China's iDreamSky, Russia's Mail.ru form games partnership (updated)

iDreamSky Technology Holdings

01/08/2019 10:45

(Adds CEO comments)
    By Pei Li and Brenda Goh
    SHANGHAI, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Tencent-backed Chinese video
game publisher iDreamSky Technology Holdings  1119.HK  and
Russian tech firm Mail.ru Group's games unit  MAILRq.L  said on
Thursday that they would establish a long-term partnership to
expand their global presence.
    The partnership will work on cross publishing games in
domestic markets, and are currently working on bringing a game
called "War Robot" into China, pending licence approval, the
companies said, but did not disclose any investment figures.
    The companies announced the plan at a press conference held
on the eve of the China Digital Entertainment Expo and
Conference, also known as ChinaJoy, which takes place in
Shanghai between Aug 2-5. 
    Reuters reported on Wednesday that the two companies were
forming an alliance.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N24W2BK 
    "The two parties have complementary advantages in the global
gaming market and we believe that this strategic cooperation
will help both parties become important forces in the industry,"
said Vasiliy Maguryan, CEO of Mail.ru's games unit, MY.GAMES.
    IDreamSky, which is backed by China's largest gaming and
social media firm Tencent  0700.HK , is known for licensing a
raft of hit foreign games, including Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja
and Temple Run in China.
    Jeff Lyndon, iDreamSky's CEO, said the company was investing
more in developing its own games, which it plans to eventually
distribute globally through the partnership.

 (Reporting by Pei Li and Brenda Goh; Editing by Tom Hogue and
Gopakumar Warrier)
 ((brenda.goh@thomsonreuters.com; +86 (0) 21 6104 1763; Reuters
Messaging: brenda.goh.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))