Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Acquire (company)

Acquire Corp. is a Japanese video game developer and publisher, mainly known for the Mario & Luigi series game, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and their Tenchu and Way of the Samurai series.

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 5 min
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Acquire Corp.
Native name
株式会社アクワイア
Kabushikigaisha Akuwaia
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedDecember 6, 1994 (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. (Japanese: 株式会社アクワイア, Hepburn: Kabushikigaisha Akuwaia) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher, mainly known for the Mario & Luigi series game, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and their Tenchu and Way of the Samurai series.1

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 The studio co-developed Octopath Traveler with supervision and funding from 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

Acquire 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

The studio succeeded AlphaDream, which became defunct on October 1, 2019, as the developer of the Mario & Luigi series, starting with Mario & Luigi: Brothership, which released in 2024.7

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 8
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 9
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 II10
Xaladia: Rise of the Space Pirates X2 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows 11
2024 Ancient Weapon Holly Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows 1213
C.A.R.D.S. RPG: The Misty Battlefield Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows 14
Scars of Mars Nintendo Switch, Windows 15
Amedama Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S Co-developed with IzanagiGames16
Hookah Haze Nintendo Switch, Windows 17
Mario & Luigi: Brothership7 Nintendo Switch
2025 All in Abyss: Judge the Fake Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows Co-developed with WSS playground18
Class of Heroes 3: Remaster Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows
2027 Yakoh Shinobi Ops PlayStation 5, Windows 19
TBA Black Finger JET Windows Co-developed with Kohachi Studio and Red Dunes Games20
Monster Eater Windows
Hamrazu:Re Windows
References

References

  1. "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. Guner, Ediz (October 24, 2024). "Mario and Luigi: Brothership Developer Acquire Explained". GameRant. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  8. "Holy Heroes, Badman Is Back For PlayStation Vita". Siliconera. September 17, 2013.
  9. "Prepare to Enter Labyrinth of Zangetsu in 2021". Siliconera. January 7, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  10. Welsh, Oli (September 13, 2022). "Octopath Traveler has a sequel, due early next year". Polygon. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  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. "C.A.R.D.S. RPG: The Misty Battlefield launches May 23". Gematsu. February 1, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  15. "Acquire announces real-time RPG Scars of Mars for PC". Gematsu. September 20, 2023.
  16. "IzanagiGames and Acquire announce 'side-scrolling, soul-shifting action adventure' game AMEDAMA for PC". Gematsu. July 9, 2023.
  17. "Hookah Haze 'Adventure Part' trailer". Gematsu. February 14, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  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. Romano, Sal (February 12, 2026). "Shueisha Games and ACQUIRE announce co-op stealth action game Yakoh Shinobi Ops for PS5, PC". Gematsu. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  20. "Black Finger JET co-developed by ACQUIRE". Gematsu. September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
External links