Konami acquires Hudson

By GamesIndustry International Published 12 April, 2005

To check those corners, presumably.

In a statement issued on its Japanese website, publishing and development giant Konami has announced its decision to purchase 3 million new shares in Hudson Soft, giving it a majority shareholding in the ailing developer.

The move will make Hudson into a subsidiary of Konami, who will oversee reorganisation plans within the company.

Hudson Soft co-founder Hiroshi Kudo resigned from the company last November after reports predicted a loss of 7.3 billion yen ($69 million) for the financial year ending March 31 2005.

The developer approached Konami for assistance, who responded by accepting a third party allotment of 3 million new shares at a cost of 1.43 billion yen ($13.26 million) - raising its ownership percentage from 45% to 54%.

The company "expects its acquisition of additional shares will strengthen Hudson's net worth and will support and enhance its organisation."

Hudson Soft employs 530 staff and is best known for creating the highly successful Bomberman series. The developer also recently produced Rengoku: Tower of Purgatory for the PSP. Nintendo owns a 1.23% share in the company.

Konami also owns significant stakes in other Japanese development studios including Atlus and Takara.

Picture of GamesIndustry.

About GamesIndustry International

GamesIndustry International is the world's leading games industry website, incorporating GamesIndustry.biz and IndustryGamers.com.

Read more articles from GamesIndustry by visiting the GamesIndustry International archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (14) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Tweakmonkey #1 7 years ago

    Hudson is dead. Long live Konami ;-)

  • Blerk #2 7 years ago

    Tip - we don't want any of the following:

    Bomberman in 3D
    Bomberman in 4D
    Bomberman in Karts
    Bomberman playing various sports
    Bomberman FPS
    Bomberman platformer
    Bomberman pr0n

    We do want:
    Bomberman, like it used to be before it was ruined!

  • Natalio #3 7 years ago

    Konami: the Japanese EA.

  • tengu #4 7 years ago

    Bill Paxton? What are Konami gonna do with him?

  • Ed_209uk #5 7 years ago

    Another 'Aliens' fan! Slap me some skin! [high fives]

    "We're on an express elevator to hell - going down!"

  • Galvanizer #6 7 years ago

    Konami: the Japanese EA.

    Totally agree with that comment!

  • toy_brain #7 7 years ago

    IIRC Konami published Hudson's Bloody Roar 4 in Europe a while back.

    Though thats probably the worst Bloody Roar game in the series.
    .....
    ........
    ....
    I have absolutely no idea why I decided to point that out.

  • PinkSpider #8 7 years ago

    But didnt Hudson ask for help? Not like it was the kind of hostile take over EA go for. Also Konami make games that appeal to the hardcore (yes I know they appeal to the causals aswell but I dunno where im going with this) unlike many of EAs games which are usually aimed at everyone/ casual shits.

    Yes. Also note I hate almost all Konami games myself.

  • Corben_Dallas #9 7 years ago

    "Stay frosty people.....watch those corners".
    ----
    "I say the only way to be sure is take off and nuke em from space"
    "Fcukin A MAN! Fuc*in A!!"

    Cool B-)

  • toy_brain #10 7 years ago

    "Why don't they do a Bloody Roar UK edition in which Disckens-esque cockneys, posh blokes in bowler hats"

    Well there was a bloke in a bowler hat in the first Bloody Roar game -turned into a big ol' munkee an all.
    Sadly, he was one of the (many) characters that were ditched for BR2.
    Edited by toy_brain at 12/04/05 @ 17:14

  • Tweakmonkey #11 7 years ago

    Konami: the Japanese EA.

    You're having a laugh surely? Konami has produced some of the most inspirational games ever. Unlike EA.

  • malloc #12 7 years ago

    Didn't the Mario Party games do well?

  • President_Weasel #13 7 years ago

    "We got tactical smart missiles, base plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks..."

    no, wait, we've just got bombs.

  • Natalio #14 7 years ago

    "You're having a laugh surely? Konami has produced some of the most inspirational games ever. Unlike EA. "

    Surely you mean Rumble Roses.