Nokia Is Closing the N-Gage Gaming Division

3rd November, 2009 by Adina
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This move is part of a new strategy of Nokia to turn Ovi, its version of Apple’s applications store, into a one-stop shop for software, applications and games for a wide range of Nokia devices. Nokia is intending to close the game download and community by September 2010 and to move all the users to the Ovi store. Games will remain on devices and in the store, but community features will be deactivated, e.g. high scores.

There is a certain pressure on Nokia to emulate the business model of the iPhone which doesn’t segregate games from common applications, like Nokia does. Apple has encouraged game developers to write applications only for iPod touch and iPhone and has promoted mobile gaming. Despite Nokia’s larger market share wasn’t enough to balance Apple’s better strategy.

Nokia tried several different strategies to revive service in early 2008 with a host of high-profile publishing partners, including Electronic Arts and Vivendi.

Nokia hopes to add more community elements to the Ovi store, e.g. replacing features such as the N-Gage Arena which allows gamers to share their high scores and chat on the forum.


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