Atlus is No More

**Kugyince** · 08-30-2010, 05:53 PM

Atlus, the company behind the Persona and Megami Tensei series, is to be dissolved due to its ongoing financial problems.

Atlus, a 100% owned subsidiary of Index Holdings, will henceforth be dissolved and its assets transferred to Index Holdings.

However, it has also been announced that future game releases by the consolidated company will continue to use the “Atlus” brand where appropriate – its history as a distinct entity is at an end though.

Index Holdings itself is better known for the usual execrable mobile phone and “social” games, and it is also the parent company of anime studio Madhouse. Although the merger is supposed to provide Atlus access to these “fortes,” it seems unlikely fans of major Atlus titles will find anything to look forward to in these competencies.

NSFW:
Atlus is No More | Sankaku Complex

**Demon-Mask** · 08-30-2010, 05:59 PM

Atlus is done?
That's pretty lame.

**Seahawk** · 08-30-2010, 06:01 PM

Read that on 1up, sad news. Most likely no more quirky Atlus games =(.

1up.com version:

Atlus Dissolved by Parent Company - 1up

"Index Holdings, the company that owns Japanese game developer and publisher Atlus, dissolved the JRPG maker as an independent entity on Monday, bringing its game division under the direct control of the parent company. Whether Atlus' publishing or foreign arms will survive the transition remains to be seen. At the very least, the Atlus brand will continue, according to a short press release by the firm's public relations department.

The move came as part of an ongoing attempt by Index to narrow its business focus to a handful of core, profitable areas, and Index has apparently been making key business decision for Atlus for some time. The mobile phone-based Persona 3 social game announced earlier this month, for example, was started under orders from Index.

The holding company has made no mention of what properties or exact divisions will survive the transition. However, the director of Atlus' recently announced PS3/Xbox 360 game Catherine, Katsura Hashino, released a statement on the game's official website that didn't directly address the issue, but implied that his team, along with an unspecified number of others were not affected by the change."

**Demon-Mask** · 08-30-2010, 06:03 PM

I'd rather see them stop releasing games altogether, than to do the same thing that happened while SNK was under the watch of some Korean company, Metal Slug 4 was just not good, and if this happens to Atlus games, I will be pretty mad.

**Kugyince** · 08-30-2010, 06:43 PM

Atlus is one of my favorite publishers. Even though I'm not a fan of the majority of games they bring over to the states (random dungeon crawlers and RTS) I respect them for what they do and have alaways enjoyed their quirky titles that suited my tastes.

**Tails** · 08-30-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenser

Atlus is one of my favorite publishers. Even though I'm not a fan of the majority of games they bring over to the states (random dungeon crawlers and RTS) I respect them for what they do and have alaways enjoyed their quirky titles that suited my tastes.

Same exact feeling. When I see Atlus on something I wanted to try.. I'd get it since I trusted them.

**CrispyChicken** · 08-30-2010, 06:58 PM

Too bad, Atlus had some good games.

**Slime Slayer** · 08-30-2010, 07:13 PM

Crappy news, I love Golf Grand Slam and I guess I have to give up hope for a sequel.Kidding aside, that sucks.

**Smittycal** · 08-30-2010, 08:48 PM

Thats sucky news. I loved Atlus..RIP lol

**TrakMastaTom** · 08-30-2010, 10:04 PM

Dang. Even I'm an Atlus fan. Sad news.

**StarfoxFan2009** · 08-31-2010, 11:26 AM

I'm disappointed that Atlus is dissolved. I enjoyed the Persona games

**Kugyince** · 08-31-2010, 03:20 PM

Same source:

Quote:

Index, the company which just announced the dissolution of beloved RPG maker Atlus, recently unveiled the latest title in the Persona franchise – Persona 3 Social, a mobile phone game promising the latest in “social” gaming with the advanced graphical capabilities of a mobile phone handset, and with players nickelled and dimed for each item.

The game itself is free, but players will have to pay for items and other elements.

Index Holdings, the parent company into which Atlus is being so ignominiously folded, have stated current development plans will be unaffected and that the Atlus name will continue to be used to publish its games – it is claimed the merger will allow the two companies to make better use of their respective strengths and IPs, a one-sided arrangement if ever there were one.

With the Index conglomerate dwarfing Atlus in size, and with its core business mostly concerned with mobile phone development, including such marvels as Persona 3 Social and “Bowlingual,” an iPhone application for talking to dogs, the scepticism of long time Atlus fans as to the future direction of Atlus is understandable.

**Tails** · 08-31-2010, 06:15 PM

So Luminous Arc 3 will still happen?