Wikipedia

Sting (company)

Sting
Native name
株式会社スティング
Company typePrivate company
IndustryVideo games
FoundedFebruary 7, 1989
HeadquartersIwamotochō, Chiyoda, Tokyo
ProductsDept. Heaven series
Number of employees
31[1]
Websitesting.co.jp

Sting (株式会社スティング) is a Japanese game development studio. Some of their titles include Treasure Hunter G, Evolution: The World of Sacred Device, and the Dept. Heaven series of games. Its active properties currently include Baroque, Dokapon, and the Dept. Heaven series.

History

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Sting was founded in 1989. The developer has focused on experimental game design, combining role-playing video games with elements from other genres.[2]

On March 10, 2009, Atlus and Sting announced a partnership where Sting games would be published by Atlus in Japan.[3] Atlus also expressed an interest in having Sting develop Atlus games.[3]

In March 2012, Sting and fellow game developer Idea Factory formed a partnership, wherein members from both companies would collaborate to create games that would showcase both their talents.[4] Titles developed by both companies were released under the label of Super Sting. Their first title, Generation of Chaos: Pandora’s Reflection, was released three months later, in July 2012.

Works

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Sting has developed many games, both original creations and contract work, across many platforms. They also regularly port and remake games for new platforms.

Year Title System Developer(s) Publisher(s) Ref.
1990 Psycho Chaser TurboGrafx-16 Sting Naxat Soft
Naxat Stadium TurboGrafx-16 Sting Naxat Soft
1991 Override TurboGrafx-16, X68000 Sting Data East, Sting
Extra Innings SNES Sting Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Sony Imagesoft
1992 Hakunetsu Professional Baseball: Ganba League '93 SNES Sting Sony Music Entertainment Japan
TKO Super Championship Boxing SNES Sting SOFEL
Truxton TurboGrafx-16 Sting Taito
Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibouken SNES Sting SOFEL
Daibakushou Jinsei Gekijou SNES Sting Taito
1993 Onizuka Katsuya Super Virtual Boxing SNES Sting Tokuma Shoten
Yadamon: Wonderland Dream[5] SNES Sting Tokuma Shoten
1994 Melfand Stories SNES Sting ASCII Entertainment
The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates SNES Sting Taito, Kadokawa Shoten
1996 Treasure Hunter G SNES Sting Square
1997 Solid Runner SNES Sting ASCII Entertainment
1998 Slamtilt Microsoft Windows Sting 21st Century Entertainment
Baroque Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network, Wii Sting Sting, Atlus USA, Rising Star Games
1999 Evolution: The World of Sacred Device Dreamcast Sting ESP Software, Ubisoft
Evolution 2: Far Off Promise Dreamcast Sting ESP Software, Ubisoft
2000 Baroque Shooting Microsoft Windows Sting Sting
Baroque Syndrome Microsoft Windows Sting Sting
2001 Haruka Typing Microsoft Windows Sting Sting
Wizardry Scenario 1: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord WonderSwan Color Sting Sting, Sir-Tech
Koguru Guruguru: Guruguru to Nakayoshi Game Boy Color Sting Sting
2002 Baroque Typing Microsoft Windows Sting Sting
Evolution Worlds GameCube Sting ESP Software, Ubisoft
Riviera: The Promised Land WonderSwan Color, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows Sting Sting, Atlus USA, 505 Games, Bandai
2006 Yggdra Union: We'll Never Fight Alone Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows Sting Sting, Atlus USA, 505 Games
IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix PlayStation 2 Sting Namco Bandai Games
Utawarerumono PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Sting Aquaplus, NIS America [6]
2007 Dokapon Kingdom PlayStation 2, Wii, Nintendo Switch Sting Examu, Atlus USA, BigBen Interactive, Nintendo Switch [7]
Yggdra Unison Cellphone, Nintendo DS Sting Sting, Atlus
2008 Dokapon Journey Nintendo DS Suzak Inc. Sting, Ubisoft [7]
Knights in the Nightmare Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Switch Sting Sting
2009 Hexyz Force PlayStation Portable Sting Atlus
2010 Blaze Union: Story to Reach the Future PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Switch Sting Atlus, Sting
2011 To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Windows Sting Aquaplus
Gungnir: Inferno of the Demon Lance and the War of Heroes PlayStation Portable Sting Atlus [8]
Gloria Union PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Switch Sting Atlus, Sting [9]
Dragon Labyrinth Android Sting Sting
Baroque FPS iOS Sting Sting
2012 Generation of Chaos: Pandora's Reflection PlayStation Portable Sting Idea Factory, NIS America
2013 Dungeon Travelers 2 PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita Sting Aquaplus, Atlus, NIS America [10]
2014 Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch Compile Heart, Sting Compile Heart, Idea Factory International
2015 Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita Aquaplus, Sting Aquaplus, Atlus, Deep Silver [6]
2016 Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita Aquaplus, Sting Aquaplus, Atlus, Deep Silver [6]
2017 Dungeon Travelers 2-2 PlayStation Vita Sting Aquaplus [10]
2020 Dokapon UP! Roulette of Dreams Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 Sting Aquaplus [11]
Fantasia Re:build Android, iOS Sting Kadokawa Games
2022 Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows Compile Heart, Idea Factory, Sting Idea Factory International [12]
2024 Touhou Spell Carnival Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Compile Heart, Idea Factory, Sting Idea Factory International [13]
MADO MONOGATARI: Fia and the Wondrous Academy Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Compile Heart, Idea Factory, Sting Idea Factory International [14]
2025 VIractal: World of Viractalia Microsoft Windows Sting Sting [15]

References

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  1. ^ "企業情報". 20 May 2023.
  2. ^ Bailey, Kat (24 May 2012). "Among Japanese developers, Sting quietly thrives". Engadget. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b Tanaka, John (10 March 2009). "Atlus Partners with Sting". IGN.
  4. ^ "About the New Brand Super Sting". Idea Factory. Archived from the original on 2012-10-29.
  5. ^ Yadamon: Wonderland Dream at GameFAQs
  6. ^ a b c Fuller, Alex (21 December 2024). "Utawarerumono Trilogy Japanese Switch Release Pushed Back". RPGamer. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b "A double Sting of Dokapon". Siliconera. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  8. ^ Hillier, Brenna (23 February 2011). "Sting reveals Gungnir: The War Hero and the War God's Demon Lance". VG247. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  9. ^ Hashimoto, Kazuma (February 25, 2021). "Gloria Union Switch and Mobile Versions Will Release in March". Siliconera. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  10. ^ a b Fuller, Alex (3 June 2023). "Dungeon Travelers 2 Duology Hitting PC Next Week". RPGamer. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  11. ^ Sato (4 August 2020). "Dokapon x Utawarerumono Collaboration Game Dokapon UP! Announced for PS4 and Switch". Siliconera. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  12. ^ Mackenzie, Brian (2 June 2022). "Compile Heart Announces New Tactics RPG Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord". RPGFan. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  13. ^ Coulibaly, Mohamed Lamine (3 November 2024). "Touhou Spell Carnival Showcases Its Gameplay". RPGamer. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  14. ^ Romano, Sal (1 May 2025). "MADO MONOGATARI: Fia and the Wondrous Academy launches July 29 in the west". Gematsu. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  15. ^ Romano, Sal (19 September 2025). "VIractal: World of Viractalia now available in Early Access". Gematsu. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
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