View source for Atlus

{{Short description|Japanese video game company}}
{{Distinguish|Atlas|Altus (disambiguation){{!}}Altus}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Atlus Co., Ltd.
| native_name = {{lang|ja|株式会社アトラス}}
| romanized_name = [[Kabushiki gaisha]] Atorasu
| logo = Atlus logo (2014).svg
| image = Osaki Garden Tower.jpg
| image_caption= Headquarters in [[Shinagawa, Tokyo]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| foundation = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date and age|df=yes|1986|04|07}} (as Atlus Co., Ltd.)|{{Start date and age|df=yes|2013|09|05}} (as Sega Dream Corporation)}}
| founder = 
| defunct = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2010|10|01}} (as Atlus Co., Ltd.)
| hq_location = Nishi-Shinagawa
| location_city = Shinagawa, Tokyo
| location_country = Japan
| key_people = {{ubl|Yukio Sugino (chairman)|Osamu Ohashi (president)|[[Katsura Hashino]]|[[Shigenori Soejima]]}}
| products = [[List of Atlus games]]
| num_employees = 371<ref>{{cite web | url=https://careerforum.net/ja/event/bos/companylist_184/4186/company_detail | title=企業情報 }}</ref>
| num_employees_year = April 2024
| parent = {{Unbulleted list|[[Takara]] (2003–2006)|[[Index Corporation]] (2006–2013)|[[Sega]] (2013–present)}}
| divisions = {{ubl|Team Maniax|P-Studio|Studio Zero}}
| homepage = {{URL|www.atlus.co.jp|atlus.co.jp}}
}}

{{nihongo|'''Atlus Co., Ltd.'''|株式会社アトラス|Kabushikigaisha Atorasu}} is a Japanese [[video game developer]], [[video game publisher|publisher]], [[Arcade game|arcade]] manufacturer and distribution company based in [[Tokyo]]. A subsidiary of [[Sega]], the company is known for the ''[[Megami Tensei]]'', ''[[Persona (series)|Persona]]'', ''[[Etrian Odyssey]]'', and ''[[Trauma Center (video game series)|Trauma Center]]'' series. Its corporate [[mascot]] is Jack Frost, a snowman-like character from their ''Megami Tensei'' series. The company is also known for their ''[[Print Club]]'' arcade machines, which are [[selfie]] photo sticker booths in East Asia.

Atlus was established in April 1986 and spent its early years as a video game developer for other companies. It became a video game publisher of its own in 1989 and existed until it was merged into [[Index Corporation]] in October 2010. The Atlus name continued as a brand used by Index Corporation for video game publishing until it filed for bankruptcy in June 2013. This company was then acquired by Sega via its new subsidiary Sega Dream Corporation which renamed itself Index Corporation in November 2013. In April 2014, the non-video game assets and the Index name were spun off as a separate subsidiary of Sega, leaving the company with its video game division to be officially renamed Atlus. 

A North American branch of the company, originally Atlus USA and now Atlus West, was founded in 1991 in order to focus on publishing and localizing games for North America. A European branch, handled via the London-based Sega Europe, was founded in 2017.

== History ==
{{See also|List of Atlus games}}
[[File:Atlus86.svg|thumb|Logo until 2013]]

Atlus began on 7 April 1986 as a [[video game developer]] of computer games for other companies.<ref name=history>{{cite web |url=http://www.atlus.co.jp/about/kaisha_enkaku.html |title=::: アトラス ::: |website=www.atlus.co.jp |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031209003138/http://www.atlus.co.jp/about/kaisha_enkaku.html |archive-date=9 December 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 1987, Atlus started selling amusement equipment.<ref name=history/> It expanded into the sale of [[karaoke]] equipment in March 1989.<ref name=history/> Atlus released the first video game under its own name in 1989: ''[[Puzzle Boy]]'' for the [[Game Boy]].<ref name=history/> Prior to this, earlier Atlus video games were published by other companies, such as [[Namco]] and [[Hudson Soft]] in Japan and [[LJN]] in North America.

