Marvelous sells stake in Rising Star Games
UPDATE: Japanese firm sells up and moves to licensing model for Western releases
Marvelous Entertainment has sold its 50 per cent stake in European publisher Rising Star Games to Japanese firm Intergrow.
Rising Star Games publishes Japanese titles in Europe including Muramasa, Harvest Moon and No More Heroes, and is a joint venture with Nordic distributor Bergsala.
"I am delighted to have secured further additional backing from an important Japanese company, whilst continuing our content relationship with Marvelous Entertainment," said Martin Defries, COO of Rising Star Games.
"It is further vindication that Rising Star Games has the right strategy, outlook and prospects. We've an exciting release line-up for the next quarter and will soon make announcements for product due later in 2010 that emphasise our growth and optimism."
Intergrow is a Japanese games business that already has a relationship with Bergsala – the two formed Gamebridge to publish Japanese titles in Europe. Rising Star and Gamebridge are working together on the release of Way of the Samurai 3, due this year.
Rising Star Games told GamesIndustry.biz this morning that it will continue to publish Marvelous games in the UK.
According to a report by Siliconera, Marvelous will now adopt a licensing model whereby companies will have to bid for the rights to publish its games outside of Japan.
Marvelous Entertainment also owns recording studio Delfi Sound, animation group Artland and North American distributor Marvelous Entertainment USA.