Drecom Co., Ltd. (株式会社ドリコム,Kabushiki Gaisha Dorikomu) is a Japanese software, web, video game development andvideo game publishing company. SubsidiariesDrecom Media and DRE Novels publishlight novels.
In 2003, Drecom started MyProfile, a service where users could write self-introductions and publish diaries. In September 2004, MyProfile was renamed to Drecom Blog, and upgraded with features better suited to blogging.[4] The Drecom Blog service, which had over 230,000 members, ended in March 2010.[5] It was announced that the personal service operation would be transferred toLivedoor, merging with Livedoor Blog.[6] The corporate blogging packages were to be transferred to GaiaX.[7]
On January 15, 2021, Drecom launched fan community service Rooot, which utilizesTwitter to connect fans with each other in order to boost fandom via point incentives.[8][9][10]
On July 5, 2018, the company released LoveChain, a service developed by the Drecom Invention Project department usingblockchain technology, in both Japanese and English. With this service, couples could register their memories and promises together in the form of text and photographs toEthereum's blockchain, preserving them. In the event of a breakup, couples had the ability to delete their pages, retaining the ability to create new ones for future relationships.[11][12]
In a July 2022 interview, President Yuki Naito expressed an interest in releasing ablockchain game within the year.[13] Naito further elaborated on his interest inWeb3, stating that he hopes to get people more familiar and comfortable with the technology, including NFTs, via games such as the upcoming GGGGG.[14]
On March 21, 2008.Rakuten announced its investment in 20.02% of Drecom's shares, becoming an equity-method affiliate. The two companies additionally made an agreement to form an internet advertising business alliance, leading to the user targeting technology of Rakuten ad4U.[15][16]
On September 12, 2014, Drecom and Rakuten formed a joint venture, Social Learning Junbi Kaisha, in which Drecom owned 50.01%, with Drecom's Manabu Ishii as company president. Drecom's social learning business, which developed apps includingEipontan!, were to be split off and taken over by Social Learning Junbi Kaisha on November 5 of that year.[17] According to a Drecom financial report, Social Learning Junbi Kaisha was renamed to ReDucate on November 5, 2014.[18]
On May 12, 2016, it was announced that ReDucate would undergo a third-party allotment, changing the company from a subsidiary of Drecom to an equity-method affiliate. The business model was to shift from B2C to B2B, based on Rakuten's strength in that area.[19]
On September 19, 2018, Drecom announced the dissolution of its capital and business alliance with Rakuten, as Rakuten had sold all of its shares in the company toBandai Namco Holdings for 3 billion yen.[20]
On March 1, 2020, it was reported that ReDucate was to disband, and its titles, including Eipontan!, were to close by the end of the next year.[21]
Drecom first announced its cooperation withCrowdStar on December 15, 2009, along with the news that it would be localizing their title Happy Aquarium and offering it as a mixi application, along with plans to develop a mobile version.[22] On August 25, 2010,CrowdStar announced its partnership with Drecom for the purpose of publishing its social games in Japan. Drecom launched CrowdStar titles Happy Aquarium and Happy Island on mixi, GREE,Yahoo! Mobage, and Hangame, with plans for the entire CrowdStar catalog to follow.[23][24][25] The partnership was said to allow CrowdStar to launch its games in Japan more quickly, localize, test new mechanics, and improve its marketing.[26][27][28][29][30] On November 11, 2010, Drecom additionally released CrowdStar simulation game HappyPets on Hangame.[31]
On October 31, 2016, wholly owned subsidiary Grimoire (developer of Sword x Sword, Dragon x Dreizehn, and Brave Sword x Blaze Soul in the sameMaken Denshō series, the latter of which has continued separately from Drecom) was sold to mobile game developing and management company Happy Elements, Ltd. for 226 million yen.[32][33]
On August 3, 2017, Drecom, Ltd. andBandai Namco Entertainment partnered and co-founded subsidiary BXD (shorthand for "Breakthrough x Digital Life").[34] BXD created the HTML5 gaming platform enza, which amassed over 5,000,000 players in 2019, bringing the project into profit in its second year of operation. It also created titlesDragon Ball Z Bucchigiri Match,Idolmaster Shiny Colors, Pro Yakyuu Famista Master Owners, andNaruto x Boruto Ninja Tribes.[35][36][37][38][39][40][41]
On January 31, 2020, an agreement was made for Drecom to sell its remaining 49% stake in BXD to Bandai Namco Entertainment, which made it a fully owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco when the acquisition was completed in March 2020.[42][43][44][45][46][47]
On June 7, 2023, Drecom pre-opened a manga publishing website called "DRE Comics".[48]
Chocotto Farm, a farming simulation game that has been running since January 18, 2011 on GREE, December 15, 2011, on mixi, August 20, 2013, onDoCoMo's dGame platform, February 19, 2014, on Mobage, and December 8, 2015, on Ameba.[49][50][51][52][53] A special package of in-game items was offered as a bonus with the debut issue ofFamitsu GREE magazine.[54] The title has featured various collaborations withSanrio characters, including a campaign for the 20th anniversary ofCinnamoroll, as well as a separate event collaboration withMofy.[55][56][57][58][59][60][61] Although standalone Android and iPhone versions of the game had also been released, they were both discontinued on November 27, 2019. However the browser version still remain active.[62]
Disgaea RPG, a mobile entry in theDisgaea series, released on November 27, 2019, for Android and iOS and on August 25, 2020, for PC via DMM Games.[63][64]
Derby Stallion Masters, the first mobile entry in the Derby Stallion series, released on November 1, 2016, for Android and November 2, 2016, for iOS. Over 100,000 people signed up for the game in advance of its release.[65][66]