Atlus started in the [[amusement arcade|arcade]] industry in the 1990s by manufacturing its first [[arcade video game]], ''[[BlaZeon]]'', in 1992. In 1995, Atlus launched ''[[Print Club]]'' (purikura) at arcades in partnership with [[Sega]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pr/corp/history/history_sega.html |title=History of SEGA SAMMY Group/SEGA before Business Integration｜SEGA SAMMY Group｜SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS |publisher=Segasammy.co.jp |access-date=2016-12-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220131310/https://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pr/corp/history/history_sega.html |archive-date=20 December 2016}}</ref> It is a photo sticker booth that produces [[selfie]] photos.<ref name="Pan">{{cite book |last1=Pan |first1=Lu |title=Aestheticizing Public Space: Street Visual Politics in East Asian Cities |date=2015 |publisher=Intellect Books |isbn=9781783204533 |page=107 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rJbzCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA107}}</ref><ref name="Miller">{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Laura |title=Introducing Japanese Popular Culture |date=2018 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=9781317528937 |chapter=10. Purikura: Expressive Energy in Female Self-Photography |chapter-url=https://www.vitalsource.com/products/introducing-japanese-popular-culture-alisa-freedman-v9781317528937}}</ref> It was conceived by Atlus employee Sasaki Miho in 1994; her bosses at Atlus were initially reluctant about the idea, before later deciding to go ahead with it.<ref name="Harvard">{{cite journal |title=Harvard Asia Quarterly |journal=Harvard Asia Quarterly |date=2003 |volume=7 |issue=1–3 |page=32 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UckQAQAAMAAJ |publisher=[[Harvard University]] |quote=Purikura, clipped from purinto kurabu, was invented by Atlus, a Tokyo-based game software company. A female employee named Sasaki Miho had noticed the popularity of stickers among schoolgirls, a craze that also generated huge sales. In 1994, Sasaki came up with the idea of combining stickers with photos and proposed it to her Atlus employers, but her male bosses did not think it worth pursuing until 1995, when they finally gave her concept a chance.}}</ref> Atlus and Sega introduced ''Purikura'' in February 1995, initially at [[game arcades]], before expanding to other popular culture locations such as fast food shops, train stations, [[karaoke]] establishments and bowling alleys.<ref name="Edwards">{{cite book |last1=Edwards |first1=Elizabeth F. |last2=Hart |first2=Janice |title=Photographs Objects Histories: On the Materiality of Images |date=2004 |publisher=[[Psychology Press]] |isbn=9780415254410 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VRQ2StxiK0sC&pg=PA167}}</ref> ''Purikura'' became a popular form of entertainment among youths across [[East Asia]], laying the foundations for modern selfie culture.<ref name="Pan"/><ref name="Miller"/> It also introduced a large female demographic to the company's previously male-dominated arcade customer base.<ref>{{cite news |title=Surviving selfies: Japan's purikura photo booths cling on |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200730-surviving-selfies-japan-s-purikura-photo-booths-cling-on |access-date=13 April 2021 |work=[[France 24]] |date=30 July 2020}}</ref> By 1996, it accounted for 70% of the company's revenue.<ref name="Miller"/> By 1997, about 47,000 ''Purikura'' machines had been sold, earning Sega an estimated {{JPY|25 billion}} ({{£|173 million|long=no}}) or {{US$|{{To USD|173|GBR|year=1997|round=yes}},000,000|long=no|1997|round=-6}} annually from ''Purikura'' sales that year. Various other similar ''purikura'' machines appeared from other manufacturers, with Sega controlling about half of the market in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Joshua |title=How 'playing Puri' paved the way for Snapchat |url=https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20181119-why-playing-puri-was-the-precursor-for-snapchat |access-date=11 October 2021 |agency=[[BBC]] |date=23 November 2018}}</ref> ''Print Club'' went on to generate over {{US$|1 billion|long=no}} in sales for Atlus and Sega.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997 |title=Atlus Print Club: Sales in a Flash |publisher=Atlus |url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbEKf8uX4AEdRYf.jpg |access-date=24 April 2022}}</ref>

