NIS CEO Says Mid-Sized Companies Need To Create New IP To Survive

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In contrast to major publishing houses that keep producing sequels and remakes, Nippon Ichi Software’s newly appointed CEO, Kenzo Saruhashi, suggests that medium-sized companies must embrace riskier ventures in order to thrive.

In an interview with Famitsu (translated by Automaton), Yu Mizokami, creator of Saruhashi and Yomawari series, talked about the company’s approach to creating new intellectual properties, considering the increasing development expenses and potential for failure. This conversation ensued after the publisher unveiled six upcoming projects during their March 2025 “Untitled” stream, out of which five were entirely new creations.

In contrast to many others who opt for creating sequels as the simpler and less risky choice, NIS approaches their work based on what their audience desires. If there’s a strong desire for a sequel, they are more than willing to create one.

Regarding the creation of fresh intellectual property, he emphasized that for a mid-sized company to thrive, it’s crucial to attempt bold ventures that larger companies might find too risky. He further noted, “If we cease to embrace new opportunities, I believe we would be as out of place as a fish out of waterā€“ā€“we might even perish.

In the case of these innovative and trial-and-error titled projects, they’re being allocated modest funds for production. Consequently, developers must devise clever strategies to make do with their resources. During an interview, Mizokami expressed her preference for tackling challenges within financial constraints, stating that she might lose interest if all of a sudden presented with a multi-million dollar budget. Instead, Saruhashi and Mizokami compare NIS’s methodology to agile game development styles such as speedrunning or real-time attacks.

Despite facing challenges, Namco Bandai Studios (NIS) persists with a strong portfolio of recognized game series that they continue to produce, such as the Disgaea franchise. Meanwhile, their Western counterpart, NIS America, is responsible for distributing the global versions of the Trails series.

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2025-06-03 18:39