Sign of the Times? Samsung-Backed Cyber Games To Go Mobile-Only
The World Cyber Games, heavily backed by Samsung and others, is going mobile only in a major strategy shift, according to a leaked letter from WCG CEO Brad Lee **. WCG officials have confirmed that the international events company will drop PC and console competitions to focus solely on mobile gaming.
World Cyber Games started as a PC gaming tournament in 2000 hosting major sponsored events across Asia, Europe and the U.S. with major brands including Microsoft, Samsung and Nvidia supporting the event. Replacing the World Cyber Games, WCG officials say, will be a new competition called the Mobile Game-Based Festival.
"We have witnessed that there have been many companies and organizations who went out of business because they didn't put effort to change," Lee wrote. "Therefore we concluded that we should create WCG's new identity.. Hence, WCG decided to start the Mobile Game-Based Festival."
WCG aimed to legitimize global console gaming through its events, which were modeled after traditional sporting events, such as the Olympic Games. Competitions included an opening ceremony with players from various countries competing for gold, silver and bronze medals.
Lee says the company is in discussions with sponsors and game publishers about the new format.
According to a new study, over 100 million Americans play mobile games. The adoption of smartphones and tablets were among the factors credited for the 35% year-on-year growth of mobile gameplay.
** It's worth noting that this could all be an early April Fool's Joke on hardcore gamers, but the story is confirmed by the company and being pretty well covered from many trusted sources in gaming media.
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