Atlus entered the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1997, listing on the [[JASDAQ]]. In its goal to further increase its presence in the amusement industry, Atlus acquired the manufacturer [[Irem|Apies]] from Yubis Corporation in 1999. In 2000, Atlus formed a joint venture with [[Kadokawa Shoten]] to distribute and sell games. Atlus suffered from deficit financial results in both 1999 and 2000. To address the issue, Atlus established a management reform plan in 2001. In its restructuring efforts, Atlus sold two subsidiaries (one of them being Apies) to their respective employees as part of a [[management buyout]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atlus.co.jp/ir/press/pdf/2001/press201_0814.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.atlus.co.jp |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050226011922/http://www.atlus.co.jp/ir/press/pdf/2001/press201_0814.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In October 2001, Atlus acquired [[Career Soft]], and became the sole publisher of the ''[[Growlanser]]'' series: a [[real-time strategy]] [[role-playing game]] from the creators of the ''[[Langrisser]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/099/099497p1.html|title=Atlus Acquires Career Soft|date=30 October 2001|access-date=2012-03-20|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819021600/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/099/099497p1.html|archive-date=19 August 2012}}</ref> In 2004, after the release of ''[[Growlanser IV]]'', the majority of Career Soft's staff was merged into the main development team of Atlus where they worked on the ''[[Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor]]'' games. As a developer brand, Career Soft was eventually dissolved.

In October 2003, Japanese toy company [[Takara]] acquired Atlus.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100221042851/http://www.atlus.co.jp/ir/history/index.html 沿革：株式会社アトラス　IR情報・会社情報]</ref> Takara's video game business was also transferred over to Atlus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=タカラ、家庭用ゲームソフト事業をアトラスに統合 |url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0401/14/news067.html |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=ITmedia NEWS |language=ja}}</ref> On 21 November 2006, [[Index Holdings]] announced the acquisition of Atlus, effective on 30 October 2006, and purchased 7.7&nbsp;million shares (54.93 percent; 77,000 votes, or 54.96 percent of the voting rights) on 20 November 2006. Atlus became an Index Holdings subsidiary on 29 November 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regarding tender offer results and subsidiary companies |url=http://www.index-hd.com/a_admin/english/pdf/00006039.pdf |access-date=30 August 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024725/http://www.index-hd.com/a_admin/english/pdf/00006039.pdf |archive-date=13 July 2011 }}</ref>

In March 2009, Atlus and [[Sting Entertainment]] announced a publishing partnership making Atlus the only publisher of Sting-developed games in Japan.<ref name="atlus partners">{{cite web | title=Atlus Partners with Sting | date=10 March 2009 | publisher=IGN | url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/960/960810p1.html | access-date=26 April 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301180206/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/10/atlus-partners-with-sting | archive-date=1 March 2014}}</ref> On 17 September 2009, Index Holdings announced the separation of Atlus' amusement facility and related business into a subsidiary, New Entertainment Waves,<ref>[http://toushi.kankei.me/docs/text/S0006WZM 株式会社NEWS 訂正臨時報告書 2010年10月08日 - 投資関係をなんとなくわかった気になる]</ref> effective on 1 December. One hundred seventy-two shares of the subsidiary's stock were also transferred to Chushoukigyou Leisure<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20220831191943/http://www.index-hd.com/press/uploads/20090917.pdf 当社子会社（株式会社アトラス）における 会社分割によるアミューズメント施設関連事業の分社化、並びに新設株式会社株式譲渡に関するお知らせ]}}</ref> on 1 December.<ref>[http://www.game-news.jp/pc_news/873/ 株式会社NEWS（ニューズ）設立]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=IDV |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On 30 August 2010, Index Holdings announced its merger with Atlus, with Index Holdings being the surviving company, effective on 1 October.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlus 'Dissolved' By Parent Company Index Holdings|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/atlus-dissolved-by-parent-company-index-holdings|publisher=Gamasutra|date=30 August 2010|access-date=30 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510011141/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/120957/Atlus_Dissolved_By_Parent_Company_Index_Holdings.php|archive-date=10 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=インデックス・ホールディングス、連結子会社の吸収合併に関するお知らせ～グループ価値最大化を図りインデックス、アトラスの2社を吸収合併～|url=http://www.index-hd.com/press/?p=1002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428201854/http://www.index-hd.com/press/?p=1002|url-status=usurped|archive-date=28 April 2013|publisher=[[Index Corporation]]|date=30 August 2010|access-date=30 August 2010}}</ref> After the merger, Index Holdings would continue to operate the Atlus brand.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150401093119/http://www.index-hd.com/press/?p=1009 【補足】インデックス・ホールディングス、連結子会社の吸収合併に関するお知らせ アトラスブランドについて]}}</ref> Although fans were concerned about the company's future, CEO Shinichi Suzuki said that Atlus would continue to provide the "finest quality game experiences possible" and the merger "further strengthens the foundation of Atlus, both in Japan and here in the United States."<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlus Reassures Fans of Its Future After Merger|url=http://www.1up.com/news/atlus-assures-fans-company-lives|publisher=1UP|access-date=15 October 2010}}</ref> On 9 November 2010 Index Holdings announced its renaming to [[Index Corporation]], to be confirmed at the shareholders meeting on 25 November 2010 and effective on 1 December.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131102033803/http://www.index-hd.com/press/uploads/140120101109061772.pdf 商号変更および定款一部変更に関するお知らせ]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Index Holdings to Change Company Name|url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/4835.OS/key-developments/article/2018369|publisher=Reuters|date=9 November 2010|access-date=23 September 2012}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

