GUANGZHOU, China and TOKYO, May 28, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- NetEase Games has announced the establishment of a
new game studio named PinCool, Inc. (PinCool) as part of its
NetEase Games division. Based in Tokyo,
Japan, PinCool is a studio comprised of industry experts
with extensive experience in different facets of the interactive
entertainment field, including video games, movie creatives, live
events and IP licensing.
PinCool is led by Representative Director & President
Ryutaro Ichimura, a 20-year veteran
of the games industry and longtime producer of the Dragon Quest
franchise. Beyond serving as lead producer for games such as
"Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King" and "Dragon Quest
IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies," Ichimura was also involved in
production for anime properties such as "Dragon Quest: The
Adventure of Dai." He also led various other areas of the Dragon
Quest IP franchise including live events and exhibitions.
In addition, Takashi Ogura will
join PinCool as a board member. Previously, Ogura was involved in
branding and marketing, business development, and business strategy
for a number of online businesses including "Doraemon" at Epoch
Co., Ltd., "Duffy" at Oriental Land Co., Ltd., and "Dragon Quest:
The Adventure of Dai" at Square Enix Co., Ltd.
PinCool plans to leverage its diverse knowledge as an
entertainment production company to provide high-quality
entertainment experiences to users worldwide. While it will mainly
focus on developing titles for game consoles, the company will also
be involved in planning and producing a range of additional forms
of entertainment.
■ Message from Ryutaro
Ichimura, Representative Director and President of
PinCool
"'Creativity to make life more enjoyable' encapsulates our
philosophy. The company name comes from the Japanese phrase 'pin to
kuru,' expressing when an idea clicks. The English name 'PinCool'
is pronounced similarly and is stylized to include the English word
'cool' as well." said Ryutaro
Ichimura, President PinCool. "We offer something you won't
find anywhere else. We aim to deliver fun experiences to people
across the globe through projects that take advantage of the kind
of new ideas that come from untethered creative freedom. We also
aim to release smaller titles while we continue our work on
large-scale titles. I'm looking forward to what lies in store in
the adventure of PinCool!"
■ Message from NetEase Games
"As a company that is passionate about creating immersive gaming
experiences, we recognize the significant role that Ichimura-san
played in the development of the Dragon Quest series. We believe
that his commitment to quality and to building innovative
experiences is one of the reasons why the Dragon Quest franchise
has endured for so long," said Simon
Zhu, global president of investments and partnerships at
NetEase Games. "He has shaped the RPG genre and inspired countless
game developers around the world so we're very excited to see him
join NetEase Games and begin a new journey with PinCool. We are
committed to creating an environment at NetEase Games for
Ichimura-san to thrive, explore new ideas, and continue creating
unforgettable gaming experiences for game lovers."
■ About PinCool, Inc.
PinCool, Inc. is an
entertainment production company established in May 2023 in Tokyo, wholly owned by NetEase Games. Its main
focus is on developing titles for game consoles. The studio will
also be expanding in and consulting on a range of other interactive
entertainment businesses.
● Official Website: www.pincool.co.jp/en/
● Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/PinCool_info
■ About NetEase Games
NetEase Games, the online games
division of NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES and HKEX: 9999), is a
leading global developer and publisher of video game IP across a
variety of genres and platforms. NetEase Games' development and
publishing slate include titles such as Knives Out, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, and Naraka:
Bladepoint, and partnerships with major entertainment brands such
as Warner Bros and Mojang AB (a Microsoft subsidiary). NetEase
Games also supports the growth and development of its innovative
global studios in Canada,
Europe, Japan and the United
States. For more information, please visit
https://www.neteasegames.com/
■ Media Contacts
NetEase, Inc.
Li Ruohan
Tel: (+86) 571-8985-2668
globalpr@service.netease.com
NetEase Games
Zhou Zhaoxi
Tel:(+86) 20-85105163 ext.57169
neteasegamespr@global.netease.com
David Wilson (EU)
david.wilson@corp.netease.com
Alex Armour (US)
alexarmour@corp.netease.com
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SOURCE NetEase, Inc.