What Aiming does

Aiming Inc. (株式会社Aiming) is a Japanese online game developer and publisher founded in May 2011 and publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers market (TYO:3911) since March 2015. The company plans, produces, develops, and operates online games across mobile (iOS/Android), PC (Steam/Windows), and console (PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade) platforms, with 660 employees as of March 31, 2026 distributed across offices in Tokyo (Shibuya-ku, headquarters), Kumamoto, Taipei, and Taichung. Its portfolio combines internally-developed titles such as the full-3D cross-platform MMORPG CARAVAN STORIES, the long-running Sword and Magic Logres MMORPG (8 million+ downloads in Japan), and the recently launched Inazuma Eleven Cross (1 million+ downloads shortly after June 2026 launch) with co-developed and published games for major Japanese IP holders — Dragon Quest Tact with Square Enix, Danmachi Battle Chronicle, WIND BREAKER with Kodansha, Power Pro Adventures with Konami, and World of Demons with PlatinumGames.

The company operates a free-to-play revenue model in which base access is free and revenue is generated through in-game virtual currency (game points) purchases and virtual item transactions including gacha mechanics. Underlying technology is a proprietary multi-platform game development capability supporting MMORPG, tactical RPG, action RPG, simulation, and cosplay battle-game genres, demonstrated most notably in the cross-platform 3D MMORPG engine powering CARAVAN STORIES. The company also uses standard third-party tooling for analytics (Google Analytics, Firebase, Adjust, Microsoft Clarity), mobile attribution and monetization (IronSource, Tapjoy), error monitoring (Backtrace, Sentry), and data warehousing (BigQuery).

Aiming's commercial model combines first-party publishing of self-developed titles with work-for-hire and co-development partnerships for IP holders such as Square Enix, Kodansha, Konami, Marvelous, PlatinumGames, and Nobollel. The company maintains wholly-owned operating subsidiaries in Taiwan (Aiming Taiwan, with Taipei and Taichung studios), the Philippines (Aiming Global Service), and Korea, with end-markets spanning Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, China, Singapore, and Malaysia. Strategic alliances with Tencent (2014), SEGA Networks (2013), Marvelous (2011), and a 2019 capital-and-business partnership with DELiGHTWORKS round out the partnership stack. Cumulative pre-IPO private placement capital totaled roughly JPY 1.2 billion in 2011 plus additional undisclosed rounds in 2012, 2013, and 2014, prior to the March 2015 listing.

Name

Aiming

Legal name

株式会社 Aiming

Website

https://aiming-inc.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Aiming Inc. is a publicly-listed Japanese online game developer (TYO:3911) with 660 employees that plans, develops, and operates free-to-play mobile, PC, and console games, including self-published MMORPGs and co-developed titles for IP holders like Square Enix, Kodansha, Konami, and Marvelous.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Free-to-play in-game purchases: Aiming operates games on a free-to-play model where players can download and play games at no cost, with revenue generated through in-game virtual currency (game points) purchases and virtual item transactions. Players can also obtain free game points through in-game activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Aiming Inc. is a Japanese online game developer and publisher that plans, produces, develops, and operates online games across mobile, PC, and console platforms. The company develops both internally-created titles and licensed IP games based on popular anime and manga franchises (e.g., Danmachi, Dragon Quest, Inazuma Eleven, WIND BREAKER, Legend of the Galactic Heroes), distributing them via free-to-play models with in-game virtual currency and item purchases.

