Koei Tecmo has announced a round of internal organizational changes set to take effect on April 1, with one of the most notable moves involving the transfer of a development team from Team NINJA to Gust.
The restructuring affects several areas across the company, including development teams, marketing operations, and global business divisions.
While many of the adjustments are administrative in nature, the shift of one of Team NINJA’s divisions to Gust stands out as the most significant change for the company’s development structure.
Team NINJA Division Moves to Gust
As part of the restructuring, Team NINJA’s Division 1 will be transferred to Gust, where it will operate under a new name: Gust Division 2.
This particular group is best known for handling the long-running live service title DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme Venus Vacation, and it also contributed to the development of Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator.
Once the transfer is complete, the team will function as part of Gust’s internal structure, effectively expanding the studio’s development capacity.
Gust is primarily known for the Atelier series, and bringing an experienced team into the fold could help support future projects or ongoing live-service efforts tied to the franchise.
Team NINJA Structure Changing Internally
With Division 1 moving to Gust, Koei Tecmo is also reshaping the remaining Team NINJA structure.
Team NINJA’s Division 2 will be split into two separate teams, which will then be renamed:
- Team NINJA Division 1
- Team NINJA Division 2
This restructuring effectively rebalances the studio following the transfer, ensuring Team NINJA continues to operate with two internal divisions despite the move.
Team NINJA is one of Koei Tecmo’s most recognizable development studios, known for titles such as Nioh, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and Rise of the Ronin.
Broader Corporate Restructuring
Beyond the development team changes, Koei Tecmo is also implementing several broader organizational adjustments across its corporate structure.
IP Business Division
- The IP Business division will be renamed Global IP Business.
Marketing Division
The Marketing Division will see several naming changes:
- Global Marketing Division will become the new name of the office.
- Global Marketing Department will be renamed simply Marketing Department.
- Global Business Department will be renamed Business Development Department.
New Business Division
Koei Tecmo is also establishing a new Business Division.
As part of this change:
- The Global Business Promotion Department and Business Department will move from the Marketing Division into the new Business Division.
- Global Business Promotion Department will be renamed Business Promotion Department.
What This Means Going Forward
While the changes may seem largely administrative on the surface, shifting development teams between studios can sometimes signal broader strategic shifts within a company.
In this case, moving Team NINJA’s live-service-focused group into Gust may help streamline development responsibilities while strengthening Gust’s ability to support ongoing projects.
For now, Koei Tecmo hasn’t announced any direct project implications tied to the restructuring. However, with the changes taking effect on April 1, the company’s internal development landscape will look slightly different moving forward.
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