Orange buys into Japanese mobile gaming company

French telecom operator Orange announced that it had bought a share in Japanese mobile gaming company G-cluster Global as it confirms its push into providing content across several platforms.

G-cluster is a leading developer of mobile and cloud gaming technology and already provides the gaming software for Orange's roughly three million TV clients in France.

The technology developed by G-cluster allows users to play console-like games across a whole number of platforms, including smartphones, tablets and televisions.

The investment by Orange is part of a G-cluster capital-raising round and will help it expand into international markets, G-cluster head Erik Piehl said in a statement.

Cloud-gaming "is strategic for Orange" and is key to drawing new customers to the operator's broadband services, said Elie Girard, the French operator's head of strategy.

The stake bought by Orange is a minority share and no figures were provided. G-cluster is headquartered in Tokyo, with offices in Finland, France, and in the United States.

© 2014 AFP