Nokia have announced that they will be releasing a range of game phones next year. Not quite as game-specific as the now-dead Nokia N-Gage, but rather a series of S60 smartphones that will use different form factors or focus on different secondary functions (photography, mobile TV, or media playback for example). This confirms Nokia's previous announcement that although now dead, Nokia N-Gage technology will live on in a new range of phones.

More details of the new Nokia game phones after the jump.

[Source: PhoneScoop, Nokia, Gamasutra]

Nokia Game Phones

Nokia's game phones, although not officially titled 'G-series', will nonetheless be part of a series of phones that will all share a common feature set (much like the Nokia N-series and E-series phones do now). This will enable developers to create games that will run across a variety of handsets, unlike the N-Gage, and so offer a wider market for their content.

Nokia also announced some details of their next generation games platform, including a new software development kit (SDK) and consumer interface, at the Games Developers' Conference in San Jose. Nokia's next generation games platform will include enhanced 3D game graphics capability and user-friendly search, purchase, share and installation of high-quality rich games, as well as connected gaming with instant access to a global gaming mobile community. The mobile gaming consumer interface will let consumers easily discover, purchase, play, manage and share the best mobile games.

"With our new consumer interface, you get quick access to new games and information, it's easy to buy and manage your games, and share game accomplishments with your friends. You can play fantastic looking games for a great overall entertainment experience in your pocket. This new consumer interface is going to transform the way people find and play mobile games," said Gregg Sauter, Nokia's Director of Games Publishing.

Nokia will be releasing their next gen gaming platform with a range of titles and devices in "the first half of 2007."