Valhalla Game Studios
{{short description|Japanese-Canadian video game developer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = ja
| image = Valhalla Game Studios logo.png
| former_name = Valhalla Game Studios Co., Ltd. (2008–2014)
| type = Subsidiary
| key_people = Satoshi Kanematsu
{{small|(CEO)}}
| industry = Video games
| subsid = Valhalla Game Studios, Ltd. (VGS Japan)
Valhalla Seven Ltd.
Valhalla Networks Ltd.
EIN Entertainment Ltd.
Soleil Ltd.
| parent = Wake Up Interactive
| name = Valhalla Game Studios International
| foundation = 2008
{{small|(as Valhalla Game Studios)}}
November 26, 2014
{{small|(as Valhalla Game Studios International)}}
| fate = Merged into Soleil, Ltd.
| defunct = December 2021
| location = Vancouver, Canada
Tokyo, Japan
{{small|(VGS Japan)}}
| homepage = [http://www.valhallagamestudiosinternational.com/ Valhalla Game Studios International]
[http://valhallagamestudios.com/en/ VGS Japan]
}}
{{nihongo foot|Valhalla Game Studios International Ltd.|ヴァルハラゲームスタジオインターナショナルリミテッド|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} was a video game development, entertainment and holding company.
It was founded in 2008 as {{nihongo foot|Valhalla Game Studios Co., Ltd.|株式会社ヴァルハラゲームスタジオ|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} in Tokyo, Japan. An international division was later founded in British Columbia, Canada, which acquired all intellectual property and shares of the original Valhalla Game Studios and other affiliates, effectively making them subsidiaries of the Canadian company. To differentiate, the original Valhalla Game Studios is alternatively referred to as VGS Japan. VGS Japan is best known for Devil's Third, their flagship title which went through a long development cycle.
Valhalla's parent company, Wake Up Interactive, was acquired by Tencent for $44 million in November 2021.{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Chris |title=Report: Tencent acquires Japanese studio Wake Up for $44 million |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-tencent-acquires-japanese-studio-wake-up-for-44-million |access-date=October 15, 2023 |work=Game Developer |date=November 11, 2021 |language=en}} The following month, Wake Up merged the staff and operations of Valhalla Game Studios into another subsidiary, Soleil Ltd., effectively closing down Valhalla.{{cite web | url = https://www.gematsu.com/2021/12/soleil-absorbs-valhalla-game-studios | title = Soleil absorbs Valhalla Game Studios | first = Sal | last = Romano | date = December 23, 2021 | accessdate = December 24, 2021 | work = Gematsu }}
Staff
The studio is run by former Tecmo staff: Satoshi Kanematsu, who worked on Monster Rancher and Rygar, and Tomonobu Itagaki, a game designer known for his work on the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden series.
List of games developed by VGS Japan
| class="wikitable" |
| style="width:350px;"| Title
! style="width:230px;"| Publisher ! style="width:150px;"| Platform ! style="width:130px;"| Release ! style="width:340px;"| Additional details |
|---|
| Devil's Third
| Nintendo | Wii U | 2015 | Former Development co-operation for Nintendo SPD |
| Devil's Third Online
| Nexon | PC | {{n/a}} |
| Momotaro Dentetsu 2017: Tachiagare Nippon!!{{cite web|title=桃太郎電鉄2017 たちあがれ日本!!|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/akqj/index.html|publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd.|access-date=October 25, 2016|language=ja}}
| Nintendo | 2016 | {{n/a}} |
Projects
Since 2009,{{Cite news|url=http://www.valhallagamestudiosinternational.com/corporate/history.html|title=History|newspaper=Valhalla Game Studios International Ltd.|language=en-US|access-date=November 17, 2016}} the company had been working on Devil's Third, a "hyper-violent shooter".{{cite news|last1=McWhertor|first1=Michael|title=Ninja Gaiden Creators Reveal Devil's Third, The Bloody New Shooter From Valhalla|url=http://kotaku.com/5561355/ninja-gaiden-creators-reveals-devils-third-the-bloody-new-shooter-from-valhalla|publisher=Kotaku|date=November 6, 2010}} Originally developed as a title for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the game was eventually developed exclusively for the Wii U. Following the closure of development partner THQ, intellectual property rights to Devil's Third were given back to Valhalla Game Studios.{{cite news|last1=Purchese|first1=Robert|title=Devil's Third rights returned to Itagaki and Valhalla Game Studios|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-04-devils-third-rights-returned-to-itagaki-and-valhalla-game-studios|publisher=Eurogamer|date=July 4, 2012}} The game was re-announced by Nintendo at E3 2014; the title released in 2015. It received "generally unfavorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/devils-third/critic-reviews/?platform=wii-u|title=Devil's Third|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=March 29, 2018}} In November 2015, it was announced that Valhalla and Nexon would be releasing Devil's Third Online, a PC port of Devil's Third's multiplayer mode, as part of a partnership.{{cite web|title=Devil's Third Online Officially Announced For PC|publisher=Siliconera|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/11/06/devils-third-online-officially-announced-for-pc/|publication-date=November 6, 2015|access-date=March 29, 2018}} The title would go into open beta in December in Japan and would release in the same region in late January. It was confirmed that features that were absent in the original, such as voice chat, would be added to Devil's Third Online.{{cite web|title=Devil's Third Online Launches In Japan In January, Adds Voice Chat, PvE, And More|publisher=Siliconera|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/11/12/devils-third-online-launches-in-japan-in-january-adds-voice-chat-pve-and-more/|publication-date=November 12, 2015|access-date=March 29, 2018}} After a delay, the title released in Japan on June 8, 2016.
Litigation
In November 2015, it was reported that Valhalla Motion Pictures was suing Valhalla Game Studios for trademark infringement, likely due to their similar name and logo.{{cite web |title=Valhalla Game Studios is Being Sued Over a Trademark Dispute|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/11/valhalla_game_studios_is_being_sued_over_a_trademark_dispute|publisher=Nintendo Life|
first=Mitch|last=Vogel|date=November 10, 2015|publication-date=November 9, 2015|access-date=March 29, 2018}}
On March 24, 2016, the United States Patent and Trademark Office denied Valhalla Game Studios' trademark registration on the grounds that there was likelihood of confusion between Valhalla Motion Pictures and Valhalla Games Studios' mark.{{cite web |title=United States Patent and Trademark Office Opposition No. 91206662|url=https://cdn.ttabcenter.com/pdf1/91204259-03-24-2016.pdf|publication-date=March 24, 2016|access-date=March 29, 2018}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Tencent}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Japanese companies established in 2008
Category:2021 disestablishments in Japan
Category:Canadian companies established in 2014
Category:Video game companies established in 2008
Category:Video game companies established in 2014
Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2021
Category:Defunct video game companies of Canada