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ACQUIRE Corp.

Video game developer · Japan · Active

ACQUIRE Corp.

Founded in December 6, 1994

52
games developed
7
games published
1
in development

History of ACQUIRE Corp.

Acquire was founded in Japan on 6 December 1994. In 1998 it developed Tenchu: Stealth Assassins for the PlayStation, which grew into a series and was followed by Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins (2000). The studio pushed for more open, sandbox-style levels, an approach it later carried into Way of the Samurai (2002) and Shinobido: Way of the Ninja (2005).

Through the 2000s it mixed Way of the Samurai sequels with new projects for the PlayStation Portable, such as What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? (2007) and Class of Heroes (2008). GungHo Online Entertainment bought it in 2011, the same year it released Akiba's Trip and Way of the Samurai 4. It went on to work with Japan Studio on Rain (2013) and made several games for PlayStation Vita and mobile.

Square Enix picked it as development partner for Octopath Traveler (2018) because of its feel for pixel art and its work on the What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? series, and oversaw and funded the project. Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story followed in 2020, taking the place of a fifth Way of the Samurai game that had been cancelled, and Octopath Traveler II arrived in 2023.

Kadokawa Corporation bought the studio in 2024. Based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Acquire made Mario & Luigi: Brothership for the Nintendo Switch that same year, taking over the series from AlphaDream, which closed in 2019. Its upcoming projects include Yakoh Shinobi Ops, a game scheduled for 2027 on PlayStation 5 and Windows.

Milestones

  1. 1994

    Acquire is founded.

  2. 1998

    Tenchu: Stealth Assassins for the PlayStation.

  3. 2002

    The first Way of the Samurai.

  4. 2011

    GungHo Online Entertainment buys the studio.

  5. 2018

    Octopath Traveler, with Square Enix.

  6. 2023

    Octopath Traveler II.

  7. 2024

    Joins Kadokawa and releases Mario & Luigi: Brothership.

In development

Announced games with a future release date.

  • Yakoh: Shinobi Ops

    Yakoh: Shinobi Ops

    PC · PS5

    Planned for 2027

Its best-known games

  • Octopath Traveler

    Octopath Traveler

    2018 · Stadia · PS4 · Switch 2

  • Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

    Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

    1998 · PS1

  • Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins

    Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins

    2000 · PS1

  • Octopath Traveler II

    Octopath Traveler II

    2023 · Series X|S · PS4 · Switch 2

  • Rain

    Rain

    2013 · PS3

  • Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed

    Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed

    2013 · PS3 · PS4 · PC

  • Mario & Luigi: Brothership

    Mario & Luigi: Brothership

    2024 · Switch

  • Way of the Samurai

    Way of the Samurai

    2002 · PSP · PS2

  • Way of the Samurai 4

    Way of the Samurai 4

    2011 · PS3 · PC

  • Way of the Samurai 3

    Way of the Samurai 3

    2008 · PS3 · PC · X360

  • Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

    Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

    2008 · Wii · PSP

  • Way of the Samurai 2

    Way of the Samurai 2

    2003 · PSP · PS2

Every game it has developed (52)

2025

  • Class of Heroes 3: Remaster PC, PS5, Switch
  • All in Abyss: Judge the Fake PC, PS5, Switch

2024

  • Mario & Luigi: Brothership Switch
  • Amedama Series X|S, PC, PS5, Switch
  • Hookah Haze PC, Switch
  • Scars of Mars PC, Switch
  • C.A.R.D.S. RPG: The Misty Battlefield PS4, PC, PS5, Switch
  • Ancient Weapon Holly PC, PS5, Switch

2023

  • Xaladia: Rise of the Space Pirates X2 PC, PS5, Switch
  • Octopath Traveler II Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2, PC

2022

  • Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief PS4, PC, Switch
  • Labyrinth of Zangetsu PS4, PC, Switch
  • Adventure Academia: The Fractured Continent PS4, PC, Switch

2021

  • Akiba's Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed PS4, PC, Switch

2020

  • Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent Android, iOS
  • Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story PS4, PC, Switch

2019

  • To All of Mankind PS4, Switch
  • Scrap Rush!! PC, Switch

2018

  • Octopath Traveler Stadia, PS4, Switch 2, PC

2017

  • No Heroes Allowed! VR PS4, PSVR
  • Akiba's Trip 2+A PS4

2016

  • Akiba's Beat PS4, Vita
  • Akiba's Trip Festa! browser, Android

2015

  • Aegis of Earth: Protonovus Assault PS3, PS4, PC, Vita

2013

  • No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either! PC, Vita
  • Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed PS3, PS4, PC, Vita
  • Rain PS3
  • Mind Zero PC, Vita

2012

  • Clan of Champions PS3, Linux, PC
  • Orgarhythm Android, Vita
  • Akiba's Trip Plus PSP
  • Sumioni: Demon Arts Vita

2011

  • Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen Vita
  • Gladiator Vs. PS3
  • Akiba's Trip PSP
  • Way of the Samurai 4 PS3, PC

2010

  • No Heroes Allowed! PSP
  • Patchwork Heroes PSP

2009

  • Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls PS3, PC, Vita
  • Way of the Samurai Portable 2 PSP

2008

  • Way of the Samurai 3 Plus PS3
  • Way of the Samurai 3 PS3, PC, X360
  • Tenchu: Shadow Assassins Wii, PSP

2007

  • What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? PSP

2006

  • Shinobido: Tales of the Ninja PSP
  • Kamiwaza PS2

2005

2003

2002

  • Way of the Samurai PSP, PS2

2000

  • Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins PS1

1998

  • Tenchu: Stealth Assassins PS1

Games it has published without developing them (7)

  • Class of Heroes 2008
  • Dun Dam: Dungeons & Dam 2009
  • Class of Heroes 2 2009
  • Gladiator Begins 2010
  • Class of Heroes 2G 2010
  • Ken to Mahou to Gakuen Mono. 3 2010
  • Shin Ken to Mahou to Gakuen Mono. Toki no Gakuen 2012