It's been a tough summer for Atlus, as it's had to absorb its share of pressure over its parent company's financial difficulties. As we've reported previously, Atlus' owner Index has begun the process of selling its operations following its slide into an equivalent of bankruptcy; rumoured potential buyers for the Atlus brand have included Sony, SEGA and Nintendo.
That process may be wrapped up by early September, if all goes well, but the results of the bidding are still unknown. From its perspective Atlus has shown plenty of resolve to continue business as usual, proceeding with multiple game releases and activities since the news of financial troubles first hit. That seems to still be the focus, with Katsura Hashino — a Director in the Persona series — saying the following in a blog post.
I’m sorry for the concerns caused by the recent circumstances, and I apologize. Next year is set to bring many announcements as part of the 25th anniversary of the Atlus brand, but there are a few things I’d like to share before that. All the unannounced titles we are working on are “under zealous development”. The challenge, for the time being, is how good they will be. We have spent days full of problems and worries, but we work strenuously so that it doesn’t break our focus.
Looks like the values of games have become very diverse nowadays, but as long as we continue to think about you that love our games, about the creativity, the know-how accumulated, the challenges and the expectation of results, I believe that the future of the series will be something great, full of fun and stimulating.
The developer / publisher certainly has a dedicated core of fans, and news of special 25th Anniversary projects is sure to excite. Let us know what you'd like these projects to be, regardless of who eventually acquires the company.
[source dualshockers.com, via gonintendo.com]
Comments 34
I look forward to Atlus surviving the parent company difficulties to see next year.
Glad to hear it. Of all the things that my body is ready for, it is most ready for Fire Emblem x MegaTen.
Hopefully there's some Persona 5 news.
@MAN1AC Me too. I hope it gets a Wii U release but I highly doubt it since that series has only been released on a Sony console.
Still waiting for a EU release for SMTIV, please ATLUS just give us a date soon. Really can`t wait for the Fire Emblem x SMT project. Hope to see more news over the next few months for this dream release. Still can`t believe that two of my favourite games are being crossed with each other.
I hope they make it out of this mess okay. Long live Atlus!
EU SMTIV date and some Persona 5 news would be awesome~ n_n
We should make a kickstarter to buy atlus our selves. Maybe that way we should save them from that terrible fate that is starting to form.
I'm glad they have an approach to face this, keep it up Atlus i'm with you!
@Drop-Dead-Fred I don't believe Atlus handles any of the EU releases so you're barking up the wrong tree!
As for annoucements I can't imagine what's next for Nintendo systems really. Other then the cross over and the remakes of DS2 for the 3ds.
As long as whowever aquries them doesn't just use their brand name/IPs and do huge layoffs it will be fine. I'd love to see Nintendo get them but Sega is probably the best for all their fans.
they are probably talkin new stuff but i would love a reprint of the first luminous arc and also etrian 2 and 3 remakes for 3ds
@Spoony_Tech
Right, so who`s fault is it? I understand the concept of a delay between US and EU releases because of the publisher. However, ATLUS must instruct and/or have influence on the publisher and the release date required? Maybe, you could help me understand what tree to bark at?
@Drop-Dead-Fred Good place to start would be the people just now taking pre orders for a DS game...
I hope Sega or Nintendo got them... if Sony did so be it.. but really.. Nintendo or Sega can use them more..
I hope nintendo got atlus.
Go h0me Sony, you're drunk.
@Drop-Dead-Fred You need to start with the companies that have been localizing Atlus games. Atlus doesn't have a European localization team so its up to other companies to ask for the promotion to localize it. If you express to those companies that you want it and they get enough interest then they will. However I thought I heard Nintendo is going to localize it for Europe?!
I may not be a fan of the spin-off series, but Persona 5 could help Atlus since a lot of people like the Persona games. The real question is Sony or Nintendo system? Hell even both would be better.
I really hope Nintendo bought Atlus instead of Sony, I don't want Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem to get cancel especially when Fire Emblem Awakening and Shin Megami Tensei IV were so awesome.
...Persona 5 incoming?
Instead of atlus having this problem crapcom should
Hopefully SEGA or Sony gets Atlus,
@banacheck SEGA hell yeah, Sony hell no! ATLUS has so much games and fans on Nintendo consoles, it would be a hard blow.
Sony has enough jrpgs nintendo need atlus more
I think it would really be best if Sega or another independant publisher aquires them. Altus has brought so many great JRPGs to the western market on bothy Sony and Nintendo that it would be a shame to see them be exclusive to one system. I have greatly enjoyed the Devil Survivor games on DS and now SMT4 on 3DS as well as Persona on Sony and then even less popular titles like Sakura Wars. SMTxFE is one of my most anticipated titles as I hope they bring the demon breeding/melding system to the FE SRPG model.
@banacheck if Sony gets Atlus, no more games on Nintendo consoles. Would be a major blow. That's why I think Sega or Nintendo should get Atlus.
"All the unannounced titles we are working on are “under zealous development”. The challenge, for the time being, is how good they will be."
Is it me, or does it sound like they are going to rush the remainder of titles still under development out before the company closes its doors? If that's the case, this worries me.
I like Atlus. I'd go with Sony, ps4 is right around the corner and thats the future or the new or whatever. Maybe they can sell some to Nintendo cause i would actually buy more 3rd party games. Atlus releases must haves for me so that would mean more attention on Nintendo. Why not sell a little piece of something to everyone?
@ngamer155 If Nintendo gets Atlus, then there's no more games on other platforms. Sega should definitely get it. I would hope none of the big 3 buys it. Atlus games should be shared on all platforms. Persona is just all types of awesome and shouldn't be held to just one console.
Tokyo financial firm J Trust will buy Atlus
Would love to see Atlus wind up with Nintendo just to see which shelved franchise (F-Zero, Star Fox, maybe even something obscure like Startropics) they could try to put a spin on along with their own franchises being brought into the fold.
I agree with this.
@Spoony_Tech
Hey, Thank-you for your help in making me understand. The whole publisher process really is a bit of a pickle to me.
Sega blue-balled Bayonetta, made Skies of Arcadia walk the plank, snuffed out Shining Force, and gave us a harsh reality about Phantasy Star...and everyone wants them to buy Atlus? LOL. I'd hate to see how they'd ravage Atlus if they got their furry-fanatical hands on them. Sure I love the idea of Nintendo/Atlus because of how things went with Monolith and Retro (and how things DIDN'T go with Rare), but if they go third party (which is great because no one loses) it'd be better if it were some media conglomerate who doesn't know squat about gaming and just lets Atlus go about business as usual.
Sega? Pfft. Might as well hope that Square Enix buys them.
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