From 2010 to 2013, Atlus, as a company, ceased to exist and its name became a brand of Index Corporation for video games in Japan. However, [[#Atlus West|Atlus USA]] remained active and was renamed Index Digital Media, serving as the North American subsidiary for Index Corporation. Much like in Japan, video games continued to be released in that region under the Atlus name during this period. In June 2013, it was reported that Index Corporation filed for civil rehabilitation proceedings, facing bankruptcy with debts of ¥24.5 billion. An Atlus USA spokesperson said that Index Digital Media and the Atlus brand were unaffected by the proceedings.<ref name=polygon>{{cite news|title=Atlus at risk after parent company announces bankruptcy (update) Index|author=Emily Gera|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/6/27/4469788/atlus-at-risk-after-parent-company-announces-bankruptcy|publisher=Vox Media|date=27 June 2013|access-date=27 June 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630144502/http://www.polygon.com/2013/6/27/4469788/atlus-at-risk-after-parent-company-announces-bankruptcy|archive-date=30 June 2013}}</ref>

On 18 September 2013, it was reported that [[Sega]] won a bid to acquire the bankrupt Index for ¥14 billion.<ref name="bloomberg-atlussega">{{cite news|title=Sega Said to Win Auction to Buy Bankrupt Japan Gamemaker Index|author=Shigeru Sato & Takahiko Hyuga|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-18/sega-said-to-win-auction-to-buy-bankrupt-japan-gamemaker-index.html|publisher=Bloomberg|date=18 September 2013|access-date=18 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922052951/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-18/sega-said-to-win-auction-to-buy-bankrupt-japan-gamemaker-index.html|archive-date=22 September 2013}}</ref> All Index operations, including the Atlus brand and Index Digital Media (Atlus USA), were transferred on 1 November 2013 to Sega Dream Corporation (a new subsidiary established on 5 September 2013).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20130918_index_e_final.pdf|title=Notice of Conclusion regarding Business Transfer Agreement of Index Corporation|publisher=Sega Sammy Holdings Inc.|date=18 September 2013|access-date=18 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927043051/http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20130918_index_e_final.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> That day, Sega announced that it would change the name of Sega Dream Corporation to Index Corporation.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://sega.jp/corp/release/2013/1101/|script-title=ja:当社子会社の事業譲受に関するお知らせ|language=ja|publisher=Sega Corporation|date=1 November 2013|access-date=2 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106081214/http://sega.jp/corp/release/2013/1101/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2013}}</ref>

