{"id":49187,"date":"2025-06-19T00:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=49187"},"modified":"2025-06-18T15:36:46","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T06:36:46","slug":"koei-tecmos-new-aaa-studio-is-a-way-for-it-to-try-new-things-without-disappointing-team-ninja-and-omega-force-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/koei-tecmos-new-aaa-studio-is-a-way-for-it-to-try-new-things-without-disappointing-team-ninja-and-omega-force-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"Koei Tecmo\u2019s new AAA Studio is a way for it to try new things without disappointing Team Ninja and Omega Force fans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Koei Tecmo recently announced Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment<\/strong>, scheduled to launch in Winter 2026 as a Switch 2 exclusive. Incidentally, this will be the first project officially developed by Koei Tecmo\u2019s new \u201cAAA Studio.\u201d As its name implies, the new development label was created with the purpose of developing triple-A titles that can compete in the global game market. But Koei Tecmo is no stranger to AAA games, so why create a new, dedicated studio? In a recent interview with Famitsu<\/a>, the company shed some light on their intentions behind establishing the new studio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hyrule<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

AAA Studio was officially established in April 2024, joining the ranks of Koei Tecmo\u2019s other game brands like Omega Force, Team Ninja and Gust. Promisingly, the new studio is being led by Yosuke Hayashi, former Team Ninja veteran and director\/producer for the DOA, Ninja Gaiden and Nioh series. Joining him as AAA Studio\u2019s producer is Ryota Matsushita, a former Omega Force member who directed Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for why the studio was created in the first place, Hayashi tells Famitsu that Koei Tecmo\u2019s existing brands \u2013 like Team Ninja and Omega Force \u2013 have, over the years, cultivated a following of fans who expect new releases to be true to the brands’ respective identities. \u201cI believe that\u2019s because each team simply kept creating the kind of games they naturally excel at. […] Their consistent output built that brand identity over time.\u201d According to Hayashi, Team Ninja and Omega Force have established a trust-based relationship with fans \u2013 which depends on them delivering games in their trademark styles.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ninja
Ninja Gaiden 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As such, Koei Tecmo needed a team that \u201cwouldn\u2019t be tied to the established brand images of these studios.\u201d Another point Hayashi brings up is the growing costs and time involved in large-scale game development. It sounds like the company wanted to venture into new waters with its AAA games, but did not want to risk occupying Team Ninja or Omega Force\u2019s time and resources with projects that could potentially deter long-time fans of their signature styles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, \u201cSince AAA Studio doesn\u2019t yet carry a particular color or brand identity, we can pursue the kind of interesting games we believe in. Then, if the players end up enjoying and embracing those games, the studio may naturally establish its own brand identity. That\u2019s what we\u2019re going for,\u201d Hayashi explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dynasty
Dynasty Warriors Origins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the studio head also stresses that Koei Tecmo isn\u2019t trying to force any differentiation \u2013 AAA Studio will still draw on the know-how and experience of the other development teams, and it won\u2019t try to do things that aren\u2019t true to everything Koei Tecmo has built with its games so far \u2013 so, the chances of them suddenly coming out with a Western-fantasy game or turn-based RPG are slim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a related note, to accommodate these changes to its structure and development pipeline, Koei Tecmo has been upsizing significantly \u2013 they recently acquired new offices<\/a> and have announced plans to double their workforce over time<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, AAA Studio\u2019s first project, launches Winter 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Koei Tecmo sheds light on the purpose of its new “AAA Studio” and how it differs from the company’s other development studios.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":49190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-49187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-japan-related-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nKoei Tecmo\u2019s new AAA Studio is a way for it to try new things without disappointing Team Ninja and Omega Force fans - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Koei Tecmo sheds light on the purpose of its new "AAA Studio" and how it differs from the company's other development studios.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/koei-tecmos-new-aaa-studio-is-a-way-for-it-to-try-new-things-without-disappointing-team-ninja-and-omega-force-fans\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Koei Tecmo\u2019s new AAA Studio is a way for it to try new things without disappointing Team Ninja and Omega Force fans - 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