Tose, a co-development studio established in 1979, reported a nine-month loss of ¥367 million ($2.28 million) due to project cancellations by clients. This decline in profit was highlighted in the recent Q3 earnings report, covering September 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, particularly in the digital entertainment sector. Tose’s latest financial report reveals a significant 27.6% decline in net sales compared to the previous year earnings report.
Tose, known as a ‘ghost developer‘ for its collaborations without seeking credit, has a long history of working with publishers and developers. While a comprehensive list of their projects from the ‘80s and ‘90s is hard to come by, recent works like the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, and Scarlet Nexus have gained recognition.
However, the company is facing financial challenges and heavily relies on commissioned work from struggling publishers. With uncertainties in orders and development conditions due to changes in client policies, Tose is navigating a tough economic environment in the gaming industry. Despite project cancellations affecting Japan’s outsourcing and co-development studios, Tose is dedicated to improving project management and launching scheduled projects to enhance its business performance.
【ニュース】受託ゲーム開発会社大手のトーセ、“ゲーム開発案件の複数中止”により大幅赤字。下請けゲーム会社も冬の時代https://t.co/eGPpiULATE pic.twitter.com/0gVmBuL6cn
— AUTOMATON（オートマトン） (@AUTOMATONJapan) July 4, 2024
