Zynga Japan incoming
By James • Jul 30th, 2010 • Category: Industry News
- Photo: Zynga
Social gaming giant Zynga, best known for its ‘ville’ series of Facebook games, most notably Farmville, has announced plans to be big in Japan. Off the heels of receiving a $150 million investment from Softbank, a mega Japanese Internet company. No official word on the rumoured Google Games investment, though.
Zynga Japan incoming
The two organisations are pushing forth on a joint venture called Zynga Japan, which will distribute and develop social games across the home of the rising sun. It is well documented that Japan’s gaming tastes are slightly different from those of us in the West – and while at 80 million users Farmville has nearly taken over the whole world – games tailored specifically at a Japanese audience could be colossal hits.
Who is this Softbank, anyway?
As one of the largest Internet companies in Japan, Softbank is notable for investing in and partnering with foreign online companies. The company is currently the largest individual shareholder in Yahoo Japan, off the back of being one of being one of Yahoo’s earliest investors. Furthermore, it boasts ties with Facebook competitor MySpace in Japan, and invested $10 million in online streaming company UStream in May of this year.
- Photo: Softbank
The point, really, is that investing in an Internet company – albeit one with a social gaming focus – is not unchartered territory for Softbank, nor is it unchartered territory for Zynga, who are merrily chugging away, making heaps of money from people tending to their digital farms.
What about that Google money?
It is widely believed that the Softbank finances were raised lock and step with the rumoured Google money Zynga received in the preliminary stages of Google Games. We suspect that Zynga will announce the Google deal in the near future. Social gaming is expected to be the next big thing on the Internet and Zynga look best poised to capitalise on the opportunity. It speaks volumes to the company’s reach and luster that companies like Softbank and Google want to partner with it.
Tags for this article: Facebook, social gaming, Zynga
