The gaming industry is packed with numerous companies, but one that stands out is “OneorEight.” Based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, this company not only plans, develops, and publishes games but also manages a virtual YouTuber agency.

However, the path they have taken has been anything but smooth. True to the name “OneorEight” (all or nothing), they have overcome numerous challenges. This time, we will explore the appeal of OneorEight and the journey of their challenges.

OneorEight's founder, Issei Komura, was once a founding member of Imageepoch. However, due to conflicts with the management, he left the company, marking the start of his new challenge.

In April 2012, Komura founded OneorEight. However, due to a lack of funds, they had to give up their office and faced near bankruptcy. At that time, a tax accountant's office run by an acquaintance came to their aid. With support from the Japan Finance Corporation, they secured a loan and managed to continue their business.

However, with no office, they had to find an alternative workspace—and they chose a park. They began development in an unprecedented way, creating games in a park with a MacBook in hand. Even so, they never gave up and kept moving forward.

A major turning point for OneorEight came when NHN JAPAN commissioned them for a development project. They were entrusted with developing the game “Aozora no Kizuna”, based on the popular anime “Strike Witches 2”. This finally allowed them to establish an office.

However, this success was short-lived, as they had to leave the office once the project ended. Around this time, former Imageepoch employees, facing their own company’s crisis, expressed their desire to work at OneorEight, bringing in new talent.

Additionally, they received an offer from Artdink: “Why not use our building's basement?” This led them to relocate to the Wise Building in Tsukishima. Despite difficult circumstances, they continued seizing opportunities.

In 2015, OneorEight spun off its development division as “Studio OneorEight,” shifting its focus to publishing and distribution.

They then released their in-house developed title “EARTH WARS” for PS4 and Xbox One. The game later launched on Nintendo Switch, offered at an astonishingly low price of 500 yen. This pricing strategy proved successful, sparking buzz among players.

OneorEight is involved not only in their own titles but also in the development of major games. They have contributed to iconic Japanese games such as TYPE-MOON’s “Fate/Grand Order” and Square Enix’s “Final Fantasy VII Remake”.

These achievements demonstrate that they are not just an indie development company but a highly skilled and creative studio.

In September 2023, OneorEight reintegrated Studio OneorEight, marking a fresh start under the unified OneorEight name. This restructure allowed them to handle everything from development to publishing in-house.

Having overcome hardships since their founding, OneorEight is now capable of working on major titles. Their journey of challenges continues. What new works will they create next? Expectations are high for their future endeavors!

The story of OneorEight is truly a series of “all or nothing” challenges. A small studio that started in a park has now grown to be involved in industry-leading projects. What will their next move be? Keep an eye on them!