BlazBlue series creator and Guilty Gear director Toshimichi Mori and former Marvelous (Senran Kagura, God Eater 3) executive Toshinori Aoki have formed “Studio Flare,” a Tokyo-based video game studio focused on developing console games with funding from NetEase Games (Naraka: Bladepoint, Diablo Immortal). The studio is “focusing on console games,” and is now hiring for multiple creative and development positions to create “unique games that are conscious of Asia and the rest of the world.”
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Hi! Today, we are announcing the establishment of our new studio, STUDIO FLARE, in Tokyo, Japan.
Our new adventure starts from TODAY!!Twitter JP/EN@JP_studioflare / @EN_studioflare
mori Twitter@zatuyoP pic.twitter.com/W6Q9digAEg
— EN_studioflare (@EN_studioflare) February 28, 2023
With the creation of the BlazBlue series and directorial work on Guilty Gear under his belt, Mori left Arc System Works after nearly two decades at the company last September. Meanwhile, Sega alum and Marvelous Entertainment Executive Vice President Aoki also recently left his role at the company, and the two have now joined forces to create Studio Flare with its first office under construction near Gotanda Station in Tokyo. Aoki will serve as Studio Flare’s president and CEO, while Mori has assumed the role of development producer and executive vice president.
Game development at the studio “is centered on Mori,” who is seeking to create “unique games that are conscious of Asia and the rest of the world.” The studio has not yet announced its first project, but is currently hiring 2D and 3D artists (with Unreal Engine experience) as well as server and infrastructure engineers. With Mori leading development, it is fairly likely that any project from the team will be grounded in his past experience in creating fighting games.
For more information, head on over to Studio Flare’s official website (in Japanese), and stay tuned here at MP1st for all upcoming announcements from the studio.