On 18 February 2014, Sega announced the separation of Index Corporation's contents and solution businesses into a new subsidiary, Index Corporation, renaming the old Index Corporation and its remaining digital game business division to Atlus effective 1 April 2014. The new Atlus would include the foreign subsidiary, Index Digital Media, which would revert its name back to Atlus USA at the establishment of the new Atlus.<ref name="sega.co.jp">[http://sega.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/nr140218_1.pdf 連結子会社の分割（新設分割）及び商号変更に関するお知らせ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408111044/http://sega.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/nr140218_1.pdf |date=8 April 2014 }}</ref>

In April 2017, [[Sega Sammy Holdings]] announced a relocation of head office functions of the Sega Sammy Group and its major domestic subsidiaries located in the [[Tokyo metropolitan area]] to [[Shinagawa-ku]] by January 2018. Their stated reasoning was to promote cooperation among companies and creation of more active interaction of personnel, while pursuing efficient group management by consolidating scattered head office functions of the group. Atlus is one of the companies that has relocated in response to this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20170403_honsha_final_e_.pdf|title=Consolidation/Relocation of Head Office Functions of SEGA SAMMY Group|publisher=[[Sega Sammy Holdings]]|date=3 April 2017|access-date=4 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404220020/http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20170403_honsha_final_e_.pdf|archive-date=4 April 2017}}</ref>

== Development organization ==
Atlus currently has three internal development divisions inside the company responsible for the development of its titles:

* '''Creative Department 1st Production (Team Maniax)''': Headed by Shinjiro Takata as a production manager, this is the oldest and original development division, which has been active since the very beginning of the company. This is the group responsible for the development of the ''[[Megami Tensei]]'' series in general from mainline titles such as ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' to spin-offs such as ''[[Devil Children]]'' series, [[Persona (series)|''Persona'']] series prior to [[Persona 3|''Persona 3'']], ''[[Devil Summoner]]'' series, [[Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible|''Last Bible'']] series, ''[[Majin Tensei]]'' series, ''[[Digital Devil Saga]]'' series, ''[[Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE]]'' among many others. Outside of the ''Megami Tensei'' series, the group also created and developed the [[Trauma Center (video game series)|''Trauma Center'']] series and the ''[[Etrian Odyssey]]'' series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reggy |date=2022-12-27 |title=Atlus 2023 Aspirations, Change of Internal Plans for Persona Team [Update] |url=https://personacentral.com/atlus-2023-aspiration-persona-team/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Persona Central |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reggy |date=2021-03-05 |title=New Atlus Employee 2021 Interview Featuring New Hires for Studio Zero and 1st Production |url=https://personacentral.com/new-atlus-employee-2021-interview/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Persona Central |language=en-US}}</ref>
* '''Creative Department 2nd Production (P-Studio)''': Headed by Kazuhisa Wada, this group was established by Atlus during the development of ''[[Persona 3]]'' in 2006, to co-exist with the Creative Department 1st Production also known as Team Maniax, who were primarily responsible for developing entries in the Megami Tensei series at the company. The 2nd Production division would instead become the primary in charge of developing and overseeing all games and other products related to the ''Persona'' series, after all previous entries in the series on the original PlayStation had been mainly developed by Team Maniax. Leading the new ''Persona'' development team would be [[Katsura Hashino]], who served as the director of ''Persona 3'' and other Atlus games such as ''[[Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne]]'' and went to be the director of ''[[Persona 4]]'' and ''[[Persona 5]]'', being involved on various spin-offs until he departed from the division to create another one within Atlus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reggy |date=2019-03-05 |title=New Atlus Employee 2019 Interview for All Three Production Studios |url=https://personacentral.com/new-atlus-employee-2019-interview-for-all-three-production-studios/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Persona Central |language=en-US}}</ref> After Hashino left in 2016, long time director and producer Kazuhisa Wada became the head of the division. Outside of developing and overseeing all ''Persona'' games and products, P-Studio also developed the game [[Catherine (video game)|''Catherine'']] in 2011.
* '''Creative Department 3rd Production (Studio Zero)''': Headed by [[Katsura Hashino]]. In 2016, following the Japanese launch of ''Persona 5,'' director and producer Hashino talked about his intent to depart P-Studio and retire his commitment to the ''Persona'' series, citing a desire to move onto another project due to his feelings that ''Persona 5'' would mark a shift in the series' overall direction. He would eventually be part of a new Creative Department production division established by Atlus, its third one mainly known as Studio Zero, which would become responsible for developing original IP and content unrelated to ''Persona.'' With fourteen P-Studio employees including main staff from the Persona series becoming part of the group like character designer [[Shigenori Soejima]], scenario writers Yuichiro Tanaka and Azusa Kido, lead programmer Yujiro Kosaka and graphic designer Yasuhiro Akimoto, alongside new hires to the division, they primarily developed the 2024 game ''[[Metaphor: ReFantazio]],'' a fantasy role-playing video game which was originally announced with a concept art as Project Re Fantasy in 2016 when Studio Zero was founded. Studio Zero's first project, the enhanced re-release ''[[Catherine: Full Body]]'' was released in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-23 |title=Atlus' PROJECT Re FANTASY concept video and artwork, Studio Zero official website opened [Update] |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2016/12/atlus-project-re-fantasy-concept-video-artwork-studio-zero-official-website-opened |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-21 |title=First details on Atlus' new fantasy RPG, "PROJECT Re FANTASY" [Update] |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2016/12/first-details-atlus-new-fantasy-rpg-project-re-fantasy |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>

