WITCHCRAFT inc.

WITCHCRAFT inc. (株式会社ウィッチクラフト) is a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo, specializing in the planning and development of console and mobile games. The company was established in January 2008 by Akifumi Kaneko, a veteran developer known for his work on the Wild Arms series, together with Shojiro Endo, a former colleague from their time at Nihon Telenet. Initially backed by Media Vision Entertainment, WITCHCRAFT began full-scale game development in 2009 and has since produced a steady stream of titles for platforms including Nintendo DS, PSP, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, and smartphones. The company's portfolio is largely composed of licensed games based on anime and tokusatsu properties, developed for publishers such as Bandai Namco Entertainment, D3 Publisher, Idea Factory, and Square Enix. Notable works include the PSP title Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable, the PS Vita game Idol Death Game TV, and Nintendo 3DS titles like All Kamen Rider: Rider Revolution. WITCHCRAFT also provides a range of development services beyond full game production, including scenario writing, 2D and 3D graphics, and music and sound effects, as detailed on its official website. In October 2015, the company announced a leadership change: Shojiro Endo became representative director and president, while founder Akifumi Kaneko transitioned to a part-time advisory director role. Endo later left the company in March 2021 to become a freelancer. As of its latest public updates, WITCHCRAFT remains active in game development, with its most recent project updates dating to 2018. The company is privately held and operates from an office in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo.

WITCHCRAFT inc. was founded on January 11, 2008, by Akifumi Kaneko, a game developer known for his work on the Wild Arms series, and Shojiro Endo, a former colleague from their time at Nihon Telenet. The company was established with investment from Media Vision Entertainment and initially operated from a shared office space in Kiba, Koto Ward, Tokyo. In November 2008, it relocated to Kita-Otsuka, Toshima Ward, and began full-scale game development in 2009. The studio's first title was the Nintendo DS game The Saiban-in: Hitotsu no Shinjitsu, Muttsu no Kotae, released in May 2009 by D3 Publisher. Later that year, in October, it released another DS title, Kurayami no Hate de Kimi o Matsu, also from D3 Publisher. In 2010, WITCHCRAFT released Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable for PSP through Bandai Namco Games, and Harajuku Tantei Gakuen Steel Wood for PSP via Idea Factory. The company moved its office again in April 2010, to Kita-Otsuka 1-chome. Throughout the 2010s, WITCHCRAFT developed a variety of licensed games for multiple platforms. In 2011, it released the feature phone RPG Grape Nola through Square Enix, and the PSP title Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable: The Gears of Destiny via Bandai Namco Games. In 2012, it released Heroes' Fantasia for PSP and the iOS app Hoshifun Draknil for Square Enix. The following year saw the release of iOS apps based on Senki Zesshou Symphogear, and the PSP game Tiger & Bunny: Hero's Day from D3 Publisher. In 2014, the company released Hajime no Ippo for PS3 and Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Out of Order for PS Vita, both published by Bandai Namco Games. In 2015, WITCHCRAFT released two Nintendo 3DS download titles: Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Game de Wasshoi!! in September and Kamen Rider Ghost: Game de Kaigan!! in December, both from Bandai Namco Entertainment. On October 2, 2015, the company announced a change in its leadership: Shojiro Endo, previously Managing Director and General Manager, became Representative Director and President, while Akifumi Kaneko, the founder and former president, transitioned to a part-time Director/Advisor role. In 2016, WITCHCRAFT released Idol Death Game TV for PS Vita in October and All Kamen Rider: Rider Revolution for Nintendo 3DS in December. The company also launched LINE stickers for Idol Death Game TV in March 2017. Its most recent public update was in April 2018, when it refreshed its works page. Endo left the company in March 2021 to become a freelancer. As of the latest available information, WITCHCRAFT continues to operate as a game development company based in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo.

• Company founded in Kiba, Koto Ward, Tokyo by Akifumi Kaneko and Shojiro Endo.

• Moved to Kita-Otsuka, Toshima Ward, Tokyo.

• First game, The Saiban-in: Hitotsu no Shinjitsu, Muttsu no Kotae, released for Nintendo DS by D3 Publisher.

• Released Kurayami no Hate de Kimi o Matsu for Nintendo DS by D3 Publisher.

• Released Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable for PSP by Bandai Namco Games.

• Moved to Kita-Otsuka 1-chome, Toshima Ward; released Harajuku Tantei Gakuen Steel Wood for PSP by Idea Factory.

• Released feature phone RPG Grape Nola by Square Enix.

• Released Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable: The Gears of Destiny for PSP by Bandai Namco Games.

• Released Heroes' Fantasia for PSP by Bandai Namco Games.

• Released iOS app Hoshifun Draknil by Square Enix.

• Released iOS app Senki Zesshou Symphogear Character App by Happinet.

• Released Tiger & Bunny: Hero's Day for PSP by D3 Publisher.

• Released Android app Hoshifun Draknil by Square Enix.

• Released iOS app Senki Zesshou Symphogear Rhythm Action Game by Happinet.

• Released Hajime no Ippo for PS3 and Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Out of Order for PS Vita, both by Bandai Namco Games.

• Released Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Game de Wasshoi!! for Nintendo 3DS by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

• Announced leadership change: Shojiro Endo became Representative Director and President; Akifumi Kaneko became part-time Director/Advisor.

• Released Kamen Rider Ghost: Game de Kaigan!! for Nintendo 3DS by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

• Released Idol Death Game TV for PS Vita by D3 Publisher.

• Released All Kamen Rider: Rider Revolution for Nintendo 3DS by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

• Released LINE stickers for Idol Death Game TV.

• Updated works page on official website.

• Shojiro Endo resigned as president and became a freelancer.

A contract developer focused on licensed games and full-service game production for major Japanese publishers.

• The Saiban-in: Hitotsu no Shinjitsu, Muttsu no Kotae

• Kurayami no Hate de Kimi o Matsu

• Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable

• Harajuku Tantei Gakuen Steel Wood

• Grape Nola

• Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable: The Gears of Destiny

• Heroes' Fantasia

• Hoshifun Draknil

• Senki Zesshou Symphogear Character App

• Tiger & Bunny: Hero's Day

• Senki Zesshou Symphogear Rhythm Action Game

• Hajime no Ippo

• Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Out of Order

• Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Game de Wasshoi!!

• Kamen Rider Ghost: Game de Kaigan!!

• Idol Death Game TV

• All Kamen Rider: Rider Revolution

1. 1株式会社ウィッチクラフト | ゲームソフトウェア企画・開発witch-craft.co.jp
2. 2会社案内 | 株式会社ウィッチクラフトwitch-craft.co.jp
3. 3役員異動に関するお知らせ | 株式会社ウィッチクラフトwitch-craft.co.jp
4. 4WITCHCRAFT inc. - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5ウィッチクラフト (ゲーム会社) - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org