What Applibot does

Applibot is a Tokyo-headquartered mobile game developer and wholly-owned subsidiary of CyberAgent, Inc., specializing in the design, development, and operation of smartphone games for iOS and Android. Founded in July 2010 by Koki Ukita and two others, the company operates under a vision of creating globally admired services and has built a portfolio spanning licensed IP collaborations (Square Enix's NieR and FINAL FANTASY VII, Bandai Namco's SD Gundam, Sanrio's Hello Kitty, and Nagano's Chiikawa manga) alongside original entertainment projects such as VS AMBIVALENZ and HANDEAD ANTHEM. Beyond games, Applibot houses creative studios (SSS by applibot and AartS by applibot) staffed with illustrators and animators from the anime, light novel, and games industries, operates a Global Partner Division supporting overseas publishers' entry into Japan, and runs a DX Division for digital transformation services.

The company's technology stack is anchored on the Unity game engine with proprietary custom shader development for visual effects, Autodesk Maya for 3D modeling and animation, and a cross-project engineering organization (LDX) responsible for platform implementation, CI/CD, and client-side security. Applibot has open-sourced its production-grade Maya rig (Applibot Rig) for community use, signaling engineering culture transparency. Distribution channels include Apple App Store, Google Play, and Steam; Chiikawa Pocket reached 5 million cumulative downloads across 43 countries, while Hello Kitty Merch Match launched in 144 countries and regions. The digital portfolio is complemented by physical merchandise sold through official online stores and pop-up retail partnerships with PARCO, Don Quijote, and Chiikawa-branded stores.

Applibot's revenue model is predominantly freemium with in-app purchases across its mobile game portfolio, supplemented by physical merchandise sales (Chiikawa-branded items priced from 330 yen stickers to 4,510 yen T-shirts), creative and professional services via SSS by applibot, and IP licensing arrangements. Key enterprise customers are major Japanese entertainment IP holders (Square Enix, Bandai Namco, Sanrio, Nagano) who co-develop or license IP, while end consumers are mobile gamers globally. Recognition includes the Google Play Best of 2025 Pickup & Play Award for Chiikawa Pocket, three Japan Character Award Grand Prix wins (2022, 2024, 2025) tied to the Chiikawa franchise, and operational expansion via a newly established wholly-owned subsidiary, Picorea, Inc., in 2025.

Name

Applibot

Legal name

株式会社アプリボット

Website

https://applibot.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Applibot is a Tokyo-based mobile game developer and wholly-owned CyberAgent subsidiary that designs, develops, and operates smartphone games featuring licensed IPs (Chiikawa, FINAL FANTASY VII, Hello Kitty, SD Gundam) and original entertainment properties for global consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Gaming

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Game & In-App Content Stores (BPAMADAC)

Keywords

• Mobile game development
• Smartphone game publishing
• IP co-development
• Creative studio services
• Digital entertainment apps

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Mobile Game In-App Purchases: Free-to-play smartphone games with in-game currency, items, and premium content purchased through app stores. Core revenue driver for titles like Chiikawa Pocket, Hello Kitty Merch Match, and NieR Re[in]carnation.
2. Merchandise Sales: Physical goods including apparel, accessories, and collectibles based on IP such as Chiikawa Pocket characters sold through official online store and pop-up events.
3. Creative Services: Creative studio services including SSS by applibot providing illustration, animation, and creative direction to external clients. Also includes DX division services.
4. IP Licensing: Licensing of developed IPs and creative works including collaboration products with external brands and merchandise licensing agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Applibot plans, develops, and operates smartphone and PC games on iOS, Android, and Steam, including co-developed titles such as Chiikawa Pocket, Hello Kitty Merch Match, SD Gundam G Generation Eternal, and FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS. It monetizes primarily through free-to-play mechanics with in-app purchases and also sells related physical merchandise, while operating creative studios (SSS by applibot, AartS by applibot), a Global Partner Division supporting overseas publishers entering Japan, and a DX Division providing digital transformation services.

Product overview

Applibot is a game development company that operates primarily as a smartphone game publisher and developer, with a portfolio of mobile games, entertainment projects, and creative studios. The core products include major mobile game titles such as 'Chiikawa Pocket,' 'FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS,' 'Hello Kitty Merch Match,' and 'SD Gundam G Generation Eternal,' alongside entertainment properties like 'VS AMBIVALENZ' and 'HANDEAD ANTHEM.' The company also houses creative divisions including 'SSS by applibot' (a creative studio featuring notable anime/game artists), 'AartS by applibot' (an art studio), and provides a free 'Applibot Rig' for Maya users. International operations include the Global Partner Division (supporting overseas publishers in Japan), Global Business Produce Division, and DX Division for digital transformation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SSS by applibot: クリエイティブスタジオ. Creative studio consisting of notable creators from anime, games, and light novel industries, focused on discovering and revealing 'unknown values.'
• AartS by applibot
• Applibot Rig
• グローバルパートナー事業部
• DX事业部

