Kabam extends its Marvel deal for a second superhero mobile game

Kabam and Disney’s Marvel Entertainment division have teamed up to create a second superhero mobile game.

The new game’s based on Marvel characters and it should deliver a “true-to-character role-playing game” for mobile devices, the companies said. The deal shows that brands increasingly matter as a means to stand out from the pack and nab players in the vast mobile audience. Mobile gaming is expected to hit $25 billion in worldwide revenues in 2014 and grow larger than console games in 2015, according to market researcher Newzoo.

The two companies previously worked together on Marvel Contest of Champions, a fighting game that comes out this month on mobile devices. Kabam’s studio in Vancouver is developing Contest of Champions, while the second Marvel game is in progress at the company’s headquarters studio in San Francisco.

“The Marvel brand represents some of the most iconic and loved characters in the history of action entertainment,” said Kent Wakeford, the chief operating officer of Kabam, in a statement. “Marvel continues to dominate the box office with mega hit after mega hit, and we at Kabam look forward to extending Marvel’s universe into a blockbuster mobile game.”

Kabam’s S.F. studio is responsible two of its hit games: Castle Age and Underworld Empire. The Marvel RPG is due out in 2015.

“Marvel Interactive is continuing our commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality games for mobile devices by expanding on our relationship with Kabam,” says Peter Phillips, the executive vice president of interactive and digital distribution at Marvel, in a statement. “Kabam’s development teams do a great job of creating original, true-to-character gameplay experiences which supports that commitment.”

Kabam recently raised $120 million from investors, including Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, at a valuation greater than $1 billion. It has created four titles that have each grossed more than $100 million. It has more than 800 employees.