GungHo Online Entertainment

GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.
Native name
 株式会社ガンホー・オンライン・エンターテイメント
Kabushikigaisha Ganhō Onrain Entāteinmento
Public (JASDAQ: 3765)
Industry Video games
Founded July 1, 1998 (1998-07-01)[1]
Headquarters Tokyo, Japan
Key people
 Taizo Son, Chairman
Kazuki Morishita, President & CEO
Services Video game Development, Distribution, Operation
Number of employees
 333[2]
Parent Formerly SoftBank Group, which still controls 35.03%
Subsidiaries Gravity
Game Arts
GungHo Mode
Broccoli
Acquire
GungHo Works
Grasshopper Manufacture
Website www.gungho.co.jp

GungHo Online Entertainment (Japanese: 株式会社ガンホー・オンライン・エンターテイメント, Hepburn: Kabushikigaisha Ganhō Onrain Entāteinmento, JASDAQ: 3765) is a Japanese video game developer. They are primarily known for hosting the Japanese server of Ragnarok Online, as well as their development of Ragnarok DS for the Nintendo DS. More recently, the company has reported huge financial success thanks to its mobile game Puzzle & Dragons, which, in 2013, was reportedly responsible for 91% of the company's $1.6 billion revenues for the year.[3]

History

Established as ONSale Co., Ltd. on July 1, 1998 (a joint venture between Softbank and onSale Inc. in the US) to engage in the online interactive auction business.

  • In 2000, the company moved its headquarters to Tokyo, Japan and changed its focus to providing auction systems, etc. using ASP.[4]
  • In 2002, the company once again changed its focus, this time to Online Game Services. Primarily hosting the Japanese server of Ragnarok Online.
  • In 2004 the company began joint development of online games with Game Arts Co., Ltd..
  • In March 2005, the company was listed on the Hercules Nippon New Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange.
  • In August 2005, the company invested in G-Mode Co., Ltd. a game manufacturer for mobile phones.
  • In December 2005, the MMORPG developed by GungHo, Emil Chronicle Online, was officially released.
  • In August 2006, they completed the contract to distribute Ragnarok Online II.
  • In October 2007, GungHo Works, Inc., behind the development of Ragnarok DS, was established.
  • In November 2007, the company acquired the video game assets of Interchannel from Index Corporation.[5]
  • In April 2008, Gravity Co., Ltd. was acquired as a subsidiary.
  • In January 2013, GungHo acquired Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind titles such as No More Heroes and Lollipop Chainsaw.[6]
  • On June 3, 2016, Softbank agreed to sell most of its stake in GungHo (approximately 23.47%) for about $685 million, which would thus end Softbank's majority ownership of the company, resulting in Gungho no longer being an associate of Softbank.[7][8][9] The offer was accepted by Gungho and completed by June 22, thus allowing Gungho to become an independent company.[10][11]

Games

Upcoming

Active online games

Inactive online games

  • Survival Project (June 29, 2004 - August 31, 2006)
  • A3 (October 15, 2004 - November 1, 2007)
  • Saiyuki Reload Gunlock (September 1, 2004 - January 31, 2006)
  • Squirrel Pot 2 (May 25, 2004 - December 28, 2007)
  • eXtreme Soccer (β August 11, 2006 – 2008)
  • Mahjong (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
  • Koi Koi Playing Cards (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
  • Poker (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
  • Millionaire (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
  • Shanghai (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
  • Chat (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
  • Ragnarok Online II (β August 30, 2007 - August 2010)
  • Pachinko Slot (September 6, 2007 - November 4, 2008)
  • Hakenden (June 4, 2008 - October 29, 2008)
  • Yogurting (September 1, 2005 - May, 2010)
  • Tetris Online (October 23, 2007 - July 5, 2011)
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine (June 26, 2007 - May, 2016)
  • Grandia Online (August 26, 2009 - September 28, 2012)[16]

PC

PlayStation 2

  • Nadepro!!: Kisama mo Seiyū Yattemiro!

PlayStation Portable

PlayStation 3

PlayStation Vita

PlayStation 4

Nintendo DS

Mobile

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  2. ↑ "Presentation" (PDF). www.irwebcasting.com.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2013-09-09. Company History
  5. ↑ Thomson Financial. Thomson Financial. October 15, 2007. p. 39.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Puzzle & Dragons studio GungHo to regain majority stake from SoftBank for $685m".
  8. ↑ "SoftBank to sell most of its stake in 'Puzzle & Dragons' maker GungHo". 6 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Execution of Agreement to Tender in Tender Offer for Shares of an Associate - Press Releases - News - About Us - SoftBank Group".
  10. ↑ "Tender in Tender Offer for Shares of an Associate - Press Releases - News - About Us - SoftBank Group".
  11. ↑ "Results of Tender in Tender Offer for Shares of an Associate - Press Releases - News - About Us - SoftBank Group".
  12. ↑ "ローズオンライン～キャラクターの着せ替えがおもしろい、無料で遊べるオンラインゲーム～". www.roseon.jp.
  13. ↑ Ragnarok DS
  14. ↑ "トイ・ウォーズ《公式サイト》 ｜フィギュアで戦うシューティング".
  15. ↑ "Puzzle & Dragons". GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  16. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  17. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
  18. ↑ Sato. "Yo-kai Watch World For Smartphones Is The Series' Take On Pokémon GO". Siliconera. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
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