When people hear about the game industry, they tend to notice flashy titles or famous series, but behind the scenes, there are makers who have captured fans' hearts with a “craftsmanship-like” development style. That name is “SystemSoft beta.” While some might not recognize the name, this company is a prestigious name in strategy simulation games, known to those in the know. They previously operated under the name “SystemSoft Alpha,” and tracing their roots leads back to “SystemSoft,” a presence that supported the dawn of PC gaming. This company is an existence that has walked the very “lineage” of the game industry itself.

Founded in April 1999. Born as “Alpha Shock Co., Ltd.,” this company was not specialized in games from the start, but was characterized by a multifaceted approach that included the planning and development of character goods. However, a turning point came in 2001. They inherited the game business from “SystemSoft,” which was undergoing management restructuring, and changed their name to “SystemSoft Alpha.” At this time, they took over the entire development department and restarted as the Fukuoka branch. In a form that inherited the business along with its DNA, their challenge began in a new style while maintaining the power to create masterpieces. This stance of succession is attractive, making one feel a sense of corporate “aesthetics.”

Time passed, and in January 2020, they became a subsidiary of Nippon Ichi Software and made a fresh start as “SystemSoft beta.” At this stage, they officially succeeded the game software business, stepping away from the traditional computer game business, but this was not an end; rather, it may have been a “quiet preparation” for the next stage. Such flexible management decisions can be called wise choices to protect brand value while reading the trends of the times.

The greatest charm of SystemSoft beta lies in its stance of emphasizing “principled game creation” over standing out. Because they continued to create titles that convey solid strategy and historical backgrounds without being swept away by trends, they have deep trust from core fans. Even now, while carrying on that flow, one cannot help but feel a “true craftsman's soul” in game development in their attitude of quietly trying to open up new horizons.

SystemSoft beta has certainly not walked a mainstream path. However, to that extent, they have pierced through with an original philosophy and sent out a group of works that stimulate the intellectual curiosity of players. Expectations gather for future developments, and each step seems to tell of the depth of the game industry. A company that remains in memory quietly but surely—that is SystemSoft beta.