PopCap Games® Announces Agreement With Square Enix
Most Popular Puzzle, Word and Classic Arcade-Style Games in the World Coming to Japan
SEATTLE, Washington - September 7, 2006 - PopCap Games®, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, today announced a partnership with Square Enix Co., Ltd., a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software and services including two of the world's most popular franchises FINAL FANTASY® and DRAGON QUEST®, that brings PopCap's popular casual computer and Web games to the Japanese market. Under the agreement, Square Enix is distributing PopCap's hit titles such as Bejeweled® 2, Chuzzle®, Insaniquarium® and Heavy Weapon via its new casual games download service, available now through the popular Japanese portal www.gyao.jp.
"We know that our games are ideally suited for the global consumer audience and this agreement with Square Enix will enable us to reach the Japanese market in a major way," stated James Gwertzman, Director of Business Development for PopCap Games. "There's simply no better partner in Japan for PopCap than Square Enix, in terms of industry presence, distribution channels, passion for quality games of all kinds and overall expertise. This is an ideal match for PopCap."
Square Enix's new casual games download service will initially provide four PopCap games, all available for free trial play as well as for purchase over the download service. Additional PopCap titles will be added to the service in the coming months. PopCap, with 95 employees based in Seattle, Washington, San Francisco, California and Dublin Ireland, is the largest and most successful independent developer and publisher of casual games in the world.
About Square Enix Co., Ltd.
With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 68 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST, which has sold over 40 million units worldwide-under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com/.
About PopCap
PopCap Games ( www.popcap.com) is the leading provider of casual games in the world. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000 by three friends from the online games industry, and has grown tremendously in the past five years. PopCap's games have been downloaded more than 175 million times, and its flagship title Bejeweled® has sold more than 5 million units across all major platforms. PopCap games are available for Web, PC and Mac, videogame consoles, cell-phones, PDAs and other mobile devices, in-flight on leading airlines, and more.
DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Co. Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Heavy Weapon is a trademark, and PopCap, PopCap Games, Bejeweled, and Chuzzle are registered trademarks, of PopCap Games, Inc. Insaniquarium is a registered trademark of Flying Bear Entertainment. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners, without intent to infringe.
PR Contact:
Garth Chouteau
garth@popcap.com
415-602-8147