What HINATA does

HINATA株式会社 (HINATA Inc.) is a Tokyo-headquartered game content studio founded in February 2008, specializing in the planning, development, and operation of mobile and console games. The company is registered at Kabukicho 2-44-1, Hygeia 13F, Shinjuku, Tokyo, and reports a creative workforce of 150+ creators and 50+ completed projects over its 17-year operating history. Its leadership comprises Representative Director Kawamura Naoya (河村 直哉), who has held the role since founding.

The product portfolio combines original IP and licensed collaborations. Original titles include Ōsumō Gottchan Battle (大相撲ごっつぁんバトル), a mobile sumo wrestling battle game, and Gyro Zetter (超速変形ジャイロゼッター), a console transformation title. Licensed IP titles include Hoshi no Dragon Quest (星のドラゴンクエスト) and Kumamon Bomber (くまモン★ボンバー). Distribution spans iOS and Android mobile app stores alongside Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox console platforms, reflecting a deliberate multi-platform strategy within the Japanese market.

Revenue mechanics rely on freemium and in-app purchase monetization typical of Japanese mobile games, but the company does not publicly disclose revenue, funding, or unit economics. In 2025, HINATA entered a group company structure with Matrix Inc. (株式会社マトリックス) as its parent, establishing a one-stop service model from planning through operations. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, patents, or research outputs in the available source material, and no equity funding rounds or institutional investors are reported.

Name

HINATA

Legal name

HINATA株式会社

Website

https://hinata3.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HINATA株式会社 is a Tokyo-based game studio founded in 2008 that plans, develops, and operates mobile and console games including licensed IP titles like Dragon Quest and Kumamon. It operates under the Matrix Inc. group structure and serves general consumer gamers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile & Console Game Development

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Mobile game development
• Console game development
• Game content operation
• IP collaboration games
• Creative game studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Content Operation: Revenue generated through game content planning, development, and operation. The company operates mobile games and console titles, likely through freemium/cosmetic monetization models typical of the Japanese mobile gaming market.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

HINATA plans, develops, and operates digital game content across mobile and console platforms. The studio produces both original IPs and licensed collaborations (e.g., Dragon Quest, Kumamon), and delivers these games directly to end consumers via app stores and console distribution networks. Following the 2025 group formation with Matrix Inc., the studio offers a one-stop service spanning planning, development, and live operations.

Product overview

HINATA is a game content planning, development, and operation company that creates entertainment products across multiple platforms. The company offers a portfolio of mobile games and console titles, including licensed collaborations such as Dragon Quest (星のドラゴンクエスト), Kumamon (くまモン★ボンバー), and original IPs like Ōsumō Gottchan Battle (大相撲ごっつぁんバトル) and Gyro Zetter (ジャイロゼッター). The company operates under a group structure with parent company マトリックス株式会社 (Matrix Inc.) and provides end-to-end services from planning to development and operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ōsumō Gottchan Battle (大相撲ごっつぁんバトル)

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 株式会社マトリックス (Matrix Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, HINATA established a group company structure with Matrix Inc., forming a corporate group that enables one-stop service from planning to development and operation of game content.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aiming Inc. Japanese mobile and online game developer with both original and licensed IP work. Comparable in size, mobile-first approach, and reliance on Japanese IP collaborations.
• Colopl Inc. Japanese mobile game studio with original and licensed IP titles, comparable in mobile F2P orientation and Japan-centric distribution model.
• Akatsuki Inc. Japanese mobile and F2P game studio of comparable mid-size with both original and licensed IP titles. Closely comparable in business model (mobile F2P) and market (Japan), serving the same consumer base.
• Wright Flyer Studios (GREE): Mobile game studio subsidiary of GREE focused on Japanese IP collaborations. Directly comparable in operating model (mobile development with licensed Japanese IP) and target market.
• KLab Inc. Mid-cap Japanese mobile game developer known for anime-licensed IP titles (e.g., Love Live). Directly comparable as a mobile-first Japanese studio licensing major IP from Japanese rights holders.

Broad incumbents

• Level-5 Inc. Japanese game developer known for original and licensed IP across mobile and console. Comparable in cross-platform game development and Japan-based operations.
• Marvelous Inc. Japanese game developer with both mobile and console titles, including licensed IP. Overlaps with HINATA in multi-platform game development and Japan-centric market.
• Cygames / CyberAgent: Top-tier Japanese mobile game developer and publisher (Uma Musume, Granblue Fantasy). Operates in the same Japanese mobile/console market with much larger scale and IP depth.
• mixi, Inc. Major Japanese mobile gaming operator behind Monster Strike. Operates in the same Japanese mobile gaming market with significantly larger scale and broader IP portfolio.
• GungHo Online Entertainment: Established Japanese mobile/online game publisher behind Puzzle & Dragons. Larger incumbent in the same Japanese mobile F2P market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 HINATA