Comcept, the Japanese video game developer founded by industry veteran Keiji Inafune in December 2010, has been officially dissolved by a shareholders' resolution as of January 13, 2026.
The formal announcement was published in Japan's government gazette Kanpo, marking the end of an eventful chapter in Japanese game development.
Comcept was best known for its troubled yet ambitious release, Mighty No.
9, which debuted on multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch via the eShop, after an initially successful Kickstarter campaign.
The company also contributed to the development of critically discussed titles such as Soul Sacrifice and ReCore.
Prior to establishing Comcept, Keiji Inafune was deeply involved at Capcom, playing key roles in iconic franchises like Mega Man and Onimusha. The studio’s fate has been the subject of confusion for several years, largely due to reports surrounding its relationship with major developer LEVEL-5.
In 2017, Japanese industry reporting initially led to widespread belief that LEVEL-5 had fully acquired Comcept.
However, as clarified by Gematsu’s editor Sal Romano, these early reports stemmed from a misunderstanding of Japanese media coverage, specifically from sources like Weekly Famitsu. Documentation from LEVEL-5 later confirmed that a new entity, LEVEL5 comcept, had been established as a wholly owned subsidiary of LEVEL-5.
At that time, Inafune was named as CEO of Comcept and also served as co-CEO of LEVEL5 comcept alongside Akihiro Hino.
Importantly, games already in development at Comcept would remain under its management despite the formation of the new subsidiary.
This distinction meant that while LEVEL5 comcept operated under LEVEL-5's umbrella, Comcept itself continued to exist as a separate entity. A critical development occurred in mid-2024, when LEVEL5 comcept was dissolved and integrated into the newly established LEVEL-5 Osaka Office, following Inafune's departure from LEVEL-5.
This Osaka-based studio most recently worked on Nintendo Switch titles such as Fantasy Life i and Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road.
Despite this corporate restructuring, Comcept lingered on as an independent studio—until its formal dissolution earlier this month. Comcept's legacy is marked by its influence on mid-2010s Japanese gaming, both as a partner studio and as an innovator under Inafune’s guidance.
Its closure symbolizes the end of an era defined by ambitious projects, cross-platform releases, and the continued evolution of Japan’s developer landscape.
As Comcept concludes its journey, the industry continues to follow the work of its alumni and affiliated studios—including LEVEL-5 and its Osaka branch, which carry forward the legacy with new releases for the Nintendo Switch and beyond.
The formal announcement was published in Japan's government gazette Kanpo, marking the end of an eventful chapter in Japanese game development.
Comcept was best known for its troubled yet ambitious release, Mighty No.
9, which debuted on multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch via the eShop, after an initially successful Kickstarter campaign.
The company also contributed to the development of critically discussed titles such as Soul Sacrifice and ReCore.
Prior to establishing Comcept, Keiji Inafune was deeply involved at Capcom, playing key roles in iconic franchises like Mega Man and Onimusha. The studio’s fate has been the subject of confusion for several years, largely due to reports surrounding its relationship with major developer LEVEL-5.
In 2017, Japanese industry reporting initially led to widespread belief that LEVEL-5 had fully acquired Comcept.
However, as clarified by Gematsu’s editor Sal Romano, these early reports stemmed from a misunderstanding of Japanese media coverage, specifically from sources like Weekly Famitsu. Documentation from LEVEL-5 later confirmed that a new entity, LEVEL5 comcept, had been established as a wholly owned subsidiary of LEVEL-5.
At that time, Inafune was named as CEO of Comcept and also served as co-CEO of LEVEL5 comcept alongside Akihiro Hino.
Importantly, games already in development at Comcept would remain under its management despite the formation of the new subsidiary.
This distinction meant that while LEVEL5 comcept operated under LEVEL-5's umbrella, Comcept itself continued to exist as a separate entity. A critical development occurred in mid-2024, when LEVEL5 comcept was dissolved and integrated into the newly established LEVEL-5 Osaka Office, following Inafune's departure from LEVEL-5.
This Osaka-based studio most recently worked on Nintendo Switch titles such as Fantasy Life i and Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road.
Despite this corporate restructuring, Comcept lingered on as an independent studio—until its formal dissolution earlier this month. Comcept's legacy is marked by its influence on mid-2010s Japanese gaming, both as a partner studio and as an innovator under Inafune’s guidance.
Its closure symbolizes the end of an era defined by ambitious projects, cross-platform releases, and the continued evolution of Japan’s developer landscape.
As Comcept concludes its journey, the industry continues to follow the work of its alumni and affiliated studios—including LEVEL-5 and its Osaka branch, which carry forward the legacy with new releases for the Nintendo Switch and beyond.
