Rayark

What Rayark does

Rayark Inc. is a Taipei-headquartered, privately held video game developer founded in September 2011 by six co-founders and led by CEO and Executive Producer Ming-Yang Yu. The studio specializes in original-IP games built around proprietary rhythm-game mechanics, narrative-driven design, and curated music collaborations with Japanese and international artists, releasing titles across mobile, PC, and console storefronts.

The company's portfolio centers on three pillars: rhythm-game franchises (Cytus, Cytus II, Cytus α, DEEMO, DEEMO II, DEEMO -Reborn-, VOEZ), strategy/RPG titles (Sdorica, Soul of Eden), and action or casual games (Implosion, MO: Astray, Mandora), with RayarkPass providing a cross-title subscription layer. Technical differentiation rests on a signature falling-note rhythm input system reused across DEEMO and Cytus titles, integration of 100+ licensed and original tracks per flagship title, and 3D/VR reinterpretations of legacy IP for console (DEEMO -Reborn- on PS4 with PS VR support).

Rayark monetizes primarily through freemium mobile games with in-app purchases (DEEMO II, Cytus II, Sdorica, Soul of Eden), premium one-time console/PC purchases (Cytus α, DEEMO -Reborn-, MO: Astray, Implosion), per-track DLC song packs, and the RayarkPass subscription, distributing globally through iOS App Store, Google Play, Steam, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and physical retail in Asia and Japan. The studio reaches consumers directly via app-led discovery, pre-registration campaigns, live community events (RayarkCon, Rayark Wonderland), and a regional Cytus II esports circuit (C2 CHAOS), and supplements internal development with publishing partnerships (e.g., Archpray for MO: Astray) and cross-IP collaborations with Kizuna AI, DJMAX, Arknights, and CITY NO.1.

Name

Rayark

Legal name

Rayark Inc.

Website

https://rayark.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rayark Inc. is a Taipei-based independent game developer founded in 2011 that builds original rhythm, RPG, and action games for mobile, PC, and console. The studio serves global consumers through hit franchises including DEEMO, Cytus II, Sdorica, and Soul of Eden.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Gaming

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Physical Game Distribution & Retail (Boxed Games, Wholesale, Merchandising) (MPAFABAC)

Keywords

• Mobile game development
• Rhythm video games
• Cross-platform gaming
• Console game publishing
• Indie game studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Taipei

HQ country

Taiwan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mobile Game Sales with In-App Purchases: Free-to-play mobile games with in-app purchases for additional content, characters, and premium songs. Games like DEEMO II, Soul of Eden, Cytus II, and Sdorica use this model.
2. Paid Game Downloads: Premium console and PC games sold as one-time purchases. Cytus α is listed as PAID, DEEMO -Reborn- is available as a premium title on Steam, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
3. DLC and Song Packs: Additional song packs, collaboration content, and DLC expansions sold for existing games. DEEMO series offers various song collection DLCs at prices ranging from JPY 500 per pack.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rayark is a Taiwanese game development and publishing studio that designs and releases original-IP video games spanning rhythm, action RPG, strategy card, and casual genres. The company distributes its titles across iOS, Android, PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation platforms using free-to-play with in-app purchases, premium one-time purchases, and paid DLC/song packs. Its flagship franchises include Cytus, Cytus II, DEEMO, DEEMO II, DEEMO -Reborn-, Sdorica, Soul of Eden, VOEZ, MO: Astray, and Implosion.

Product overview

Rayark is a Taiwanese gaming company founded in September 2011 with headquarters in Taipei. The company develops and publishes original IP games across multiple genres including rhythm games, casual games, sci-fi action games, and strategy RPGs. Their portfolio includes rhythm games (DEEMO II, Cytus II, Cytus, Cytus α, VOEZ), action games (Implosion, MO: Astray), RPGs (Sdorica), card games (Soul of Eden), and casual games (Mandora). The company operates on a free-to-play model with in-app purchases for most titles, with some premium releases. Rayark also maintains a subscription service called RayarkPass.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rayark Infuse: A brand that verifies Rayark participates in a project's core development and ensures the highest quality, working with outstanding developers to create extraordinary games.
• Rayark Concept

Products and services

• DEEMO II A free-to-play rhythm adventure game for iOS and Android that combines falling-note rhythm gameplay with puzzle exploration and story-driven adventure set in a world where rain transforms creatures into flower petals; features over 100 tracks and NPC interactions at Central Station.
• Cytus II A free-to-play rhythm game for mobile that features multiple playable characters each with unique storylines and songs, set in a cyberpunk narrative involving AI characters and virtual reality concepts.
• Soul of Eden

Quantifiable outcome

• DEEMO II achieved 1 million downloads in first week
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 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 minor.