Product overview

Aiming is an online game developer and publisher operating a portfolio of mobile, PC, and console games. The company develops and operates both internally-created titles (such as the CARAVAN STORIES MMORPG franchise and Inazuma Eleven Cross mobile game) and licensed IP games based on popular anime and manga franchises (including Danmachi: Battle Chronicle, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Shadow Garden, Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue Saga, WIND BREAKER, and 2.5 Dimensional Seduction). The company also co-develops titles with partners like PlatinumGames (World of Demons for Apple Arcade) and publishes SQUARE ENIX titles (Dragon Quest Takt). Aiming operates games across multiple platforms including iOS/Android smartphones, PC (Windows/Steam), PlayStation 4/5, and Nintendo Switch, with operations spanning Japan, Taiwan, and other markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inazuma Eleven Cross (イナズマイレブン クロス) Mobile RPG based on the Inazuma Eleven soccer anime franchise, featuring real-time multiplayer battles and team management.
• WIND BREAKER 不良たちの英雄譚 (WIND BREAKER: Rebel Heroes) 3D anime RPG based on the WIND BREAKER manga series published by KODANSHA, featuring action combat and story-driven gameplay.
• Legend of the Galactic Heroes Die Neue Saga (銀河英雄伝説 Die Neue Saga) Strategy simulation game based on the Legend of the Galactic Heroes franchise, featuring tactical battles and resource management.
• 2.5 Dimensional Seduction: Angels' Stage (2.5次元の誘惑 天使たちのステージ) Cosplay battle RPG featuring characters from the 2.5 Dimensional Seduction manga series with costume collection and strategic combat.
• Shadow Garden Master of Garden (陰の実力者になりたくて！マスターオブガーデン) Mobile RPG based on the 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime' (Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken) IP, featuring character collection, battles, and story events.
• Dragon Quest Tact (ドラゴンクエストタクト) Tactical RPG featuring Dragon Quest franchise characters and monsters, co-developed with SQUARE ENIX.
• CARAVAN STORIES Large-scale full-3D MMORPG featuring pet collection, large-scale raids, and cross-platform play across mobile, PC, and console devices.
• Sword and Magic Logres: Ancient Goddess (剣と魔法のログレス いにしえの女神) MMORPG for smartphone featuring real-time multiplayer combat, party quests, and guild battles; one of Japan's first successful free-to-play mobile MMORPGs.
• Danmachi: Battle Chronicle (ダンジョンに出会いを求めるのは間違っているだろうか 戦記編年史) Battle action RPG based on the Danmachi (Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?) franchise, featuring real-time combat and character collection.
• World of Demons – 百鬼魔道 Apple Arcade exclusive action RPG co-developed with PlatinumGames, featuring demon-hunting gameplay with samurai aesthetics.
• Power Pro Adventures (パワプロアドベンチャーズ) Sports simulation game based on the Konami Power Pros (Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu) franchise, co-developed with Konami Digital Entertainment.
• Pairium (恋するコーデ ペアリウム) Dress-up social game whose operations were transferred to another company in May 2022.
• Tap Hunter (タップハンター～剣と魔法の放置RPG～) Idle RPG featuring sword and magic themes, co-developed with Nobollel Inc.
• Lord of Knights RPG strategy game that achieved over 5 million downloads globally.
• Valiant Legion (ヴァリアントレギオン) Action MMORPG for smartphones that achieved 2 million downloads.
• Blade Chronicle (ブレイドクロニクル) PC MMORPG originally launched in 2009.
• Prison Break PRO (脱獄ごっこPRO) Game developed by Aiming and published by LiTMUS Co., Ltd.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sword and Magic Logres achieved 8 million+ downloads in Japan
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tencent (騰訊公司)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness cooperation established in November 2014 for mobile game collaboration and market expansion.
• SEGA Networks (世嘉網路股份有限公司)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness cooperation established in February 2013 for smartphone game development and distribution.
• Marvelous (マーベラス股份有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness cooperation began in June 2011. Marvelous publishes Sword and Magic Logres (劍と魔法のログレス) - one of Aiming's flagship mobile MMORPGs with 8M+ downloads in Japan. Also co-publishing Tap Hunter.
• DELiGHTWORKSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapital and business partnership established in January 2019 for strategic collaboration.
• ONE-UP株式会社minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsset transfer of Osaka Studio in June 2011. CEO Shiiba previously served as president of ONE-UP before founding Aiming.
• PlatinumGames Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for World of Demons – 百鬼魔道, an Apple Arcade exclusive title launched April 2021. PlatinumGames developed the game while Aiming handled publishing and operations.
• Kodansha Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher of WIND BREAKER 不良たちの英雄譚, developed by Aiming Inc. This 3D anime RPG launched March 2025 on mobile and PC.
• Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher of Power Pro Adventures (パワプロアドベンチャーズ), a sports simulation game co-developed with Aiming.
• SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher of Dragon Quest Tact (タクティカルRPG) and GESTALT ODIN. Aiming develops games under this partnership. Dragon Quest Tact launched July 2020.
• LiTMUS Co., Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher of 脱獄ごっこPRO (Prison Break PRO), developed by Aiming.
• Nobollel Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of Tap Hunter – 劍與魔法的放置RPG, published/distributed by Aiming. Game launched February 2024.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Konami: Major Japanese game publisher/developer with substantial mobile F2P operations (Power Pro Baseball, Yu-Gi-Oh). Also a key co-development partner of Aiming (Power Pro Adventures).
• Square Enix: Major Japanese game publisher/developer (Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest). Both a key publishing partner of Aiming (Dragon Quest Tact) and a competitor for premium mobile game development talent.
• CyberAgent (Cygames): Japanese digital media conglomerate whose Cygames subsidiary is a major mobile game developer/publisher (Uma Musume, Granblue Fantasy). Operates at much larger scale but overlapping mobile F2P business.
• Bandai Namco: Major Japanese game publisher/developer (Naruto, Dragon Ball, Pac-Man). Operates premium mobile titles and competes with Aiming for anime IP development partnerships at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• mixi: Japanese mobile social gaming company (Monster Strike) with a similar F2P mobile gaming focus and Japan-anchored operations. Comparable in revenue scale and product mix of mobile F2P titles.
• KLab: Japanese mobile game developer focused on anime IP adaptations (Love Live!, Bleach, Captain Tsubasa). Highly comparable to Aiming's anime/manga IP licensing strategy and similar company size.
• Akatsuki: Japanese mobile game developer specializing in anime IP games with F2P mechanics. Closely comparable in size, focus on anime IP, and listed status on Tokyo Stock Exchange.
• GungHo Online Entertainment: Japanese mobile/online game developer and publisher behind Puzzle & Dragons and other F2P mobile titles. Most directly comparable in business model (F2P mobile publishing) and Japanese market focus.
• DeNA: Diversified Japanese mobile gaming and internet services company with significant F2P mobile game portfolio. Comparable in business model (mobile F2P) and Japanese listed status, though larger in scale.
• Colopl: Japanese mobile game developer focused on location-based and casual mobile titles. Comparable in size and Japanese listed status with similar F2P mobile gaming focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aiminginc
• Facebookfacebook.com/aiminginc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors9 records

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 Aiming