Spike Chunsoft CEO Yasuhiro Iizuka plans to remain dedicated to their fanbase while also taking a careful approach as they expand in the West with other genres. Read on to learn more about Iizuka’s comments.
Spike Chunsoft to Focus on Core Fanbase While Expanding Horizons
Spike Chunsoft Cautiously Expanding in the Western Market
Spike Chunsoft, renowned for their niche narrative games such as Danganronpa and the Zero Escape series, is now setting its sights on broader horizons. In a recent interview with AUTOMATON at BitSummit Drift, CEO Yasuhiro Iizuka shared insights into the studio's future plans. He emphasized their commitment to Japan’s niche subcultures and anime, stating, "We believe that our strength lies in handling content related to Japan’s niche subcultures and anime. Up until now, adventure games have been our main focus, and in the future, we would like to do this and more by adding other genres to the mixture."
Iizuka's approach to expansion in the Western market is characterized by caution and deliberation. "We have no intention of drastically widening the range of our content," he explained. He believes that venturing abruptly into genres like FPS and fighting games, or attempting to publish Western titles for Western gamers, would not play to their strengths.
While Spike Chunsoft is best known for their "anime-style" narrative games, their portfolio is diverse. They have explored genres such as sports with titles like Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, fighting with Jump Force, and wrestling with Fire Pro Wrestling. Additionally, they have been involved in publishing popular Western titles in Japan, including Disco Elysium: The Final Cut, Cyberpunk 2077 for PS4, and the Witcher series.
Despite their ventures into various genres, Iizuka's priority remains fan satisfaction. "We want to keep cherishing our fans," he stated. His goal is for Spike Chunsoft to be a publisher that fans not only visit once but continue to return to. While promising to deliver "the games and products that they love and want," Iizuka also hinted at unexpected surprises. "We are also going to be sneaking in some surprises here and there to catch people off guard," he added.
Fans will have to stay tuned to discover what these surprises entail, but Iizuka’s decisions are clearly driven by a deep appreciation for their loyal fanbase. "Our fans have supported us for many years, and we don’t want to betray them," he affirmed, underscoring the studio's commitment to their community as they navigate new territories.