Summary
Konami has announced that the gaming juggernaut is establishing a new branch of the company, planned to center entirely around the developer’s arcade games. Since the Japanese video game company was first founded in the late 1960s, the studio has grown into one of the most recognizable games in the industry with tons of beloved franchises. Fromvideo games likeMetal Gear SolidandSilent Hillto theYu-Gi-OhTCG, Konami has produced a plethora of fan-favorite properties. Now, the developer is creating a new branch focused around one of its main staples.
While many fans will knowKonami’s home console video games, the studio also has a vibrant history of arcade games. Konami’s arcade lineup includes plenty of staples from the 1970s and 1980s, including well-known games likeGradius,Frogger, andTwinBee. Several of Konami’s home console franchises likeCastlevaniaandContrahave also made the transition to arcade cabinets, as well as adaptations of well-known television and movie franchises likeTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesandThe Goonies. A new report now reveals that Konami’s arcade games are getting their own focused branch.
Konami Establishing New Arcade-Focused Branch
As reported by TechCrawlr, Konami has established a new branch centered around the developer’s suite of arcade games. The report confirms that Konami will officially establish Konami Arcade Games as a new branch centered on the studio’s arcade business in June, with the split planned to be fully in effect by October. Konami cited the “changing market environment” for arcade games and pachinko as the major reason for the change, withKonami Amusement focusing solely on pachinko gamesafter the change.Beatmaniacomposer Yoshitaka Nishimura will be named the new president of Konami Arcade Games.
The shift in Konami’s corporate structure comes as Konami has continued to have a strong presence in arcades, particularly in Japan. Konami is most well-known in modern arcades for its array of rhythm-based games, withbeatmaniaandDance Dance Revolutionserving as twoof its most popular titles. The developer has also made major splashes into the mobile game market throughout recent years, both with mobile versions of theYu-Gi-Oh TCGandeFootballas an original sports mobile game.
Beyond the arcade setting, Konami has plenty of major games coming to home consoles in the near future as well.Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eateris currently scheduled to release in August as a remake of the belovedMetal Gear Solid 3, the first new release for the franchise since 2018. Konami is also currently working ona new entry in theSilent Hillfranchise, shifting to a Japanese setting and focusing more on popular Japanese horror concepts. Konami’s new company branch should look to give the studio even more of a boost in the arcades.
