Century Huatong aims big on mobile game

Century Huatong Group plans to become a global content and culture platform with market value of 100 billion yuan (US$14.5 billion), after taking over Shanda Games -- China’s top game firm a decade ago.

Originally as an auto part company, Century Huatong has become a diversified business group with market value of 40 billion yuan now. 

It has acquired Shanda Games and FunPlus, which totally contributes more than 70 percent its total profit, Wang Ji, chief executive Shenzhen-listed Century Huatong, said in an interview during Chinajoy today.

The company is developing top-level mobile games, which creates US$1 billion income annually each, such as Mir Mobile and the World of Legend Mobile developed by Shanda Games.

In the first six months, mobile game revenue hit 56.1 billion yuan, up 49.8 percent year-on-year, double the whole game market growth. Shanda Games now has focused business on mobile games.

Besides mobile games, globalization is another growth engine for the company. FunPlus has published games in 18 languages covering more than 200 countries and regions. Its top title the King of Avalon used to rank the No. 1 in the US App store. 

“We will become a global culture and content business group with a 50-50 domestic and overseas income,” Wang said during the Chinajoy.

Shanda Games has research labs in Japan and South Korea, which also contributes development of Century Huatong’s overseas business.