There was a lot of speculation over who would purchase Index Holdings, the parent company of Atlus, and many even speculated that Nintendo would be at the top of that list due to a strong relationship including the recent Shin Megami Tensei / Fire Emblem collaboration. However, that spectacular scenario was not to be. Sega Sammy has been confirmed to purchase Index Holdings for a reported ¥14 billion (roughly $141 million USD... IE less than the budget of GTA V), giving them full control over Atlus and all of their many properties. What does this mean for Nintendo fans?.


Atlus has many well known franchises, including Shin Megami Tensei, Etrian Odyssey, Trauma Center and more, with the summer 2013 release of Shin Megami Tensei IV on the 3DS as their latest Nintendo platform release.

What do you think? Good news? Bad news? Just news?

UPDATE: Sega had this to say: Although it’s been reported that this firm’s subsidiary Sega has bought Index Corporation, this has not been officially announced by the company. Maybe not quite official yet?

ANOTHER UPDATE: It is now official.

SOURCE: Nikkei.Com

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Just news. hopefully they don't ruin the good things about Atlus.

Posted by

Wellsy529

on: 09/18/13, 08:15

I kind of feel like... only $141 million? Nintendo should have jumped on this! They could have had Atlus for $150 million maybe?! Could you imagine that?

Posted by

Zero

on: 09/18/13, 08:56

Purchased by a company that is notorious for sitting on all of its great IP and doing nothing with it. Not exactly spectacular news then, yeah.

Posted by

Hinph

on: 09/18/13, 09:53

Word from Sega: Although it’s been reported that this firm’s subsidiary Sega has bought Index Corporation, this has not been officially announced by the company.

Posted by

Zero

on: 09/18/13, 10:05

And now it is official.

Posted by

Zero

on: 09/18/13, 10:44

It's too soon to say whether this will be good or bad, or even if it will have any significant effect on Atlus. I hope it doesn't hamper the chances of further Atlus games being localized, but there isn't much more to be said at this time.

Posted by

X-pert74

on: 09/18/13, 10:46

Too soon to tell how this will turn out. If Sega's recent attempts to go with safe ideas only extends to Atlus then it could be a very bad thing.

Posted by

DeputyVanHalen

on: 09/18/13, 15:31

Huh, I was hoping for a Nintendo take-over. Sega is good too I guess.

Posted by

anon_mastermind

on: 09/18/13, 18:41

So how much creative control does this give Sega Sammy realistically? Is it more like a silent partner, upper management decisions as to what IPs move forward or producer level control over each project direction and content. What is the norm?

Posted by

vids

on: 09/18/13, 19:37

I honestly had no idea SEGA had that kind of cash to work with. I guess the Pachinko business has done well for them...!

So. What's the next move? Nintendo to buy SEGA?

Posted by

GameDadGrant

on: 09/18/13, 19:48

Another thing that could be really good would be using Atlus to bring back Sega properties like a traditional Phantasy Star or Skies of Arcadia. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be awesome.

Posted by

DeputyVanHalen

on: 09/18/13, 19:56

@DeputyVanHalen
Shining Force!

Posted by

vids

on: 09/18/13, 19:59

@vids
That too.

Posted by

DeputyVanHalen

on: 09/18/13, 20:01

@DeputyVanHalen Good point, that would be awesome. I mean, Sega just bought some real talent, something they are kind of lacking lately. Except they HAD talent and restructured it into oblivion, hopefully they don't do that again.

Posted by

Zero

on: 09/18/13, 21:33

SEGA good. Atlus good. Sammy bad.

Posted by

kriswright

on: 09/18/13, 21:36

I have no idea what this means.

I want to play Ogre Battle.

Posted by

Mr_Mustache

on: 09/19/13, 01:55

Please protect Etrian Odyssey!!!

Posted by

Chocobo_Rider

on: 09/19/13, 02:07

We'll see what comes of this, but hopefully they still let Atlus do whatever they want. This is better than if a platform holder bought them, but it's unfortunate that they had to be bought to begin with and hopefully they can continue making their games as usual.

Posted by

Mop it up

on: 09/19/13, 03:00

Seems... unpromising.

Well, the crossovers might be fun. And both companies are fairly Nintendo-friendly.

Posted by

Anand

on: 09/19/13, 05:02

kriswright said:

SEGA good. Atlus good. Sammy bad.

Pretty much this. Sammy ruined everything with their hostile takeover of Sega.

I still like to imagine a world where Sega and Namco merged like they should have.

Posted by

Hinph

on: 09/19/13, 13:01