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Update (2025/4/14, 13:02 JST): Please note that this article is not about Super Robot Wars Y developer Bandai Namco Forge Digitals (previously B.B Studio).

Japanese game developer A,I filed for bankruptcy on March 10, 2025, as announced via Japan's government gazette (source: Bankruptcy Information Center).

A,I was a mid-scale development studio with a long history, having done contract development for major publishers like Bandai Namco Entertainment and Hudson Soft since 1990. It was heavily involved in the Super Robot Wars series and responsible for bringing the IP to handheld Nintendo devices. A,I is credited as developer/co-developer on 14 Super Robot Wars titles and several Bomberman games, including 1998's Bomberman Hero.

The studio's last project seems to be 2018's Full Metal Panic! Fight! Who Dares Wins – developed alongside B.B. Studio for Bandai Namco Entertainment. It's not known what led to the company declaring bankruptcy, but the news has come as a shock to Japanese fans of the Super Robot Wars series. Given the recent announcement of B.B. Studio's new title Super Robot Wars Y, many were optimistic that a new entry by A,I might not be far off either, but this hope has been quashed with news of the studio going bankrupt.

Game creator and former A,I employee Norio Okubo addressed the announcement on X, commenting, "This was where I spent more than half of my life as a game developer. Our main client Hudson disappeared first, and now our company itself is gone. I don't normally drink, but I think I'll drink in memory of A,E today."

Super Robot Wars, Bomberman development studio files for bankruptcy after 35 years in the industry - AUTOMATON WEST

Bandai Namco and Hudson Soft contract developer A,I, which is credited on 14 Super Robots Wars games, declared bankruptcy in March this year.

automaton-media.com

 

[Da1337Vinci]

Sad but 35 years is a good run. Cheers to an OG.

 

[Perrott]

Huh, I thought the "Bomberman studio" was an in-house team of Konami.

 

[NanaMiku]

Dang, that's sad considering we finally got a new SRW after 30...

 

[Embearded]

Damn, 35 years is a lot and he should have that drink. On October i will be 7 years at my place of work, and i have not understood how fast time flies.

My boss once told me, there are 3 possible outcomes for a company:

1. To be inherited.
2. To be sold.
3. To go bankrupt.

There is no other alternative, and to continue operating for ever with the initial conditions is impossible.

 

[IAmRei]

Dang, it's sad news...
I rarely on the srw side, mostly on SD Gen side. i wish their devs legacy can continue on other forms or other companies

 

[Hudo]

Older than me.

 

[killatopak]

Fuck.

So I'm stuck with mobile SRW which the latest, SRW DD and SRW Y, are.

Here I was wondering why there's been no mainline entry for such a long time when they chugged out V,T,X and 30 relatively quickly.

 

[jimmypython]

Even though the first SRW experience for me is SRW1 on the Gameboy. I have to say A was my "proper" intro to the series. And ARDJW are some of the best handheld gaming experience for me. I would even say some are better than the console SRW games. Too bad they have to go...

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

Man, title had me worried there for a second it was b.b. studio.
Sucks for A,I though, they worked on SRW W which was one of my favourites.
Sounds like they got hit with a series of unfortunate events, not having a lot of work after konami took over hudson, and then of course the nintendo switch getting rid of handled only nintendo SRW titles.

Here I was wondering why there's been no mainline entry for such a long time when they chugged out V,T,X and 30 relatively quickly.

That wasn't them, that was b.b. studio.

 

[TheThreadsThatBindUs]

Fuck Namco Bandai for sitting back and watching this studio collapse!

I fucking LOVE SRW, especially the O.G. games. If this means I won't get another one, then honestly fuck Namco right off a cliff.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

I fucking LOVE SRW, especially the O.G. games. If this means I won't get another one, then honestly fuck Namco right off a cliff.

Not the mainline studio, that's b.b. studio. A,I mostly worked on the nintendo handheld games.

 

[PeteBull]

 

[Madonis]

Sad news. They're the ones who made the portable SRW games for Nintendo handhelds and those were pretty good.

 

[Pasta la Vista]

Fuck. This is terrible news, huge fan of SRW especially OG.
Well at least my physical imports will become more valuable.

 

[MiguelItUp]

I was never into the games, but it was awesome to see them continue over the decades. Such a shame. While 35 years is a good run it would be cool to see them get saved.

 

[NanaMiku]

Man, title had me worried there for a second it was b.b. studio.
Sucks for A,I though, they worked on SRW W which was one of my favourites.
Sounds like they got hit with a series of unfortunate events, not having a lot of work after konami took over hudson, and then of course the nintendo switch getting rid of handled only nintendo SRW titles.


That wasn't them, that was b.b. studio.

Well, right now B.B Studio is no more too (Bamco renamed it), and Terada is now a freelancer. I'm kinda worried for Y