== International branches ==
=== Atlus West===

[[File:Atlus USA E3 2017.jpg|thumb|alt=Advertising display at a trade fair|Atlus USA booth at [[Electronic Entertainment Expo 2017]]]]
Atlus West (formerly known as Atlus U.S.A., Inc.) established in 1991 and based in [[Irvine, California]], is the American subsidiary of Atlus and publishes games created by Atlus and other developers. It was formally called Index Digital Media from 2010 to 2014 in response to Atlus being dissolved into Index Corporation.

A number of ''Megami Tensei'' games have not been released in North America. During the 1990s, ''[[Jack Bros.]]'' for [[Virtual Boy]], ''[[Revelations: Persona]]'' for PlayStation and ''[[Revelations: The Demon Slayer]]'' for the [[Game Boy Color]] were the first three games in the series to have a North American release. The 2004 release of ''[[Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne]]'' was the first main-series video-game release in the U.S.<ref name="Kalatasmt">{{cite web | title=Megami Tensei/Shin Megami Tensei| publisher=Hardcoregaming101.net | url=http://hardcoregaming101.net/megaten/megaten.htm | access-date=26 April 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100511065620/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/megaten/megaten.htm| archive-date= 11 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Since then, the series has continued to be localized and released in the US, including games such as ''[[Persona 3]]'', ''[[Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army]]'', and ''[[Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey]]''.

Atlus West has localized [[cult classic]] ''[[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]]'', created by [[Nippon Ichi Software]].<ref name="Kalatamarl" /> The company have also published the [[tactical role-playing game]] ''[[Tactics Ogre]]'' and Game Boy Advance remakes of the ''[[Kunio-kun]]'' and ''[[Double Dragon]]'' games for Million (a company composed of former [[Technōs Japan]] employees). Other notable titles include ''[[Snowboard Kids]]'' and ''[[Snowboard Kids 2]]'' (for [[Nintendo 64]]) and ''[[Odin Sphere]]'' and the ''[[Trauma Center (video game series)|Trauma Center]]'' series. Atlus USA released ''[[Riviera: The Promised Land]]'', a role-playing video game for the [[Game Boy Advance]] previously released for the [[Wonderswan Color]], in 2004 in collaboration with [[Sting Entertainment|Sting]] and [[Bandai]]. In 2006 Atlus USA and Sting released ''[[Yggdra Union]]'', a strategy role-playing game (RPG) for the [[Game Boy Advance]].<ref>{{cite web | year=2006 | title=RPGFan News – E3 2006 | url=http://rpgfan.com/news/2006/1237.html | access-date=10 September 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070918012144/http://rpgfan.com/news/2006/1237.html| archive-date= 18 September 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> After Working Designs' publication of ''[[Growlanser Generations]]'', they released ''[[Growlanser: Heritage of War]]'' in 2005 and ''[[Growlanser Wayfarer of Time]]'' in 2012.

