Atlus dissolved by owners.

[DreadIsReal]

http://www.platformnation.com/2010/09/01/atlus-dissolved-by-owners/

Kind of sucks, don't really know what will happen but its not good.

[megasdkirby]

I hope they dont disappear.

At most, it may be purchased by another company, or merged by another.

Xseed perhaps?

[Darko]

I'm super disappointed by this. I'm pretty sure they wont completely disappear. I hope this doesn't hurt the distribution of SMT games here in the US (other than Persona, which obviously wont be leaving).

[Swamperon]

Atlus spoke about this 2 days ago, and apparently it won't affect any projects they're doing or any future ones (in the short term at least).

“Don’t worry, guys. This is just some corporate organizational maneuvering and won’t affect anything we do. Atlus is not becoming a mobile games company. This is purely a corporate maneuvering so that Index, which is a mobile games company, has easier access to Atlus IPs. That’s all.” - Atlus USA site administrator “Inzaghi”

It seems like nothing to worry about.

[Bojay1997]

http://www.platformnation.com/2010/09/01/atlus-dissolved-by-owners/

Kind of sucks, don't really know what will happen but its not good.

This is a non-story. Atlus has been owned by this other company for at least three years now. All they are doing is dissolving Atlus as a separate entity. It has no immediate impact on Atlus USA or even the Japanese branch as they will still exist as a part of the overall company.

[eskobar]

what is incredible is that Atlus is in financial trouble !!!, they have a great library for several platforms :(

It seems that many good games don't sell well enough to keep developing them.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Dood!

Oh, it's only because of archaic crappy law systems... Neato!

Get RES scroll!

[TonyTheTiger]

This is...random...

Atlus was on the rise. Damn near mainstream at this point. Why dissolve an identifiable brand name if that's the case? The fuck? O_O

[Press_Start]

This is...random...

Atlus was on the rise. Damn near mainstream at this point. The fuck? O_O

wtf is right. So I'll say it again....

WTF?! O_O O_O O_O

My developer friend at South Jersey Classic did mention Atlus was having financial problems but I didn't imagine it'd be this bad?!

First Working Designs. Now Atlus. It was their games that renewed my faith in modern RPGs ever since Persona 4. Also, they paved the way for new innovations in DS/Wii with Trauma Center. To see them go, would be the biggest blow to niche-lovers like myself cause no can replicate the level of style and substance they radiate.

I'm on my knees and crossing my fingers (also, toes) that they'll be alright.

I hope. :(

[Bojay1997]

This is...random...

Atlus was on the rise. Damn near mainstream at this point. The fuck? O_O

Again, this dissolution is a non-story. Having said that, Atlus and NIS are both having serious financial problems, as are many smaller Japanese developers of more niche titles. It's the general state of the economy and the reality is that development costs have gone up while margins have remained flat or actually decreased as the dollar has fallen against the Yen. Not sure where that leaves publishers like NIS, Atlus, etc...long term, but it will probably mean fewer titles released (as NIS has already said) and explains why Atlus has a very limited release schedule for the second half of 2010.

[TonyTheTiger]

The dissolution isn't a non-story if the Atlus brand name is disappearing regardless of whether the company itself lives on. The Atlus name had been gaining steam for years. Dropping it like that in a restructuring can't be a good move. You would think they'd keep the Atlus name around and restructure the company itself to do more than localize mediocre RPGs. You don't take a struggling company, dissolve the brand, and continue doing exactly what you've been struggling to do. You keep the brand and change the business strategy.

[Icarus Moonsight]

They're not dropping the brand, just Atlus as an independent business entity. It's not what people are making of it. It's more like a merger, ex-post facto, than a dissolution.

[hbkprm]

i would still love to catherine in action

[Bojay1997]

The dissolution isn't a non-story if the Atlus brand name is disappearing regardless of whether the company itself lives on. The Atlus name had been gaining steam for years. Dropping it like that in a restructuring can't be a good move. You would think they'd keep the Atlus name around and restructure the company itself to do more than localize mediocre RPGs. You don't take a struggling company, dissolve the brand, and continue doing exactly what you've been struggling to do. You keep the brand and change the business strategy.

They are keeping the brand though. All they are doing is dissolving Atlus as a separate corporate entity. It's similar to when Sega and Sammy merged and various Sega and Sammy entities were dissolved to create a new entity.

[Aussie2B]

This topic is mega confusing. It seems like no one can keep Atlus, the Japanese developer, and Atlus USA, the American publisher of localized games, straight. In terms of Atlus, Nippon Ichi, and other such companies struggling financially, that is in regard to the American branches that localize games (both developed by their parent company in Japan and others). This story about Atlus being dissolved seems to only involve the Japanese developer, which will now simply be a team within a bigger company.

