Granzella Inc.
Native name
株式会社グランゼーラ
Kabushiki gaisha guranzeera
Company typeKabushiki gaisha
IndustryVideo games
FoundedApril 2011; 12 years ago (2011-04)
Headquarters
Nonoichi, Ishikawa Prefecture
,
Japan
ProductsConsole games
Websitegranzella.co.jp

Granzella Inc. is a Japanese video game developer based in Ishikawa, Japan. The company is formed from former Irem staff and engaged in planning, production and sales of console games. The company is known for developing the latest entry in the Disaster Report and R-Type series. Granzella was established in April 2011 by former staff of Irem Software Engineering Inc. (hereafter referred as Irem) after the cancellation of multiple video game projects as a result of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[1] The name of the company is derived from "Granzella Revolution Army," which appeared in R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate, a game from the R-Type series developed by the staff at Irem.[2]

After the company's establishment, Granzella mainly focused on developing content for PlayStation Home. On June 30, 2014, the company was split into two business divisions: "Granzella Inc." which focused on visuals and "Granzella Overseas Entertainment Inc." which focused on developing games for Western audiences and smartphones.[3]

In December 2014, Granzella acquired IP and distribution rights of the Disaster Report series in all areas of the world, including future titles, from Irem.[4] The company then announced the restart of development work for Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories, which was previously in limbo after Irem halted development of the game, and began distribution of previous titles through downloadable services and arcades.

In September 2015, the company announced a joint project with Bandai Namco Entertainment, which eventually became City Shrouded in Shadow. The game was described as a spiritual successor to the Disaster Report series.[5] In November of that year, the company announced the establishment of Gz Studios, a video game development studio,[6] and Granzella Music, a music sub-label.[7]

In August 2019, Gz Studios was renamed to Granzella Game Studios.[8]

Games developed by Granzella

Title Platform(s) Release date Publisher(s) JP NA EU AUS
Soccer Love[9] Android, iOS March 30, 2017 Granzella Yes No No No
City Shrouded in Shadow[10][11] PlayStation 4 October 19, 2017 Bandai Namco Entertainment Yes No No No
Manga Kakeru[12][13] PlayStation Vita January 26, 2018 Granzella Yes No No No
PlayStation 4 June 19, 2018 Yes No No No
Hototogisu Tairan 1553: Ryuuko Aiutsu[14] Nintendo Switch April 26, 2018 Granzella Yes No No No
Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories[15][16] PlayStation 4 October 25, 2018 Granzella, NIS America Yes Yes Yes Yes
Nintendo Switch September 26, 2019 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Windows April 7, 2020 NIS America Yes Yes Yes Yes
R-Type Final 2[17][18] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S April 29, 2021 Granzella, NIS America Yes Yes Yes Yes
R-Type Final 3 Evolved[19] PlayStation 5[a] March 23, 2023 Granzella, NIS America Yes Yes Yes Yes
Side View Golf[21] Nintendo Switch July 6, 2023 Granzella Yes Yes Yes Yes
R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos[22] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S Q3/Q4 2024 Granzella, NIS America Yes Yes Yes Yes
FZ: Formation Z[23] PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S 2024 City Connection Yes Yes Yes Yes
Disaster Report 5[24] TBA TBA Granzella Yes TBA TBA TBA

Notes

  1. ^ R-Type Final 3 content is also planned for release as a free update to R-Type Final 2.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Kazuma Kujo Interview: Keeping Irem's Spirit Alive". forum.digitpress.com. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  2. ^ "九条一馬 on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  3. ^ "グランゼーラ 事業分社化、新会社「グランゼーラビジュアル」「グランゼーラ・オンラインエンターテインメント」設立のお知らせ". granzella.co.jp. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  4. ^ "グランゼーラ、絶体絶命都市の版権を取得". Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  5. ^ Barder, Ollie. "'City Shrouded In Shadow' Adds 'Patlabor' To The Mix". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  6. ^ "グランゼーラが制作部門を分社化、新会社"Gzスタジオ"を設立 - ファミ通.com". ファミ通.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  7. ^ "グランゼーラ、音楽レーベル「Granzella Music」立ち上げ＆音楽配信のお知らせ". Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  8. ^ Granzella. "Granzella Game Studios - Official Site (en)". Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "グランゼーラ、スマートフォンゲーム「SOCCER LOVE（サッカーラブ）」配信のお知らせ". Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  10. ^ "Escape the fallout from giant kaiju battles in City Shrouded in Shadow for PS4". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  11. ^ "City Shrouded in Shadow seems a fun ride even if light on gameplay". Destructoid. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  12. ^ "Manga-Making Game Manga Kakeru Releases This Month In Japan On PS4 And PS Vita - Siliconera". Siliconera. 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  13. ^ Romano, Sal (14 June 2018). "Manga Kakeru for PS4 launches June 19 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Hototogisu Tairan 1553 dated for the Japanese Switch eShop - Nintendo Everything". Nintendo Everything. 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  15. ^ "Disaster Report 4 Plus is looking real nice on PS4". Destructoid. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  16. ^ Romano, Sal (22 June 2018). "Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories launches October 25 in Japan, demo launches in July". Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  17. ^ "R-Type Final 2, Aiming for a Brand-New, the Best Shmup Ever". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  18. ^ "R-Type Final 2 launches April 30 in the west. Western release set for one day after the Japanese release". Gematsu. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  19. ^ "R-Type Final 3 Evolved to be published by NIS America in the west". Gematsu. October 29, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "R-Type Final 2 Roadmap 2021". Steam. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Side View Golf for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site". Nintendo. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  22. ^ "R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos launches in fall 2024". Gematsu. December 29, 2023. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "FZ: Formation Z launches in 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC; second trailer". Gematsu. September 14, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "Disaster Report 5 will be open-world, set three years after Disaster Report 1". Gematsu. March 31, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
Categories