Konami, known for classic franchises such as Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid, has expressed its commitment to third-party publishing in the games industry.
Richard Jones, senior brand and business development manager at Konami, explained this in speaking with MCV. Jones said that the company is looking to specifically publish games that would appeal to the western market while also diversifying its portfolio of titles. He explained the focus right now is on “premium PC and console,” and the studio is “looking to work with external studios of all sizes, up to double-A and beyond at some point.”
Additionally, the hope is Konami may assist European games in finding a market in Japan and greater Asia. The company is still operating with a fully global mindset. Likewise, there is no preference for where games will be published. Epic Games Store, Steam, and console are all viable options.
Coronavirus and the cancellation of physical gaming events such as E3, Gamescom, and GDC have made it more difficult to spread the word about Konami’s third-party publishing plans and to scout out new and interesting independent titles. Nonetheless, Jones has adapted to the digital video conference landscape as an alternative.
Konami published Ukuza’s Skelattack this week, an inverted dungeon crawler where players defend their dungeons from other adventurers. Konami has a wealth of experience in the games industry, from big AAA games to niche releases. With Konami’s commitment to this venture, any titles it publishes will gain a significant boost from the company’s stamp of approval.
