Japan's DeNA jumps 24% on Pokemon mobile card game launch

DeNA Co

28/02/2024 03:53

By Sam Nussey
       TOKYO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Shares in Japan's DeNA
 2432.T  jumped 24% in Tokyo trading on Wednesday after the
gaming company said it will launch a mobile version of the
long-running Pokemon trading card game this year, with investors
betting on the title becoming a hit.
    "Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket" from DeNa, the Pokemon
Company and game company Creatures will launch on iOS and
Android and allow players to collect and trade cards with
classic and new designs and play quick battles, according to
announcement material.
    The Pokemon trading card game, itself based on the popular
Nintendo  7974.T  video game franchise, launched in 1996 in
Japan and later gained popularity in the United States, with
more than 50 billion cards printed.
    The business model, pioneered by American designer Richard
Garfield in the 1990s, sees players battle head-to-head with
decks of character cards aided by buying sealed booster packs
containing various designs and with degrees of rarity.
    In recent years trading cards have gained greater attention,
with rare cards in pristine condition attaining frothy
valuations in the volatile market for alternative assets.
    Digital collectible card games have also become well
established with popular titles including versions of "Magic",
"Yu-Gi-Oh!" and "Hearthstone", which is based on the "Warcraft"
franchise.
    DeNa has worked on mobile games with Nintendo including
"Mario Kart Tour" but has struggled for hits in the saturated
mobile market against competition from Chinese rivals, with its
shares down around 40% at the last close from a peak last May.

 (Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
 ((sam.nussey@tr.com;))