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Crunchyroll, Sumitomo Team With GREE to Localize Anime-Based Games (Updated With Video)

Crunchyroll, Sumitomo Corporation, and GREE announced on Friday that they have signed an agreement for the localization and distribution of games based on anime for North America and other overseas markets. The first project will be to release the Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? -- MEMORIA FREESE -- (Dan-Memo) smartphone game in early 2018.

GREE's Wright Flyer Studios developed Dan-Memo and launched it in Japan for iOS and Android devices on June 19. For the overseas release, GREE will manage copyrights and planning, development, and operation for the game, while Crunchyroll and Sumitomo will localize, distribute, and promote the game.

The game combines visual novel elements telling an original story with party-based RPG exploration and battle. The game also offers an "interaction mode" where players can talk to the characters in the game and change their clothes. J.C. Staff collaborated on the game.

Crunchyroll announced a joint venture to co-produce anime with Sumitomo Corporation in 2015. The joint venture company has since invested in more than two dozen anime productions.

Sumitomo is also partnering with The Chernin Group. The Chernin Group acquired a majority stake in Crunchyroll in December 2013. The Chernin Group and AT&T formed the joint venture Otter Media in 2014, and it operates Crunchyroll's parent company Ellation.

As of February, Crunchyroll's streaming service has reached more than one million subscribers. The site also has more than 20 million registered users. In July, Crunchyroll announced a partnership with NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan to co-develop new anime titles. Crunchyroll is also partnering with Funimation to cross-stream anime content and to offer titles on home video via Funimation.

Source: Crunchyroll (Humberto Saabedra)

Update: Crunchyroll began streaming a trailer for Dan-Memo: