Rising Star Games

Rising Star Games is a British video game publisher and publishing label focused historically on bringing Japanese-developed and Japan-originated games to Western markets. The company was established on 10 July 2004 by Martin Defries as a joint venture between Swedish games distributor Bergsala Holding and Japanese publisher Marvelous Entertainment. Its original role was to localise and publish Japanese titles for European consumers, giving games that might otherwise have remained confined to Japan a route into the European console and PC markets. The business was closely associated with Marvelous through an exclusive licensing relationship. Rising Star Games handled European publishing and market access, while English localisations for some releases were supplied through Xseed Games. This arrangement helped the label operate across the wider Marvelous publishing ecosystem, although the agreement did not extend to North America. The company therefore developed a distinct position as a Europe-oriented specialist publisher rather than as a fully global publishing operation. Marvelous Entertainment sold its 50 percent interest in Rising Star Games to the Japanese publisher Intergrow in January 2010. The change altered the ownership structure while leaving Rising Star Games focused on the same broad mission: identifying Japanese-developed software and adapting it for audiences outside Japan. In January 2012, the company opened a United States office in California, expanding its direct presence beyond Europe. The American operation reflected the label's broader international ambitions, even though its historical identity remained strongly connected to European distribution and localisation. A major corporate transition occurred in July 2018, when Thunderful acquired Rising Star Games from Bergsala Holding. Following the acquisition, Ed Valiente became managing director, while founder Martin Defries left the company. Rising Star Games subsequently operated within Thunderful's broader publishing structure. The transaction connected the label with a larger Nordic games group while preserving Rising Star Games as a recognizable publishing identity. The last release identified under the Rising Star Games banner was the Windows version of Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise, released in July 2022. Although the separate Rising Star Games Limited company was renamed Thunderful Games Limited in September 2023, Rising Star Games continued to be listed as an active publishing label of Thunderful Publishing as of 2026. This distinction is important: the legal company name changed, but the Rising Star Games name remained in use as a brand or label within Thunderful's publishing activities. Rising Star Games is best understood as a specialist publisher rather than a platform holder, game-development studio, or mass-market retail brand. Its historical value lies in its role as a bridge between Japanese game creators and Western players, particularly in Europe. The label's business model has depended on licensing, localisation, regional publishing, and distribution rather than on ownership of a single enduring game franchise. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate current headquarters, a current standalone executive team, or a complete catalogue of all titles released under the label.

Rising Star Games was founded on 10 July 2004 by Martin Defries as a joint venture between Bergsala Holding and Marvelous Entertainment. The venture was designed to publish Japanese-developed games for the European market, where localisation, regional publishing, and distribution were often necessary to introduce Japanese software to consumers. Its creation gave Marvelous an established European publishing vehicle connected to Bergsala's distribution expertise. The label operated through a relationship with Marvelous that included an exclusive licensing agreement. It also used English localisations from Xseed Games for certain releases, although the arrangement did not cover North America. Rising Star Games consequently developed a specialist identity centered on Japanese games and European market access rather than on internally developed software. In January 2010, Marvelous Entertainment sold its 50 percent stake to Intergrow, another Japanese publisher. Rising Star Games then continued under a revised ownership structure while retaining its emphasis on overseas publishing. In January 2012, it opened a United States office in California, giving the company a physical presence in an additional major games market. Thunderful acquired Rising Star Games from Bergsala Holding in July 2018. After the transaction, Ed Valiente became managing director and Martin Defries left the company. Rising Star Games became part of Thunderful's expanding games business and continued to be associated with publishing activities under the Rising Star name. The last game released under the Rising Star Games banner was the Windows version of Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise in July 2022. In September 2023, the legal entity Rising Star Games Limited was renamed Thunderful Games Limited. The brand itself was still listed as an active publishing label of Thunderful Publishing as of 2026. The available reference material does not provide a complete current catalogue, detailed standalone financial information, or a current named leadership roster beyond the historical executives identified above.

• 2023

  Legal entity renamed

  [1]Rising Star Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Rising Star Games Limited was renamed Thunderful Games Limited, while the Rising Star Games name remained associated with a Thunderful publishing label.

• 2022

  Last identified release under the label

  [1]Rising Star Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The Windows edition of Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise became the last release identified under the Rising Star Games banner.

• 2018

  Acquired by Thunderful

  [1]Rising Star Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Thunderful acquired Rising Star Games from Bergsala Holding. Ed Valiente became managing director and Martin Defries departed.

• 2012

  United States office opened

  [1]Rising Star Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Rising Star Games opened an office in California, extending its operational footprint into the United States.

• 2010

  Ownership stake transferred to Intergrow

  [1]Rising Star Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Marvelous Entertainment sold its 50 percent interest in Rising Star Games to Intergrow.

• 2004

  Company founded

  [1]Rising Star Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Martin Defries founded Rising Star Games as a joint venture between Bergsala Holding and Marvelous Entertainment to publish localised Japanese games in Europe.

A specialist publishing label connecting Japanese-developed games with European and other Western markets through licensing, localisation, and regional distribution.

• Video game publishing · 2004

  Localised Japanese video games

  Rising Star Games was created primarily to publish Japanese-developed titles outside Japan, especially in Europe. Its role involved licensing, localisation coordination, regional publishing, and distribution rather than developing games as an internal studio. The label's catalogue was connected to its relationships with Marvelous and other Japanese publishers.

• PC video game · 2022

  Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise

  The Windows version of Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is identified as the last game released under the Rising Star Games banner. Its July 2022 release represents the latest specifically dated product activity stated in the available reference material.

• 2023

  Renaming of the legal companyStrategy

  Background

  Following Thunderful's acquisition of the business, the corporate entity continued within the wider Thunderful organization.

  Action taken

  Rising Star Games Limited was renamed Thunderful Games Limited in September 2023.

  Aftermath

  The Rising Star Games name remained listed as an active Thunderful publishing label, even though the separate legal company name changed.

  Source

• 2018

  Acquisition by ThunderfulM&A

  Background

  Rising Star Games had operated as a specialist publisher associated with Bergsala Holding, Marvelous, and later Intergrow.

  Action taken

  Thunderful acquired Rising Star Games from Bergsala Holding in July 2018.

  Aftermath

  Rising Star Games became part of Thunderful's publishing structure. Ed Valiente became managing director and founder Martin Defries left the company.

  Source

• 2012

  Expansion into the United StatesStrategy

  Background

  Rising Star Games had historically concentrated on publishing Japanese titles for Europe, while its licensing relationship with Marvelous did not extend to North America.

  Action taken

  The company opened a California office in January 2012.

  Aftermath

  The office gave Rising Star Games a direct presence in the United States, although the available material does not quantify its commercial impact or describe its later operating structure.

  Source

1. 1Rising Star Gamesen.wikipedia.org