DIGIPLUS Interactive Corp. is targeting about 60 localized game releases in 2027, nearly double its expected output this year, as it expands titles based on Filipino stories, folklore and entertainment properties.
“Maybe double? Maybe 60 games next year? We’ll see,” DigiPlus head of localization Ray De Guzman told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Thursday.
DigiPlus expects to release more than 30 localized games this year, he said.
The company has secured two more intellectual properties (IP) for game development next year, with releases tentatively scheduled for the first and second quarters.
“We already have one of those games with a supplier and in development,” Mr. De Guzman said. “And then we’re working on awarding more suppliers.”
The expansion comes as DigiPlus seeks to build a bigger pipeline of locally themed content for its digital gaming platforms.
DigiPlus recently partnered with Regal Entertainment to turn the Shake, Rattle & Roll horror franchise into five digital games: Manananggal, Reyna Ahas, Triple Terror, LRT Monster and Aswang.
The titles became available on BingoPlus on Oct. 22, with rollouts on ArenaPlus and GameZone planned later.
“By combining the film outfit’s strong creative legacy with DigiPlus’ digital capabilities and local market insight, we are creating new opportunities to bring established Filipino entertainment into the digital space, strengthen our content portfolio and deliver greater value to our audiences,” DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco said in a separate statement.
Mr. De Guzman said localized games are developed by adapting elements of Philippine folklore, mythology and history into gameplay features.
“I research the histories and the heroes and the folklore and the mythologies, and I turn those into game experiences,” he said.
He cited the manananggal, a creature in Philippine folklore known for separating its upper body from its lower half, as an example of how local characters could be translated into game mechanics.
DigiPlus is also looking beyond slot games, which account for about 80% of its development efforts.
“We’ll diversify that portfolio over different kinds of games,” Mr. De Guzman said. “But slots have got to be 80% of the focus right now because the community is very strong and the demand is high.”
The company plans to expand into other game formats while keeping slot games at the core of its content lineup. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno