Rumourmill says Player One has entered administration

Industry sources have told PocketGamer.biz that UK mobile publisher Player One has entered administration and laid off its workforce.

The company, which specialised in licenced-based Java sports games such as Ronnie O'Sullivan's Snooker and Freddie Flintoff's Powerplay Cricket, was bought by US technology outfit ROK Entertainment Group in October 2009.

Companies working with Player One also confirmed it had been in financial difficulties prior to the sale.

"They haven't given us any money in 6 months," said one developer, we contacted.

Clearly the ROK take-over doesn't seem to have changed the fundamentals of the business.

Most recently, Player One had been trying to expand into DS and PSP Minis, but its focus on UK sports and licenses, combined with the longterm decline of Java mobile games, and its failure to make an impact on the iPhone market, appears to have been terminal.

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