[heybtbm]

This topic is mega confusing. It seems like no one can read the frick'n article before posting nonsense.

Agreed...and FTFY.

[maxlords]

Seems pretty straightforward to me.

1. Atlus is a company owned by a larger company (not sure of the name).

2. The larger company is ABSORBING Atlus into itself rather than keeping it a separate business.

3. Atlus will still exist as a publishing name, but the business itself will be part of the larger company.

4. Atlus games will continue to come out...

Right?

[TonyTheTiger]

That seems to be the long and short of it. But the article is misleading. That's not exactly what the word "dissolved" implies.

[Dr. Dib]

That seems to be the long and short of it. But the article is misleading. That's not exactly what the word "dissolved" implies.

I'll give you that. I also was confused, but it is made simple by Wikipedia: "On 30 August 2010, Index Holding announced that Atlus would no longer be an independent company and would be under their direct control"

So yeah, they are just part of a bigger company now. This may have implications, but considering they were owned by them it may not matter.

[Bojay1997]

This topic is mega confusing. It seems like no one can keep Atlus, the Japanese developer, and Atlus USA, the American publisher of localized games, straight. In terms of Atlus, Nippon Ichi, and other such companies struggling financially, that is in regard to the American branches that localize games (both developed by their parent company in Japan and others). This story about Atlus being dissolved seems to only involve the Japanese developer, which will now simply be a team within a bigger company.

Sadly, this is incorrect. The Japanese parent companies of both Atlus and Nippon Ichi are both having similar financial problems to the US publishing arms. I suspect Atlus will survive, although possibly with a smaller annual development and publishing output, given the financial resources of the parent company. I suspect Nippon Ichi will likely not survive.

[Sothy]

Persona sucked on PS1, never bothered with the other crap. I guess the type of people that watch garbage like Inuyasha think it's cool so whatever.

I prefer EA. That company knows it's shit. Need for speed Madden edition? YES PLEASE!

[DigitalSpace]

Need for speed Madden edition? YES PLEASE!

Can I do donuts around Lambeau Field in a tricked-out Nissan? If so, that's a launch day purchase!

[Sabz5150]

They're f*cking with Atlus?

Today, somebody will die.

[theclaw]

Meh. Why not overall restucture the company around the Atlus brand? Not that such an approach is quite working for Atari or Sega, but at least it keeps marketing simpler.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I prefer EA. That company knows it's shit. Need for speed Madden edition? YES PLEASE!

Tiger Woods PGA Tour Burnout would be so much better... And slightly more topical. Use aftertouch on your wiped out career to revenge take-down as many rivals and poon as possible! Epic.

[ShinGundam]

This is...random...

Atlus was on the rise. Damn near mainstream at this point. Why dissolve an identifiable brand name if that's the case? The fuck? O_O
Their arcade division as a whole made severe losses.
Due to their losses and the bad economy, Atlus had to sell and/or close down some of their subsidiaries back in November.
http://www.atlus.co.jp/ir/news/pdf/1259143792.pdf

[Baloo]

Atlus is not gone, it's just being absorbed by it's parent company finally.

I repeat, ATLUS IS NOT GONE, NOR IS THE BRAND NAME.

[Damaramu]

Can a mod please rename this misleading title?

[sisko]

Here is the email Atlus sent out to its email subscribers:

http://www.atlus.com/res/atluspr_atlusnews.png

[BetaWolf47]

Okay, so Atlus is being absorbed by a company that has greater financial strength? So this is good news, then. Hooray!

[N 2 Nintendo]

Again, this dissolution is a non-story. Having said that, Atlus and NIS are both having serious financial problems, as are many smaller Japanese developers of more niche titles. It's the general state of the economy and the reality is that development costs have gone up while margins have remained flat or actually decreased as the dollar has fallen against the Yen. Not sure where that leaves publishers like NIS, Atlus, etc...long term, but it will probably mean fewer titles released (as NIS has already said) and explains why Atlus has a very limited release schedule for the second half of 2010.


Is it likely that the games that are intended to be released in the second half of 2010 will have potential of becoming a sought after game in the future? Even if just from low(er) production run(s)?

The current titles on their site stated for release appear as follows:


NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Naruto vs. Sasuke for NDS
Release Date : 11/16/2010

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Dragon Blade Chronicles for Wii
Release Date : 11/16/2010


101-in-1 Sports Party Megamix for Wii
Release Date : 11/09/2010

101-in-1 Sports Megamix for NDS
Release Date : 09/07/2010

Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City for NDS
Release Date : 09/21/2010

Knights in the Nightmare for PSP
Release Date : 10/19/2010

[Icarus Moonsight]

Yeah, I absolutely guarantee it with the full faith and credit of the US government! Buy those games by the case, seriously. You'll soon be rich and drowning in vag.