The company established an online division, including the Atlus Online portal which is servicing ''[[Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent]]'' and ''[[Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine]]''.<ref name="kotaku" /> On 31 March 2013, Index Digital Media's Atlus Online Division was purchased by [[Marvelous AQL]] and transferred to [[Xseed Games]].<ref>[http://pdf.irpocket.com/C7844/qnwX/aBi7/kalD.pdf 当社子会社によるIndex Digital Media, Inc.（米国）のオンラインゲーム事業取得に関するお知らせ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105072247/http://pdf.irpocket.com/C7844/qnwX/aBi7/kalD.pdf |date=5 January 2014 }}</ref> Atlus USA has published games under the ''[[Marl Kingdom]]'' name, beginning with ''[[Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure]]'' in 2000.<ref name="Kalatamarl">{{cite web | title=Nippon Ichi| publisher=Hardcoregaming101.net | url=http://hardcoregaming101.net/nipponichi/nipponichi.htm | access-date=26 April 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100602140200/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/nipponichi/nipponichi.htm| archive-date= 2 June 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> On 18 February 2014 Sega announced that Index Digital Media would revert its name back to Atlus USA.<ref name="sega.co.jp" /> In March 2016, Sega announced that all the future localized products from Atlus for North America will be published by Sega.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/sega-finalises-purchase-of-persona-developer-atlus/0218664|title=Sega finalises purchase of Persona developer Atlus|first=Matthew|last=Jarvis|magazine=[[Develop (UK magazine)|Develop]]|date=1 April 2016|access-date=1 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406010639/http://www.develop-online.net/news/sega-finalises-purchase-of-persona-developer-atlus/0218664|archive-date=6 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/03/31/sega-is-now-publishing-atlus-usa-games-but-dont-worry.aspx|title=Sega Is Now Publishing Atlus U.S.A. Games, But Don't Worry|first=Mike|last=Futter|work=GameInformer|date=31 March 2016|access-date=2 February 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413104309/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/03/31/sega-is-now-publishing-atlus-usa-games-but-dont-worry.aspx|archive-date=13 April 2016}}</ref> Between 2019 and 2020, Atlus USA changed its public brand name to Atlus West.<ref name="West1">{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/persona-5-royal-announcement-coming-west-on-december-3-2019/|title=Persona 5 Royal Announcement Coming West On December 3, 2019|author=Sato, Ike|website=Siliconera|date=November 22, 2019|access-date=December 7, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207094245/https://www.siliconera.com/persona-5-royal-announcement-coming-west-on-december-3-2019/|archive-date=December 7, 2020}}</ref><ref name="West2">{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2019/12/sega-trademarks-persona-5-strikers-plus-other-japanese-trademarks|title=Sega trademarks Persona 5 Strikers, plus other Japanese trademarks|author=Romano, Sal|website=Gematsu|date=December 16, 2019|access-date=December 7, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035429/https://www.gematsu.com/2019/12/sega-trademarks-persona-5-strikers-plus-other-japanese-trademarks|archive-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref><ref name="West3">{{cite web|url=https://blog.playstation.com/2020/07/21/13-sentinels-aegis-rim-new-release-date-and-interview/|title=13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim — new release date and interview|author=Advincula, Ari|website=[[PlayStation Blog]]|date=July 21, 2020|access-date=July 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Europe and Oceania ===
Until 2017, Atlus did not have a dedicated European division for publishing and distributing their titles within the European and [[Oceania]] region. Instead, many of Atlus' titles were published in these regions by [[Nippon Ichi Software]] (NIS) and its American division NIS America. Following Atlus's acquisition by Sega Sammy Holdings, NIS found that it became more difficult to work between Sega and Atlus for distribution and in April 2016, formally ended its distribution partnership with Atlus.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.destructoid.com/nis-will-no-longer-publish-atlus-games-in-europe-oceania-357538.phtml | title = NIS will no longer publish Atlus games in Europe, Oceania | first = Kyle | last = MacGregor | date = 25 April 2016 | access-date = 6 July 2016 | work = [[Destructoid]] | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160701171417/https://www.destructoid.com/nis-will-no-longer-publish-atlus-games-in-europe-oceania-357538.phtml | archive-date = 1 July 2016}}</ref> In July 2016, [[Deep Silver]] announced that it had come to agreement to become Atlus' distributor for Europe and Oceania, and would begin to publish titles in both retail and digital form.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.destructoid.com/deep-silver-enters-publishing-agreement-with-atlus-in-europe-373434.phtml | title = Deep Silver enters publishing agreement with Atlus in Europe | first = Chris | last = Carter | date = 6 July 2016 | access-date = 6 July 2016 | work = [[Destructoid]] | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160706125741/https://www.destructoid.com/deep-silver-enters-publishing-agreement-with-atlus-in-europe-373434.phtml | archive-date = 6 July 2016}}</ref> In August 2017, Atlus announced that they had opened a European distribution team located in Sega Europe's offices in London that would publish all its games going forward.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlus establishes European publishing division|url=http://gematsu.com/2017/08/atlus-establishes-european-publishing-division|website=Gematsu|access-date=24 August 2017|date=24 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133939/http://gematsu.com/2017/08/atlus-establishes-european-publishing-division|archive-date=24 August 2017}}</ref>

