Mario and Luigi: Brothership Developer Acquire Explained

Mario and Luigi: Brothership Developer Acquire Explained

As a gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that the announcement of Mario & Luigi: Brothership has me both excited and intrigued. It’s been a while since we last saw a new installment in this beloved RPG series, and the fact that it’s now moving to the Switch and featuring full 3D visuals is nothing short of enticing.


Among the major games unveiled during June’s Nintendo Direct was a new installment called “Mario & Luigi: Bros’ Journey“. As it had been close to a decade since the last release in the Mario & Luigi series, the sudden announcement of this upcoming game took many dedicated fans aback. Set for launch on November 7, 2024, “Mario & Luigi: Bros’ Journey” marks a fresh beginning for Nintendo’s cherished RPG series as it’s the first Mario & Luigi game designed for home consoles like the Switch. Since earlier games in the franchise were made for less powerful handheld devices, “Bros’ Journey” will also introduce 3D visuals for the first time in the series, placing it on par with its contemporary Mario RPG counterparts such as Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario.

In a shift from previous Mario & Luigi adventures, the team behind the latest installment, “Mario & Luigi: Brothership”, hails from a different developer. For years, every game in this beloved series was crafted by AlphaDream, a Japanese studio formed by ex-SquareSoft members. They dedicated their talents to designing games primarily for Nintendo handhelds. Sadly, the 2019 release of “Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Insider Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey” didn’t meet commercial success, leading AlphaDream to file for bankruptcy in that same year. As a result, the development of “Mario & Luigi: Brothership” is now under the supervision of Acquire, a fresh face in the series.

The Mario & Luigi: Brothership Developers Have Worked On Many Different Games in the Past

Acquire is Best Known for Its Work On Franchises Like Octopath Traveler, Tenchu, and More

This lesser-known Tokyo developer, Acquire, has a rich legacy in the video game world, dating back nearly 30 years to its establishment in 1994. Over the past two decades, it has produced over 40 games spanning various genres. Although it’s now mainly recognized for its Octopath Traveler series, Acquire first gained prominence by creating the popular Tenchu franchise.

If you’re unfamiliar, the “Tenchu” series is a collection of stealth games set in Sengoku-era Japan. You take on the role of skilled ninjas in these games. The first game in this franchise was Acquire’s initial release, titled “Tenchu: Stealth Assassins,” launched in 1998. Following the success of this game, Acquire developed two additional installments, named “Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins” and “Tenchu: Shadow Assassins.

Following the release of Tenchu 2 in 2000, Acquire, a studio I admire deeply, crafted another masterpiece titled Way of the Samurai. This action-adventure gem, set in 19th century Japan, stood out among its peers due to its remarkable focus on player autonomy, both in storytelling and gameplay. Released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, it garnered enough success to birth three sequels, all of which graced the gaming world during the seventh and eighth console generations.

Akiba’s Trip, Rain, and Shinobido are Just Some of the Other, Lesser-Known Games Acquire Made

Apart from the popular franchises like Tenchu, Octopath Traveler, and Way of the Samurai, Acquire has also developed other series. These include the humorous Real-Time Strategy game What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord?, the quirky action-adventure series Akiba’s Trip, and the stealth games under the Shinobido brand. It’s worth noting that these aren’t as widely recognized as their more famous counterparts. Additionally, Acquire has also ventured into standalone releases, such as Rain (a 2013 exclusive for PS3) and Aegis of Earth: Protonovus Assault (a 2015 Real-Time Strategy title).

Acquire Mostly Works on Smaller Titles, But Mario & Luigi: Brothership is One of Its Bigger Games

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to share that after being part of GungHo Entertainment for over a decade, Acquire has been acquired by Kadokawa Corporation. Now, as a subsidiary of a media powerhouse like Kadokawa, which owns giants such as FromSoftware and Spike Chunsoft, Acquire is currently focusing on smaller-scale projects. This year alone, they’ve released games like “Scars of Mars,” “Ancient Weapon Holly,” “Amedama,” and “Hookah Haze,” with “Mario & Luigi: Brothership” being the notable AAA game set for release in 2024.

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2024-10-24 14:03