Company:GungHo Online Entertainment

Short description: Japanese video game developer and publisher

GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.

Native name	ガンホー・オンライン・エンターテイメント株式会社
Romanized name	Ganhō Onrain Entāteinmento kabushiki gaisha
Type	Public (kabushiki gaisha)
Traded as	TYO: 3765
Industry	Video games
Founded	July 1, 1998 (1998-07-01)
Headquarters	Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Key people	Taizo Son, Chairman Kazuki Morishita, President & CEO
Services	Video game Development, Publishing, Distribution, Operation
Number of employees	333
Parent	SoftBank Group (1998-2016) Independent (2016-Present)
Subsidiaries	Acquire Game Arts Gravity GungHo Mode GungHo Online Entertainment America GungHo Gamania GungHo Works mspo SUPERTRICK GAMES
Website	www.gungho.co.jp

GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. (Japanese: ガンホー・オンライン・エンターテイメント株式会社, Hepburn: Ganhō Onrain Entāteimento kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. They are primarily known for hosting the Japanese server of Ragnarok Online (developed by its listed Korean subsidiary Gravity), as well as their development of Ragnarok DS for the Nintendo DS. More recently, the company has reported huge financial success thanks to its mobile game Puzzle & Dragons, which, in 2013, was reportedly responsible for 91% of the company's $1.6 billion revenues for the year.

History

The company was established as ONSale Co., Ltd. on July 1, 1998, as a joint venture between Softbank and onSale Inc. to engage in the online interactive auction business in the US.

• In 2000, the company moved its headquarters to Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan and changed its focus to providing auction systems, etc. using ASP.
• In 2002, the company once again changed its focus, this time to Online Game Services. Primarily hosting the Japanese server of Ragnarok Online.
• In 2004 the company began joint development of online games with Game Arts Co., Ltd.
• In March 2005, the company was listed on the Hercules Nippon New Market.
• In August 2005, the company invested in G-Mode Co., Ltd. a game manufacturer for mobile phones.
• In December 2005, the MMORPG developed by GungHo, Emil Chronicle Online, was officially released.
• In August 2006, they completed the contract to distribute Ragnarok Online II.
• In October 2007, GungHo Works, Inc., behind the development of Ragnarok DS, was established.
• In November 2007, the company acquired the video game assets of Interchannel from Index Corporation.
• In April 2008, Gravity Co., Ltd. was acquired as a subsidiary.
• In January 2013, GungHo acquired Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind titles such as Killer7, the No More Heroes franchise and Lollipop Chainsaw.
• On June 3, 2016, Softbank agreed to sell most of its stake in GungHo (approximately 23.47%) for about $685 million, which would end Softbank's majority ownership of the company, resulting in Gungho no longer being an associate of Softbank. The offer was accepted by Gungho and completed by June 22, thus allowing Gungho to become an independent company.
• In October 2021, GungHo sold Grasshopper Manufacture to NetEase.

Games

Active online games

• TEPPEN (July 4, 2019)
• Ragnarok Online (December 1, 2001)
• Tantra (March 10, 2004)
• Emil Chronicle Online (August 1, 2005)
• Hiten Online (April 19, 2007)
• ROSE Online (March 26, 2009)
• Lucent Heart (2009)
• Blade Chronicle (2009)
• Ragnarok DS (February 1, 2010)
• Eternal City 2 (June 23, 2010)
• Divina (September 9, 2010)
• Grand Fantasia
• ROSE Online
• Le Ciel Bleu
• Toy Wars
• Fishdom: Seasons under the Sea
• Puzzle & Dragons
• Summons Board
• Chrono Ma:Gia (2018)
• Ragnarok Mobile (2019)
• Ninjala (2020)

Inactive online games

• Survival Project (June 29, 2004 - August 31, 2006)
• A3 (October 15, 2004 - November 1, 2007)
• Saiyuki Reload Gunlock (September 1, 2004 - January 31, 2006)
• Squirrel Pot 2 (May 25, 2004 - December 28, 2007)
• eXtreme Soccer (β August 11, 2006 – 2008)
• Mahjong (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
• Koi Koi Playing Cards (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
• Poker (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
• Millionaire (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
• Shanghai (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
• Chat (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008)
• Ragnarok Online II (β May 28, 2007 - August 2010)
• Pachinko Slot (September 6, 2007 - November 4, 2008)
• Hakenden (June 4, 2008 - October 29, 2008)
• Yogurting (September 1, 2005 - May, 2010)
• Tetris Online (October 23, 2007 - July 5, 2011)
• Shin Megami Tensei (June 26, 2007 - May, 2016)
• Grandia Online (August 26, 2009 - September 28, 2012)

PC

• Grandia II: Anniversary Edition
• Let It Die
• Grandia HD Collection (Grandia & Grandia II Remaster)

PlayStation 2

• Nadepro!!: Kisama mo Seiyū Yattemiro!

PlayStation Portable

• Solfege: Sweet Harmony
• Mimana Iyar Chronicle
• Cho Aniki Zero
• P.W: Project Witch
• Lunar
• Ragnarok Tactics

PlayStation 3

• Ragnarok Odyssey Ace

PlayStation Vita

• Ragnarok Odyssey
• Ragnarok Odyssey Ace
• Picotto Knights
• Dokuro

PlayStation 4

• Let It Die

Nintendo DS

• Otometeki Koi Kakumei Love Revo!!
• Nakamura Tooru Kanshuu: India Shiki Keisan Drill DS (The Method of Indian Calculation)
• Aquazone DS
• Ragnarok DS
• Hero's Saga Laevatein Tactics
• Minna de Jibun no Setsumeisho: B-Gata, A-Gata, AB-Gata, O-Gata
• Ecolis: Aoi Umi to Ugoku Shima

Nintendo 3DS

• Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition
• Puzzle & Dragons X (Japan only)

Nintendo Switch

• Grandia HD Collection (Grandia & Grandia II Remaster)
• Puzzle & Dragons Gold
• Ninjala
• Volta-X
• Galak-Z: Variant S

Mobile

• Teppen (Battle Project)
• Ragnarok Online
• Casino Komodo
• Puzzles and Dragons
• Yo-kai Watch World
• Galak-Z: Variant Mobile

External links

• Official Website (Japanese)
• Official Website (English)
• GungHo Online Entertainment America Official Website