• Arknights (명일방주)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2021Cytus II x Arknights collaboration featuring character Amiya and 10 tracks from the Arknights game including 'Renegade', 'Boiling Blood', 'Speed of Light', and 'ALIVE'.
• DJMAXminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2020Cytus II x DJMAX collaboration featuring 5 tracks from DJMAX RESPECT including 'BlythE' by M2U, 'glory day' by BEXTER X Mycin.T, 'Play The Future' by Urbatronic Chopsticks, 'OBLIVION' by ESTi, and 'We're All Gonna Die' by Paul Bazooka.
• Kizuna AIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2020Virtual YouTuber collaboration in Cytus II featuring character Kizuna AI with 10 original songs produced by notable Japanese artists including Nakata Yasutaka, DÉ DÉ MOUSE, and Taku Takahashi (m-flo).
• CITY NO.1minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSdorica x CITY NO.1 collaboration featuring 24 different dessert product packages with dual-sided designs, available in Taiwan.
• ArchprayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partnership with independent game studio Archpray for MO: Astray, where Rayark supervised production and provided publishing support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• SuperGaming: India-based independent game studio publishing cross-platform multiplayer games. Useful as a comparable emerging-market indie studio pursuing cross-platform self-publishing and esports — similar stage and ambition to Rayark's earlier growth phase, though different genre focus.

Direct peers

• Cygames: Japan-based mobile and console game developer behind BanG Dream! and Granblue Fantasy. Comparable to Rayark as a high-craft Japanese mobile-game studio with rhythm and music-driven IPs, console cross-platform releases and strong domestic brand equity.
• miHoYo (HoYoverse): China-headquartered independent developer/publisher of original-IP mobile-and-PC games (Genshin Impact, Honkai). Most directly comparable to Rayark as a self-publishing, IP-driven East Asian studio that scaled global mobile rhythm/action titles across multiple platforms.
• Yostar: Mobile game publisher of Azur Lane and Arknights (which Rayark has directly collaborated with). Comparable to Rayark as an Asia-based mobile-game publisher with cross-regional reach and deep IP-collaboration relationships in the rhythm/strategy mobile space.
• Bushiroad: Japanese entertainment company developing mobile and card games (e.g., Cardfight!! Vanguard, BanG Dream!). Comparable to Rayark on the Soul of Eden axis specifically — mobile card/RTS-TCG mechanics with strong IP and music/esports crossover.
• KLab: Japan-headquartered mobile game developer known for rhythm titles (Love Live! School Idol Festival). Closest functional peer to Rayark: another Japanese/Asian mobile rhythm-game specialist with a similar music-IP, gacha and live-event operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Netmarble: Korean mobile game publisher with a broad portfolio across RPG, strategy and casual. A broader incumbent operating in Rayark's adjacent mobile-games space but at materially larger scale and without rhythm-game specialization.
• NetEase Games: Major Chinese game publisher and developer operating across mobile, PC and console. Overlaps with Rayark as a self-publishing East Asian studio, but at vastly larger scale and across many more genres.
• Nexon: Japan/Korea-headquartered global publisher of free-to-play online and mobile games. Comparable incumbent offering in mobile rhythm/casual IP and Asia-first publishing, but with a much larger and more diversified portfolio than Rayark.

Others

• Archpray: Independent Taiwanese game studio that developed MO: Astray with Rayark publishing support. Adjacent peer — directly tied to Rayark as a partner, useful as a comparable for the indie-Taiwan game development ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RayarkOfficial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL3KrDIDqkdw1B56TlMEi8net0Q4k_EG9_
• Facebookfacebook.com/rayark.deemo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rayark
• Instagraminstagram.com/rayark_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Rayark