Atlus

aka(s): Atlus USA, Atlus Software

Atlus Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer, publisher and distribution company based in Tokyo, and a subsidiary of Sega. It is best known for developing the Megami Tensei, Persona, Etrian Odyssey and Trauma Center series. Atlus began in April 7, 1986 as a video game developer of computer games for other companies. In January 1987, Atlus started selling amusement equipment. It expanded into the sale of karaoke equipment in March 1989. Atlus released the first
video game under its own name in 1989: Puzzle Boy for the Game Boy. Atlus started in the arcade industry in the 1990s by manufacturing its first arcade video game,
BlaZeon, in 1992. In 1995, Atlus launched Print Club Arcades in partnership with Sega. In its goal to further increase its presence in the amusement industry, Atlus acquired the manufacturer Apies from Yubis Corporation in 1999. Atlus suffered from deficit financial results in both 1999 and 2000. To address the issue, Atlus established a management reform plan in 2001. In its restructuring efforts, Atlus sold two subsidiaries (one of them being Apies) to their respective employees as part of a management buyout. On 30 August 2010, Index Holdings announced its merger with Atlus. Although fans were concerned about the company’s future, CEO Shinichi Suzuki said that Atlus would continue to provide the "finest quality game experiences possible" and the merger "further strengthens the foundation of Atlus, both in Japan and here in the United States." After the dissolution, the name Atlus continued as a brand used by Index Corporation for video game publishing until 2013. Atlus in its current incarnation was founded as Sega Dream Corporation in September 2013, a new shell corporation established by Sega.

Notable collaborators: George Kamitani, Satoshi Urushihara, Hirohiko Takayama, Kentaro Ohnishi and Masaharu Iwata

It is known for Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Arcana Heart, Arkanoid, Astonishia Story, Baroque, Bomberman, Bonk, Class of Heroes, Daiku no Gensan, Dept. Heaven, Devil Summoner, Devil Survivor, Digital Devil Saga, Disgaea, Dokapon, DonPachi, Double Dragon, Dungeon Travelers, Etrian Odyssey, Fire Emblem, Growlanser, Gunbird, Hamster Paradise, Hebereke, Hydlide, Kunio-kun, Lufia, Luminous Arc, Magna Carta, Majin Tensei, Megami Tensei, Metal Max, Metal Slug, Mysterious Dungeon, Nekketsu, Ogre Battle, Persona, Power Instinct, Puyo Puyo, R-Type, Robot Ponkotto, Shining, Shiren the Wanderer, Souls, Spectral Force, Summon Night, Super Robot Wars, Tactics Ogre, Tex Murphy, The King of Fighters, Touch! Generations, TrackMania, Trauma Center, Trine, Utawarerumono, Valis, Way of the Samurai, Wizardry, Zeno Clash