There can be a perception that Game Freak = Pokémon and not much else, but that's certainly not the case. It may be the core developer of an IP prized by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, but Game Freak is a business that has become increasingly independent in recent years.
The company self-published HarmoKnight on the 3DS eShop, for example, in addition to Solitiba in Japan on 3DS and smart devices. Let's also not forget that this year's Tembo the Badass Elephant came out on PS4, Xbox One and PC while skipping Wii U - this is a studio keen to do its own thing.
That trend seems to be continuing, too, with Takashi Mochizuki of the Wall Street Journal reporting that Game Freak has taken over Koa Games.
Koa Games seems to be a smart device developer strongly focused on the Japanese market, with its website showing off a variety of titles.
It's interesting to see Game Freak making business moves like this - it may be the developer of main-series Pokémon games, but it's also got more feathers in its cap.
Comments 21
Pokemon go news or gtfoh game freak!
What if Nintendo and The Pokémon Company went with another developer for Pokémon games? What rights does Game Freak have to the series? Seems like maybe this is a move to keep themselves more aligned with Nintendo to assure they keep their cash cow?
As I recall, the Pokemon Company (which makes and owns subsidiaries that license the Pokemon brand), is owned by Nintendo, Gamefreak, and Creatures Inc., with Nintendo owning a majority of the shares in the company. Thus, Gamefreak cannot make and publish new Pokemon games without Nintendo's say-so/approval. Outside that realm, however, Gamefreak is technically a third-party developer, and can act independently of Nintendo.
I might be getting some of the specifics wrong, but I think that's the general picture.
@Acein210 gamefreak has nothing to do with that game.
I've always hoped for more 3D pokemon games like Colosseum, only this time making the most of today's technical power and having catchable pokemon visible in the world. However, I'm worried that GameFreak will become interested only in casual and mobile games, and this news doesn't help that.
So we have Nintendo, Game Freak, DeNA, and Studio Koa for the games? We will see their progress soon hopefully!
I'm willing to bet that Koa games will be in charge of developing pokemon games on mobile. I mean, why else would they do it?
Maybe this means Genius Sonority can actually start developing Pokémon games for consoles again.
@Gerbwmu They created the franchise and owns one third of it. I'd they have more right then anyone.
Anyway, very interesting news. I love GF so i'll check out anything they do.
Also, Harmoknight was published by Nintendo, not themself.
@Xilef Actualy no, because nintendo has shares in creatures inc. and pokemon company, they indirectly owns more of Pokemon than anyone else
it also appears that Nintendo holds a very big share of Gamefreaks
@CrazyMetroid You're incorrect. Nintendo only owns 32% of The Pokémon Company. Game Freak and Creatures Inc. own the rest
@Kogorn733 Correct. Nintendo however owns the trademark to Pokémon, its names and all its characters, so there's that on top of it.
@crimsontadpoles I could be wrong, but I don't think Game Freak develops the stadium/colloseum type games.
Edit: Yeah, Genius Sonority made those spinoffs, not Game Freak.
@Faruko I meant that they have more right then anyone to work on the mainline games, not that they own the majority rights to the franchise (although i think they own a few percent more than the others). And just like @Serebii said, the ownership of both the franchise and TPC is very evenly split anyway.
@Serebii And Nintendo owns a part of the other two.
GameFreak has nothing to do with any Pokemon Mobile game or APP (that's mainly up to the Pokemon Co. and a little bit Nintendo), so them acquiring KOA has nothing to do with Pokemon. Most likely it's in self interest, for talent for their own indie games, or a move for themselves to get into mobile gaming as well, but with their own unique games.
@amiiboacid We know they own a small part of Creatures Inc., though there's no evidence to say they own any part of Game Freak.
The ownership of Game Freaks and Pokemon Company seems to be somewhat confusing. The official copyright on the Pokemon website certainly suggests it's owned by Nintendo but I can't find details to back up Nintendo having a share in Game Freaks.
@Serebii They own 10% of Creatures, right? As for GF, Wikipedia lists them as "private". I'm not good with this, but i think it means they don't sell shares at all? If that's the case then Nintendo owns no part of them. (I've seen you teaching the Pokemon franchise owneship several times on Gaf. Doesn't it get tiering after a while? lol Love your website btw, i've been checking it everyday since gen 4 )
@CrazyMetroid It's really not. Check Nintendo's financial releases. It lists it just as 32%
insert "Nintendo is doooomed!" quote here for some reason
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