Glu Mobile signs deal to publish Konami Europe's mobile games

Good news for fans of Konami's console games who've been wondering why they've been slow to come to European mobile phones. Glu Mobile has announced a strategic partnership with Konami to be the latter's exclusive mobile distributor here in Europe.

Konami's European development studio will make the games, with the first titles covered by the agreement coming out in the second half of this year.

Executives from both companies stressed to Pocket Gamer that the deal will go much deeper than a clear cut distribution relationship, with Glu's staff bringing their expertise with mobile to Konami's internal projects from an early stage to help perfect them for the platform.

Glu and Konami haven't said yet which games are covered, other than to say they'll be based on "key Konami franchises", and "some of the finest brands in the video game industry".

We're hoping that means Pro Evolution Soccer, Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill. Names are promised in the next couple of months.

Konami told us the first step would be to produce the best possible standalone mobile versions of Konami games, but it didn't rule out creating products that inter-relate with their console siblings in the long-term. There's also the potential for bespoke versions of the likes of Metal Gear Solid that take the series in a new direction on mobile, in the manner of Metal Gear Acid on PSP, though again we'll have to wait and see.

"Our collaboration with Glu will ensure that the Konami games that people love will be quickly and easily accessible and available to as many consumers as possible," says Kunio Neo, president of Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH.

The deal follows a similar partnership with console publisher Codemasters for Glu, which was announced earlier this year.