Kalypso Media has formed a sister company to develop and publish games on iOS and Android, according to a press release sent out by the German publisher. The newly-minted Kalypso Media Mobile (what poetry!) will start with handheld versions of its parent company’s franchises, but brand new games are also in the works.
Kalypso is best-known for publishing strategy games—think Tropico, Sins of a Solar Empire, and Galactic Civilizations—and Simon Hellwig, the company’s Global Managing Director, expects that focus to survive the jump to mobile. “Strategy and simulation games are especially under represented—specifically within the premium-price-segment—at the moment," he explained in a statement. “This is a fast growing market and we think, as a part of our product diversification strategy, our games and brands deserve to become playable anywhere, any time."
The focus on premium-priced content is notable, if not surprising, but the press release also is also clear about exploring free-to-play options as well. The official statement notes that free-to-play will “play an important role" in the new company’s “growth strategy."
In any case, until Kalypso announces its first game, we’re left with speculation and, depending on your strategy chops, wishful thinking. A Tropico mobile game seems obvious, since it’s their most recognizable franchise, but we’ll know more soon enough: three games are planned for 2014. Meanwhile, Tropico 5 is slated for this May on PC.