== Corporate mascot ==
[[File:Atlus Jack Frost.png|thumb|Designed by [[Kazuma Kaneko]], Jack Frost has been Atlus' mascot since the character's inception in 1990.]]
[[Jack Frost]], who appears as a demon character in the ''Shin Megami Tensei'' franchise, is the company [[mascot]].<ref name="kotaku">{{cite web | title=Atlus Online Open For Business | publisher=Kotaku | url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/04/atlus-online-now-open-for-business/ | access-date=26 April 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114071930/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/04/atlus-online-now-open-for-business/ | archive-date=14 November 2010}}</ref> Resembling a [[snowman]], he has teeth, a tail and no nose, and wears a [[jester]] hat, collar, and shoes. His catchphrase is "Hee-Ho". He has appeared in several games in the ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' series, as well as the ''[[Jack Bros.]]'' and [[Persona (series)|Persona]] games. Jack Frost is a [[Alternate character|hidden character]] in the [[North America]]n and Japanese versions of ''[[SBK: Snowboard Kids]]'', with a larger role in the Japanese version. He has a family; more relatives were created since ''[[Shin Megami Tensei II]]'', including King Frost, Jack-O-Lantern (Known as "Pyro Jack" in some localizations), Frost 5 Senshi, and Black Frost.

== Animation based on Atlus games ==
* ''Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku''
* ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (TV Series)''
* ''[[Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children]]''
* ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children 2 Light & Dark''
* ''[[Devil Survivor 2: The Animation]]''
* ''[[Persona: Trinity Soul]]''
* ''[[Persona 4: The Animation]]''
* ''[[Persona 4: The Golden Animation]]''
* ''[[Persona 3 The Movie: No. 1, Spring of Birth|Persona 3 The Movie: #1 Spring of Birth]]''
* ''[[Persona 3 The Movie: No. 2, Midsummer Knight's Dream|Persona 3 The Movie: #2 Midsummer Knight's Dream]]''
* ''[[Persona 3 The Movie: No. 3, Falling Down|Persona 3 The Movie: #3 Falling Down]]''
* ''[[Persona 3 The Movie: No. 4, Winter of Rebirth|Persona 3 The Movie: #4 Winter of Rebirth]]''
* ''[[Persona 5: The Animation – The Day Breakers]]''
* ''[[Persona 5: The Animation]]''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category}}

{{Atlus}}
{{Sega}}
{{Sega Sammy Holdings}}
{{Sega Sammy franchises}}
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[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1986]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 2013]]
[[Category:Amusement companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Software companies based in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1986]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2013]]
[[Category:Re-established companies]]
[[Category:Sega divisions and subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Video game companies of Japan]]
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