News

Rumour: Sony Ericsson spearheading development of Xperia Play exclusives

Games exclusive to PlayStation-certified device in the works

Rumour: Sony Ericsson spearheading development of Xperia Play exclusives
|

Games exclusive to Xperia Play are in development and expected within the next year, a source close to Sony Ericsson confirms.

Gameloft is the most likely developer working with Sony Ericsson on exclusive content, although we couldn't confirm or deny this assumption.

It's unsurprising that Sony Ericsson would help defray the development costs of an exclusive title or two for its flagship gaming device. Microsoft has been open about its efforts to fund Windows Phone 7 game developers, for instance.

While the slate of launch games is large, none are particularly impressive - a smattering of iOS re-releases that is unlikely to attract iPhone and iPod touch owners to make the leap to Xperia Play.

Leveraging the PlayStation brand with downloadable PSone titles may help, but our source makes it clear that Sony Ericsson wants to aggressively push exclusive new games from top mobile developers in order to attract gamers.

To be fair, the success of Xperia Play won't be determine so much by its launch, as it will be the 6-12 month period that follows. If Sony Ericsson can help developers release games in tandem with iOS and touchscreen Android releases, then the device can maintain even footing. Exclusives could then help the handset be competitive.

Xperia Play will launch later this spring in the US and UK.

Tracy Erickson
Tracy Erickson
Manning our editorial outpost in America, Tracy comes with years of expertise at mashing a keyboard. When he's not out painting the town red, he jets across the home of the brave, covering press events under the Pocket Gamer banner.