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Acquire (company)

Acquire Corp.
Native name
株式会社アクワイア
Company typeKabushiki gaisha
IndustryVideo games
FoundedDecember 6, 1994; 30 years ago (1994-12-06)[1]
Headquarters
Chiyoda, Tokyo
,
Japan
Number of locations
2
Key people
Takuma Endo (President and CEO)
Products
Servicesmotion capture
Number of employees
148 (2024)[1]
ParentGungHo Online Entertainment (2011–2024)
Kadokawa Corporation (2024-present)
Websiteacquire.co.jp

Acquire Corp. (株式会社アクワイア, Kabushikigaisha Akuwaia) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher, mainly known for their Tenchu and Way of the Samurai series.[1]

History

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Acquire was founded on December 6, 1994, and in 1998 developed Tenchu: Stealth Assassins for the PlayStation, which turned into a franchise. The developer pushed for a more sandbox approach to the level design, which found its way in other Acquire titles like Way of the Samurai and Shinobido: Way of the Ninja.[2]

In 2011, the company was acquired by GungHo Online Entertainment.[3] It co-developed Octopath Traveler with Square Enix, releasing in 2018. Acquire was chosen as development partner for the game based on their affinity with pixel-art and prior work on the What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? series.[4]

It developed Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story, which released in 2020, following the cancellation of a fifth Way of the Samurai entry.[5]

In 2024, the company was acquired by Kadokawa Corporation.[6]

Games developed

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Year Title Platform(s) Notes
1998 Tenchu: Stealth Assassins PlayStation
2000 Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins PlayStation
2002 Way of the Samurai PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
2003 Way of the Samurai 2 PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
2005 Samurai Western PlayStation 2
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja PlayStation 2
Shinobido: Tales of the Ninja PlayStation Portable
2006 Kamiwaza PlayStation 2
2007 What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? PlayStation Portable
2008 Class of Heroes PlayStation Portable
What Did I Do To Deserve This, My Lord? 2 PlayStation Portable
Way of the Samurai 3 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows
2009 Tenchu: Shadow Assassins Wii, PlayStation Portable
2010 Patchwork Heroes PlayStation Portable
No Heroes Allowed! PlayStation Portable
2011 Way of the Samurai 4 PlayStation 3, Windows
Clan of Champions Windows, PlayStation 3
Akiba's Trip PlayStation Portable
Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls PlayStation 3, iOS, PlayStation Vita, Windows
Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen PlayStation Vita
2012 Orgarythm PlayStation Vita, Android Co-developed with Neilo
Sumioni: Demon Arts PlayStation Vita, Android
2013 Mind Zero PlayStation Vita, Windows Co-developed by ZeroDiv
Divine Gate Android, iOS
Rain PlayStation 3 Co-developed with Japan Studio
Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows
No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either! PlayStation Vita [7]
2014 Fort Raiders SMAAASH! Android, iOS
2015 Aegis of Earth: Protonovus Assault PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows
2016 Akiba's Trip Festa! Android Co-developed with DMM Games
Akiba's Beat PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
2017 No Heroes Allowed! VR PlayStation 4
2018 Octopath Traveler Nintendo Switch, Windows, Stadia, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Co-developed with Square Enix Business Division 11
2020 Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows
Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent Android, iOS
2021 Labyrinth of Zangetsu Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows [8]
2022 Adventure Academia: The Fractured Continent Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows
2023 Octopath Traveler II Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Co-developed with Creative Business Unit II[9]
Xaladia: Rise of the Space Pirates X2 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows [10]
2024 Ancient Weapon Holly Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows [11][12]
C.A.R.D.S. RPG: The Misty Battlefield Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows [13]
Scars of Mars Nintendo Switch, Windows [14]
Amedama Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S Co-developed with IzanagiGames[15]
Hookah Haze Nintendo Switch, Windows [16]
Mario & Luigi: Brothership[17] Nintendo Switch
2025 All in Abyss: Judge the Fake Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows Co-developed with WSS playground[18]
TBA Black Finger JET Windows Co-developed with Kohachi Studio and Red Dunes Games[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "会社概要 ” 会社情報 ” 株式会社アクワイア ACQUIRE Corp". December 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "Q&A: Tenchu developer talks stealth, now that it's back in fashion". Gamasutra. November 6, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Tenchu Developer to Become Subsidiary of GungHo Online". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "'We just created the game that we wanted to play as Japanese developers'". Eurogamer. July 12, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Acquire Developers on How a Cancelled Way of the Samurai 5 Led to Katanakami". Siliconera. February 4, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Kadokawa Corporation acquires ACQUIRE". Gematsu. February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  7. ^ 2013-09-17, Holy Heroes, Badman Is Back For PlayStation Vita, Siliconera
  8. ^ "Prepare to Enter Labyrinth of Zangetsu in 2021". Siliconera. January 7, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  9. ^ Welsh, Oli (September 13, 2022). "Octopath Traveler has a sequel, due early next year". Polygon. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  10. ^ Romano, Sal (June 26, 2023). "Acquire announces twin-stick shooter XALADIA: Rise of the Space Pirates X2 for PS5, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  11. ^ Romano, Sal (August 30, 2023). "Acquire announces roguelike action game Ancient Weapon Holly for PS5, PC". Gematsu. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  12. ^ "Ancient Weapon Holly launches March 8 for PS5, Switch, and PC, later for PS4". Gematsu. January 28, 2024.
  13. ^ "C.A.R.D.S. RPG: The Misty Battlefield launches May 23". Gematsu. February 1, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Acquire announces real-time RPG Scars of Mars for PC". Gematsu. September 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "IzanagiGames and Acquire announce 'side-scrolling, soul-shifting action adventure' game AMEDAMA for PC". Gematsu. July 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "Hookah Haze 'Adventure Part' trailer". Gematsu. February 14, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  17. ^ https://gamerant.com/mario-luigi-brothership-acquire-history-octopath-tenchu-explained/
  18. ^ "Alliance Arts, ACQUIRE, and WSS playground announce poker-themed adventure RPG All in Abyss: Judge the Fake for PC". Gematsu. May 25, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Black Finger JET co-developed by ACQUIRE". Gematsu. September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
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