is a Japanese video game developer and

publisher Publishing is the activities of making information, literature, music, software, and other content, physical or digital, available to the public for sale or free of charge. Traditionally, the term publishing refers to the creation and distribu ...

. They are primarily known for hosting the Japanese server of '' Ragnarok Online'' (developed by its listed Korean subsidiary Gravity), as well as their development of '' Ragnarok DS'' for the Nintendo DS. More recently, the company has reported huge financial success thanks to its mobile game '' Puzzle & Dragons'', which, in 2013, was reportedly responsible for 91% of the company's $1.6 billion revenues for the year.

History

The company was established as ONSale Co., Ltd. on July 1, 1998, as a joint venture between Softbank and onSale Inc. to engage in the online interactive auction business in the US. *In 2000, the company moved its headquarters to Chiyoda,

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

and changed its focus to providing auction systems, etc. using ASP. *In 2002, the company once again changed its focus, this time to Online Game Services. Primarily hosting the Japanese server of '' Ragnarok Online''. *In 2004 the company began joint development of online games with Game Arts Co., Ltd. *In March 2005, the company was listed on the Hercules Nippon New Market. *In August 2005, the company invested in G-Mode Co., Ltd. a game manufacturer for mobile phones. *In December 2005, the MMORPG developed by GungHo, '' Emil Chronicle Online'', was officially released. *In August 2006, they completed the contract to distribute '' Ragnarok Online II''. *In October 2007, GungHo Works, Inc., behind the development of '' Ragnarok DS'', was established. *In November 2007, the company acquired the video game assets of Interchannel from

Index Corporation , formerly known as , is a Japanese corporate information and communications technology company owned by Sawada Holdings. "Index Corporation" was a corporate name used by three different Japanese companies, between 1997 and 2016, the last one b ...

. *In April 2008, Gravity Co., Ltd. was acquired as a subsidiary. *In January 2013, GungHo acquired Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind titles such as '' Killer7'', the '' No More Heroes'' franchise and '' Lollipop Chainsaw''. *On June 3, 2016, Softbank agreed to sell most of its stake in GungHo (approximately 23.47%) for about $685 million, which would end Softbank's majority ownership of the company, resulting in Gungho no longer being an associate of Softbank. The offer was accepted by Gungho and completed by June 22, thus allowing Gungho to become an independent company. *In October 2021, GungHo sold Grasshopper Manufacture to

NetEase NetEase, Inc. () is a Chinese Internet technology company founded by Ding Lei in June 1997. It provides online services with content, community, communications, and commerce. The company develops and operates online PC and mobile games, adverti ...

. *In February 2024, GungHo sold Acquire Corp. to Kadokawa Corporation.

Games

Active online games

*'' TEPPEN'' (July 4, 2019) *'' Ragnarok Online'' (December 1, 2001) *''Tantra'' (March 10, 2004) *'' Emil Chronicle Online'' (August 1, 2005) *'' Hiten Online'' (April 19, 2007) *'' ROSE Online'' (March 26, 2009) *''Lucent Heart'' (2009) *''Blade Chronicle'' (2009) *'' Ragnarok DS'' (February 1, 2010) *''Eternal City 2'' (June 23, 2010) *''Divina'' (September 9, 2010) *'' Grand Fantasia'' *'' ROSE Online'' *''Le Ciel Bleu'' *''Toy Wars'' *''Fishdom: Seasons under the Sea'' *'' Puzzle & Dragons'' *''Summons Board'' *''Chrono Ma:Gia'' (2018) *''Ragnarok Mobile'' (2019) *''Ninjala'' (2020)

Inactive online games

*'' Survival Project'' (June 29, 2004 - August 31, 2006) *''A3'' (October 15, 2004 - November 1, 2007) *'' Saiyuki Reload Gunlock'' (September 1, 2004 - January 31, 2006) *''Squirrel Pot 2'' (May 25, 2004 - December 28, 2007) *''eXtreme Soccer'' (β August 11, 2006 – 2008) *'' Mahjong'' (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008) *''Koi Koi Playing Cards'' (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008) *'' Poker'' (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008) *''Millionaire'' (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008) *'' Shanghai'' (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008) *''Chat'' (May 31, 2007 - March 26, 2008) *'' Ragnarok Online II'' (β May 28, 2007 - August 2010) *''Pachinko Slot'' (September 6, 2007 - November 4, 2008) *''Hakenden'' (June 4, 2008 - October 29, 2008) *'' Yogurting'' (September 1, 2005 - May, 2010) *'' Tetris Online'' (October 23, 2007 - July 5, 2011) *'' Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine'' (June 26, 2007 - May, 2016) *'' Grandia Online'' (August 26, 2009 - September 28, 2012)

PC

*'' Grandia II: Anniversary Edition'' *'' Let It Die'' *'' Grandia HD Collection'' ('' Grandia'' & '' Grandia II'' Remaster) *'' Lunar Remastered Collection ( Lunar: Silver Star Story & Lunar: Eternal Blue Remaster)'' *''The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter''

PlayStation 2

*''Nadepro!!: Kisama mo Seiyū Yattemiro!''

PlayStation Portable

*''Solfege: Sweet Harmony'' *'' Mimana Iyar Chronicle'' *'' Cho Aniki Zero'' *''P.W: Project Witch'' *'' Lunar: Silver Star Harmony'' *'' Ragnarok Tactics''

PlayStation 3

*'' Ragnarok Odyssey Ace''

PlayStation Vita

*'' Ragnarok Odyssey'' *'' Ragnarok Odyssey Ace'' *''Picotto Knights'' *'' Dokuro''

PlayStation 4

*'' Let It Die'' * '' Grandia HD Collection'' ('' Grandia'' & '' Grandia II'' Remaster) * '' Lunar Remastered Collection ( Lunar: Silver Star Story & Lunar: Eternal Blue Remaster)''

PlayStation 5

* ''The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter''

Nintendo DS

*'' Otometeki Koi Kakumei Love Revo!!'' *''Nakamura Tooru Kanshuu: India Shiki Keisan Drill DS'' (''The Method of Indian Calculation'') *''Aquazone DS'' *'' Ragnarok DS'' *'' Hero's Saga Laevatein Tactics'' *''Minna de Jibun no Setsumeisho: B-Gata, A-Gata, AB-Gata, O-Gata'' *''Ecolis: Aoi Umi to Ugoku Shima''

Nintendo 3DS

* '' Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition'' * '' Puzzle & Dragons X'' (Japan only)

Nintendo Switch

* '' Grandia HD Collection'' ('' Grandia'' & '' Grandia II'' Remaster) * '' Puzzle & Dragons Gold'' * '' Ninjala'' * ''Volta-X'' * '' Galak-Z: Variant S'' * '' Lunar Remastered Collection ( Lunar: Silver Star Story & Lunar: Eternal Blue Remaster)'' * ''The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter''

Xbox One

* '' Grandia HD Collection'' ('' Grandia'' & '' Grandia II'' Remaster) * ''Lunar Remastered Collection ( Lunar: Silver Star Story & Lunar: Eternal Blue Remaster)''

Mobile

*Teppen (Battle Project) *'' Ragnarok Online'' *''Casino Komodo'' *''Puzzles and Dragons'' *''Yo-kai Watch World'' * '' Galak-Z: Variant Mobile'' * ''Disney Pixel RPG''

References

External links

* * {{SoftBank Japanese brands Japanese companies established in 1998 SoftBank Group Software companies based in Tokyo Video game companies established in 1998 Video game companies of Japan Video game development companies Video game publishers