MUTAN acquires Brownies

MUTAN has acquired Brownies, the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu reveals.

The magazine features an interview with MUTAN president and CEO Hiroyuki Watanabe, and Brownies chairman Shinichi Kameoka.

Kameoka explained that, since Brownies was comprised entirely of developers, he had been struggling with the issue of succession. He reached out to Watanabe, who had previously worked at Brownie Brown, and asked if he would be interested in becoming president.

While Kameoka had not originally planned to sell the company, he later suggested Watanabe buy it, believing it would avoid complications after his death. Watanabe responded positively and things progressed from there.

Kameoka’s reason for approaching Watanabe, he said, was seeing a small company setting up a booth, launching its brand, and having a good time at Tokyo Game Show. He recalled thinking, “What am I doing? Aren’t these guys doing what I want and should be doing?”

Kameoka originally founded Brownie Brown, a separate studio, on June 30, 2000. On February 1, 2013, it became a support studio under Nintendo and was renamed 1-Up Studio. That same year, Kameoka left to establish Brownies.

Brownies’ most notable releases include Fantasy Life Link!, Egglia: Legend of the Redcap, and Doraemon Story of Seasons.

Thanks, Ryokutya2089.