Products and services

• Chiikawa Pocket (ちいかわぽけっと) A free-to-play smartphone game based on illustrator Nagano's 'Chiikawa' manga. Features monster battles, weed pulling gameplay, and a home feature where players can decorate spaces with characters and items. Targets Chiikawa fans and casual mobile gamers.
• Hello Kitty Merch Match (ハローキティ マーチマッチ) A 3D puzzle game using licensed Sanrio character merchandise including Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Cinnamoroll. Over 1,000 types of real merchandise appear in-game, and players tap to find matching sets of three items. Distributed globally on iOS and Android.
• SD Gundam G Generation Eternal (SDガンダム ジージェネレーション エターナル) A smartphone entry in the long-running SD Gundam G Generation series, featuring dramatic battle effects and Gundam content from across TV anime, movies, games, manga, and novels. Co-developed with Bandai Namco using the Gundam IP and distributed on iOS and Android.
• FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS A mobile and PC RPG developed in partnership with Square Enix that retells stories from the FINAL FANTASY VII Compilation series using remade visuals based on the original FFVII. Available on iOS, Android, and Steam.
• Grimoire A: School of Wizards (グリモアA ～私立グリモワール魔法学園～) An offline RPG featuring two versions - Histoire (main story) and Mémoire (albums and episodes by class) - with multiple character classes.
• VS AMBIVALENZ An intimate-type idol audition project featuring 14 candidates competing to debut as a 7-member idol group.
• HANDEAD ANTHEM
• SSS by applibot A creative studio composed of notable creators from the anime, games, and light novel industries, focused on creating 'unknown values' through art and design. Provides illustration, animation, and creative direction to external clients.
• AartS by applibot An art studio composed of Applibot's creators who leverage their individual artistic identities to contribute broadly to product quality through art direction, illustration, and diverse art production.
• Applibot Rig (アプリボットリグ) A free Maya rig released by Applibot based on rigs used in actual Applibot projects. Includes character rigs (Avy for beginners, Gumi, Suilen, and Garnet) optimized for action sequences. Released publicly as open-source for non-commercial use.
• Global Partner Division (グローバルパートナー事業部) A service division that supports overseas publishers and developers to expand their business in Japan using Applibot's game development and operation experience.
• DX Division (DX事業部) Digital transformation division that creates businesses from requirements to development and service growth in an integrated process based on smartphone game experience.
• Chiikawa Pocket Official Merchandise Physical merchandise including mascots (1,980 yen), acrylic stands (495 yen), T-shirts (3,630-4,510 yen), towels (825 yen), clear files (440 yen), and stickers (330 yen) based on Chiikawa Pocket characters, sold through the official online store and pop-up events with partner retailers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Chiikawa Pocket achieved 5 million cumulative downloads within first year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Square EnixflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-development partner for NieR Re[in]carnation and FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS mobile games. Applibot handles development and operation while Square Enix provides IP and publishing.
• Bandai Namco EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-development partner for SD Gundam G Generation Eternal mobile game. Applibot handles development using Bandai Namco's Gundam IP.
• Picorea, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Wholly-owned subsidiary of Applibot (100% owned). Focus on additional IP development and creative services.
• PARCOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail partnership for pop-up store events selling Chiikawa Pocket merchandise. Major department store chain with multiple locations across Japan.
• GINZA Six / Tsutaya BooksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partnership for Mai Yoneyama solo exhibition 'arc' at Ginza Six Tsutaya Books GINZA ATRIUM.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GungHo Online Entertainment: Larger Japanese mobile and online game publisher (Puzzle & Dragons). Overlaps with Applibot's mobile-F2P distribution and global IP exploitation but operates at significantly greater scale.
• DeNA: Major Japanese mobile game publisher and IP co-developer (Pokémon Masters collaborations). Operates a similar IP-licensed mobile publishing model, though at meaningfully larger scale.
• Mixi: Owner of Monster Strike franchise and broader mobile/social portfolio. Comparable mobile-F2P hit-driven business with Japanese IP and global distribution ambitions.

Direct peers

• Cygames: Largest CyberAgent gaming subsidiary behind Uma Musume, Granblue Fantasy, and Shadowverse. Closest organizational peer given shared parent, IP-based mobile development, and global publishing reach.
• Akatsuki: Japanese mobile and IP-licensed game developer/publisher (e.g., Dragon Ball franchise titles). Directly comparable to Applibot in business model — co-development with major Japanese IP holders, F2P mobile IAP, and global distribution.
• Colopl: Japanese mobile game developer/publisher (White Cat Project, DRAGON QUEST WALK). Comparable mobile-F2P development with major IP partnerships and Japan-first operations.
• Sumzap: CyberAgent group sibling subsidiary focused on mobile RPGs with licensed IP (e.g., mobile adaptations of popular Japanese IP). Shares parent-company backing and mobile-IP development focus with Applibot.
• Aiming Inc. Tokyo-based mobile and online game developer with multiple co-developed IP titles. Comparable to Applibot's IP-licensed mobile game model and Japanese-market operations.
• KLab: Japanese mobile game developer best known for 'Love Live! School Idol Festival' IP-based titles. Closely aligned with Applibot's strategy of building global mobile hits on licensed Japanese IP.

Others

• CyberAgent (parent level): Listed parent company and 100% owner of Applibot. Not a competitor but the controlling shareholder whose strategic direction governs Applibot's investment, exit, and growth optionality.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/applibot_pr
• GitHubgithub.com/applibot-inc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@chiikawa_pt_jp
• Facebookfacebook.com/163156697093242

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Applibot