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RealNetworks Goes Mobile, Releases Games for iPhone

Seattle-based RealNetworks is introducing games for the iPhone and other mobile devices, according to a report in VentureBeat today. Six games are coming out on the iPhone this quarter, including Tiki Towers, a survival-adventure game released last week on some mobile phones. It will be out on the iPhone and iPod Touch on December 15, and will be available for download on WiiWare on December 22.

The push into mobile is an indication that casual games—those that are cheaper and less time-consuming than traditional console games—are becoming a crucial part of RealNetworks’ business. The company first got into games for PCs in 2001, and acquired local game developer Game House in 2003. The next frontier for Real looks to be the mobile market.

Last week, RealNetworks (NASDAQ: RNWK) laid off 130 employees worldwide, 39 in Seattle. In the third quarter, company revenues were up 5 percent (to $152 million) over the same period last year, with game revenues up 19 percent to $34.2 million. But RealNetworks reported a loss of $4.5 million, as compared to a profit of $4.3 million in the third quarter of 2007.

Gregory T. Huang is the Editor of Xconomy Seattle. You can e-mail him at gthuang@xconomy.com or call 206-624-2249.

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