Way of the Samurai Devs Acquire and Red Dunes Team Up for New IPs
▼ Summary
– Red Dunes Games and Acquire Corp. announced a multi-year partnership to collaborate on original IPs, blending Acquire’s craftsmanship with a global creative vision.
– Three initial projects were revealed: Project Tremor (kaiju battles), Project Umbra (dark fantasy hunts), and Project Shadowcar (spy thriller), all premium console/PC releases.
– The games will debut globally, with world premieres planned for events like Tokyo Game Show.
– Acquire, known for Tenchu and Mario & Luigi: Brothership, was acquired by Kadokawa in 2024, while Red Dunes Games launched in 2024 and has yet to release a title.
– Both studios emphasized the partnership’s global focus, aiming to create innovative, border-crossing gaming experiences.
A major collaboration between Japanese game developer Acquire and UAE-based Red Dunes Games promises to deliver fresh, globally appealing titles across multiple genres. The partnership brings together Acquire’s decades of experience in crafting cult classics like Way of the Samurai and Tenchu with Red Dunes’ ambitious vision for boundary-pushing game design.
Three new projects are already in the works under this alliance. Project Tremor will pit players against towering kaiju in city-leveling battles, while Project Umbra dives into dark fantasy with intense monster-hunting gameplay. Meanwhile, Project Shadowcar takes a sharp turn into the world of espionage with a gripping spy thriller narrative. All three titles are slated as premium console and PC releases, with plans to debut them at major industry events like the Tokyo Game Show.
Acquire, now under Kadokawa Corporation, the parent company of FromSoftware, has a storied history in RPGs, most recently developing Mario & Luigi: Brothership for Nintendo Switch. On the other side, Red Dunes Games is a relatively new player, having launched in late 2024 with an intriguing lineup that includes the puzzle-driven Princess of the Water Lilies and the atmospheric Metroidvania Zozo and the Lost Dreams.
Sultan Darmaki, CEO and creative director of Red Dunes, emphasized the significance of this cross-border partnership. “Acquire’s legacy in innovative game design is unmatched, and together, we’re crafting experiences that resonate worldwide,” he said. “This collaboration proves that creativity thrives when diverse perspectives come together.”
Echoing this sentiment, Acquire’s CEO Takuma Endo highlighted the studio’s excitement about working with an international partner. “Originality has always been at the heart of our games,” he noted. “With Red Dunes, we’re pushing beyond regional boundaries to create something truly groundbreaking for players everywhere.”
The partnership signals a growing trend of studios bridging geographical divides to produce games with broader appeal. With both teams bringing distinct strengths to the table, fans can expect bold, high-quality experiences that blend Japanese craftsmanship with a fresh, global perspective.
(Source: Games Industry)