Virtuos’ commitment to Japan’s game industry is underscored by its collaboration with renowned developers such as Square Enix, spanning a remarkable 14-year history working on titles including Final Fantasy X/X-2, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, and NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition.
Heading Virtuos Tokyo is Pierre Guijarro, General Manager, boasting over 15 years of experience in game production acquired at studios like 2K and Koei Tecmo. His portfolio includes contributions to AAA titles such as NBA 2K19, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, and Dead or Alive 5.
The studio’s launch was officially disclosed during an exclusive media event hosted by Virtuos on September 21, coinciding with the Tokyo Game Show 2023. Pierre Guijarro remarked during the event:
“Japan has always been a key global game hub, and it is a particularly exciting time for Virtuos to expand our presence and in-market capabilities, given the increasing demand in Asia for creative game design – such as levels, quests, downloadable content (DLC) – and adaptation services. Our team is looking forward to supporting Japanese developers on both creative and technical needs and contributing to the continual growth of the local games industry.”
Virtuos Tokyo was established to understand Japanese clients’ unique market, cultural, and production requirements, offering ideation support and tailored solutions alongside efficient project management. The studio’s team comprises experts in distributed development, proficient in Japanese and English, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration with Japanese developers. This is further enhanced by access to Virtuos’ extensive game production capabilities, supported by a global network of over 3,500 employees across its studios.
Key members of Virtuos Tokyo include Ryo Nakagawa, Head of Production, and Ryo Arai, Business Development Manager, each bringing over a decade of experience in the game industry. The studio will maintain its partnership with Kyos, a consultancy firm representing Virtuos in Japan for business development since 2009.
As part of its expansion plans, Virtuos Tokyo aims to grow its team by the end of 2024 and is actively recruiting for senior positions in game design and technical art. This strategic move builds upon Virtuos’ continuous global expansion efforts, marked by the establishment of Virtuos Labs in Prague, Warsaw, and Montpellier and the opening of studios in Kuala Lumpur and Dalat within the past year.
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