A major Koei Tecmo restructuring is set for April 1, shifting internal teams and rebranding departments to simplify the company’s global operations.
Key Takeaways
- Team NINJA Shift: Part of the Team NINJA staff is officially joining the Gust brand.
- Studio Expansion: Gust is gaining a second division, while Team NINJA is splitting its remaining staff into two units.
- Global Focus: Departments are being rebranded to highlight Koei Tecmo’s push into international markets.
- Effective Date: All changes go into effect on April 1, 2026.
The Developer Swap: Team NINJA and Gust
The biggest news involves a talent shift between two of the company’s most famous brands. As part of this Koei Tecmo restructuring, the group known as Team NINJA Division 1 is moving over to the Gust brand, where they will be renamed Gust Division 2.
This is the specific team responsible for DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme Venus Vacation and the co-development of Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator. Since they have already been working closely with Gust on the Atelier series, the move is a natural fit.
To keep things moving at Team NINJA, the remaining staff in Division 2 will be split into two brand-new units: the “new” Team NINJA Division 1 and Team NINJA Division 2.
Rebranding for the International Market
The Koei Tecmo restructuring also updates corporate titles to reflect a heavier focus on players outside of Japan. Many departments are adding “Global” to their names to show they are thinking bigger:
- IP Business will become the Global IP Business division.
- Marketing Division is changing to the Global Marketing Division.
- The Global Marketing Department and Global Business Department are also getting simpler, more direct names: the Marketing Department and the Business Development Department.
A New Hub for Business
Finally, the company is launching a dedicated Business Division. This new branch will take over promotional and business tasks that were previously handled by the marketing team.
Koei Tecmo is cleaning house and streamlining its structure. By grouping teams based on their specific strengths and global goals, they are positioning themselves to handle their growing lineup of international hits more efficiently.
