The app development specialists at Lancashire tech agency Motionlab Interactive, part of the Motionlab group of companies, have hit the bullseye after sealing licencing rights from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) for their smash hit mobile game ‘Darts Match’.
This agreement between Motionlab Interactive and the PDC has seen the game rebranded ‘PDC Darts Match’ and redeveloped to include 16 of the PDC’s top players including Dutch darters Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld, and current PDC World Champion, England’s Rob Cross. It is the only mobile darts game in the world to be fully backed by the PDC.
Available as a free download on iOS and Android and launched to coincide with the 2018 World Matchplay, a number of other new features have been incorporated into the newly christened PDC Darts Match; five new playing environments (including the venue of the World Matchplay, the Winter Gardens in Blackpool), dynamic camera angles, weekly leagues, new game modes (301 double in), and the UI has been completely redesigned.
The previous version of the game attracted over 1.5 million downloads, so all of its most popular features have also been retained; authentic swipe motion to aim and throw darts, live online play, in-game chat, world and friend leaderboards, player/game statistics, game modes of 301, 501, Cricket and Around the Clock.
Motionlab Interactive CEO, Simon Iredale, said: “When originally coming up with the long-term strategy for Darts Match we had ambitions to secure licencing rights from the PDC as we knew it would be a huge draw for darts’ lovers worldwide. Now that we have their backing it gives us a great deal more scope to grow the game over the coming years.
“PDC Darts Match provides users with the chance to test themselves against the best players in the world of darts via their device on what is now unquestionably the premier cross-platform mobile darts’ game.”
PDC Chief Executive Matthew Porter said: “We have been hugely impressed with how Darts Match has engaged globally not just with the ardent darts fan, but also casual admirers of the sport.
“Integration of the PDC brand and our players into this definitive mobile darts game gives us an added opportunity to expose professional darts to a worldwide audience and expand its global appeal.”
The Professional Darts Corporation is the leading professional body in the sport with over £11 million in prize money being paid out annually on its global circuit of tournaments, headlined by the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace across the Christmas and New Year period.
Around 300,000 fans will attend PDC tournaments worldwide in 2018, with tournaments such as the expansive Premier League and hugely popular World Matchplay joined by televised events across Europe and the global tour of the World Series of Darts.
