity and tone.
It is being developed exclusively for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
The production of this and other future mobile games is being funded with an initial startup of $6 million collected from an exclusive pool of private investors, many in the United States and Asia.
“We want to find that sweet spot where gameplay and narrative inform and reinforce one another,” said Teemu Huuhtanen, CEO at Next Games. “Like AMC’s The Walking Dead itself, we’re not giving away too many details right out the gate, but I can confidently state it’s unlike anything we’ve seen from The Walking Dead franchise on home or mobile gaming hardware before.”
Next Games was founded by veteran game designers from Rovio Entertainment, Supercell and Disney Interactive. The studio’s focus, designers say, is on games that are easy to play and are drive by the narrative.
Though this is the first mobile-exclusive game based on “The Walking Dead,” the show has already had success in the gaming industry.
A previous game inspired by “The Walking Dead” had success across gaming platforms like the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, IPads and iPhones. That game, created by the company Telltale Games, broke sales records for the gaming company before the iOS version even hit the market.
“The Walking Dead” is ranked the top show for the coveted marketing group, adults ages 18-49. It also is popular worldwide and Next Games plans to distribute the game with a global marketing campaign.
The post-apocalyptic drama of survivalists battling flesh-eating zombies is based on original comic book series by Robert Kirkman.
Additional details on the mobile game will be released in coming months.
