EVO 2022: Arc System Works Wants to Be Less Passive With IP Collaborations
Arc System Works makes some of the best fighting games in the business. From Dragon Ball FighterZ to Guilty Gear Strive to the recently released DNF Duel, there’s no shortage of great fighting games coming out of the studio.
Beyond well-known titles like Dragon Ball FighterZ, however, the studio’s offerings are relatively niche when traveling outside of hardcore fighting game audiences, especially in the West.Kidooka, CEO of Arc System Works Minoru wants to change that.
At EVO 2022, IGN spoke with Kidooka. Kidooka said in the past he has been very reluctant about collaborating with other of his IP, with IP owners providing them with collaboration offers. Kidooka wants to change his attitude. Going forward, Kidooka said the studio will be less passive when pursuing partnership opportunities. Specifically, Kidooka wants Arc System Works to create games that resonate with Western audiences. It remains to be seen if that means a license with global appeal like Dragon Ball, or if it means collaborating with a franchise originating in the West.
“We need to expand the fighting [game] “We will actively pursue collaborations with new IP owners should such opportunities arise in the future.”
In the long term, Kidooka’s dream is to develop a new IP for Arc System Works, planned and developed in the United States.
Beyond Dragon Ball, Arc System Works has worked with various IP owners in the past on games featuring Granblue, Persona, One Piece, and more. But the studio’s next step is to partner with companies to create new fighting games featuring characters with western appeal.
But even as partnership interest grows, Arc System Works isn’t going to leave the original franchise behind. Guilty Gear Strive is still early in its life cycle, but what about BlazBlue?
“I have a plan,” Kidooka said. His top priority is his Guilty Gear Strive expansion, but more than that, he’s also always thinking about a new generation of fighting games, and BlazBlue could be a part of it. In addition, BlazBlue’s IP has many possibilities in genres other than fighting games.
For more fighting game news from EVO, check out SNK’s latest Fatal Fury game announcement, Dragon Ball FighterZ’s rollback netcode, and PlayStation’s EVO survey on NFTs.
