Acquire (company)

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]

Acquire Corp.

Native name	株式会社アクワイア
Company type	Kabushiki gaisha
Industry	Video games
Founded	6 December 1994; 29 years ago (1994-12-06)^[1]
Headquarters	Chiyoda, Tokyo , Japan
Key people	Takuma Endo (Representative Director)
Products	Tenchu Way of the Samurai Akiba's Trip
Services	motion capture
Number of employees	120 (2020)^[1]
Parent	GungHo Online Entertainment (2011–2024) Kadokawa Corporation (2024-present)
Website	acquire.co.jp

History

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

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	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]
	Amedama	Windows	Co-developed with IzanagiGames^[10]
	Xaladia: Rise of the Space Pirates X2	Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows	^[11]
2024	Ancient Weapon Holly	Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows	^[12]^[13]
	Scars of Mars	Windows	^[14]

References

1. "会社概要 | 会社情報 | 株式会社アクワイア ACQUIRE Corp". 2021-10-31.
2. "Q&A: Tenchu developer talks stealth, now that it's back in fashion". Gamasutra. 6 November 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
3. "Tenchu Developer to Become Subsidiary of GungHo Online". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
4. "'We just created the game that we wanted to play as Japanese developers'". Eurogamer. 12 July 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
5. "Acquire Developers on How a Cancelled Way of the Samurai 5 Led to Katanakami". Siliconera. 4 February 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
6. "Kadokawa Corporation acquires ACQUIRE". Gematsu. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
7. 2013-09-17, Holy Heroes, Badman Is Back For PlayStation Vita, Siliconera
8. "Prepare to Enter Labyrinth of Zangetsu in 2021". Siliconera. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
9. Welsh, Oli (September 13, 2022). "Octopath Traveler has a sequel, due early next year". Polygon. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
10. "IzanagiGames and Acquire announce 'side-scrolling, soul-shifting action adventure' game AMEDAMA for PC". Gematsu. July 9, 2023.
11. 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.
12. Romano, Sal (August 30, 2023). "Acquire announces roguelike action game Ancient Weapon Holly for PS5, PC". Gematsu. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
13. "Ancient Weapon Holly launches March 8 for PS5, Switch, and PC, later for PS4". Gematsu. January 28, 2024.
14. "Acquire announces real-time RPG Scars of Mars for PC". Gematsu. September 20, 2023.

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Official website (in English)