Evil Prince and the Puppet, an upcoming Android and iOS release scheduled for 2024, a dark fantasy adventure title aimed at the female market and planned/developed by Liber Entertainment (creators ofA3!). The main scenario is written by Takumi Miyajima, who worked onTales of the Abyss.[67][68][69][70][71]
Kirara Fantasia A fantasy RPG based on Manga Time Kirara, for Android and iOS. Over 770,000 people signed up for the game in advance of its December 11, 2017 release.[72] Although the online mode is scheduled to close following maintenance on February 28, 2023, at 4 PM JST, the offline mode will remain playable afterwards for those who have already created data for it by that time.[73]
New Japan Pro Wrestling Strong Spirits, a raising simulation game developed in collaboration withBushiroad and featuring a starting roster of over 40 actual Japanese pro wrestlers, released worldwide for Android and iOS on February 28, 2022.[85] Over 400,000 people signed up to join the game in advance. In the game, players train the wrestlers and battle them, accompanied by video of the real-life wrestlers.[86] Starting on August 10, following maintenance (and continuing in later waves), women's professional wrestling promotionStardom wrestlers were added to the game, beginning withSyuri and Manatsu Iwatani.[87][88][89][90][91][92] A collaborative exhibition with Stardom was also run.[93] Additional campaigns have featuredWrestling Dontaku andNJPW Dominion.[94][95]
One Piece Treasure Cruise, an RPG released on May 12, 2014, for iOS and Android.[96][97][98][99] In November 2014, the game hit #1 in sales rankings on the iPhone App Store, and also held onto that spot at the time of its 5th anniversary in 2019.[100][101] The game was additionally released in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Australia on February 4, 2015, at which time it had already been downloaded over 10,000,000 times.[102]
Project BEAT (working title), an upcoming versus fighting action game announced for Android and iOS.[103][104]
Tokyo Stories, announced for console and PC release on unannounced date, fromRain director Yuki Ikeda and featuring a style that combines 3D andpixel art.[105][106]
Wizardry Variants Daphne, a 3D dungeon RPG installment in theWizardry series for smartphones released on October 15, 2024 and for PC released on March 6, 2025 viaSteam.[107] It was initially announced under the temporary titleWizardry VA.[108][109][110][111][112][113] Drecom has announced the acquisition of international trademarks for "Wizardry", as well as copyrights for “Wizardry 6,” “Wizardry 7,” “Wizardry 8,” and “Wizardry Gold.”[114][115]
Bikkuriman, a social card battle game released on April 18, 2011, for Android,GREE, andmixi, using the angel and devil themes of the chocolate wafers of the same name.[116] As of December 17, 2012, when a Google Play version of the game was released for Android, it already had over 1,000,000 players.[117]
Cinderella Nine, a baseball scouting and raising sim game for smartphones and feature phones, initially released on Mobage and GREE. After it had over 300,000 players between the two platforms, it was additionally released for mixi on September 5, 2012.[118]
D Cide Traumerei, a turn-based RPG released on September 30, 2021, for Android and iOS, with a DMM PC version released on January 19, 2022; a closed beta test was run from July 29 until August 2, 2021. It was accompanied by a TV anime series, animated bySanzigen, and featured motifs of theCthulhu mythos.[119][120][121][122][123] The game was written by Tadashi Satomi, who was also the writer forPersona 2: Innocent Sin andThe Caligula Effect, and featured theme song "Kemono no Kotowari", which was written byRingo Shiina, composed bySeiji Kameda, and arranged byTokyo Jihen.[124] It was discontinued on October 28, 2022.[125]
Dakkan! Mappa Mundi, released on August 9, 2012, for smartphones and feature phones via GREE. This game was Drecom's first original game created through foreign subsidiary, Snout. The game system was developed based on Drecom's hit titleSengoku Frontier. The title is Latin, meaning "world map".[126]
Dragon x Dreizehn, a fantasy card battle game released for feature phones and smartphones via GREE on July 20, 2012, developed by then-subsidiary Grimoire, and part of theMaken Denshō series along withSword x Sword and later releaseBrave Sword x Blaze Soul. This title later became the basis for Drecom'sReign of Dragons.[127]
Eipontan! Anata no Level de Manaberu Eitango ("Eipontan! English vocabulary that can be learned at your level"), a socialedutainment game for learning English, released on both Android and iOS on December 17, 2013. As of March 5, 2014, it had been downloaded over 1,000,000 times.[128][129] A collaboration campaign ran featuringSan-X characterRilakkuma.[130]
Fantasista Doll Girls Royale Based on the anime Fantasista Doll, this game was released for iOS on September 2, 2013, and for Android on October 18, 2013. In its first four days, the iOS version had been downloaded over 100,000 times.[131][132][133][134]
Gakeppuchi Busters, an action RPG game for smartphones, released on April 27, 2015.[149][150][151][152][153]
GGGGG, a cooperative and versus fighting mobile game which uses blockchain technology. Up to 100 players can compete against each other in a battle royale, teams can be formed of up to four people for cooperative dungeon exploration; various battle modes will be featured.[154][155] Advance signups were opened on the App Store and Google Play on September 20, 2022. A limited run of 3,456 in-gameNFT skins will be offered, of which there will only be one of each worldwide.[156][157][158] Although these NFTs are free to mint, the game can be fully played without them.[159][160][161] Service ended in November 30, 2023.[162]
Guildian Brave, a social card battle game released via GREE on January 18, 2013.[163]
Himegami Blade, a social card battle game set in the Sengoku era and released for smartphones and feature phones via GREE on September 14, 2012.[118]
Kamioku no Frontier, a card battle game released for smartphones and feature phones via GREE in June 2013. Users could create their own original cards, using over 10,000,000 possible combinations of customizations.[164][165]
Kronos Mirai Senki, a social card battle game released on October 12, 2012, for smartphones and feature phones via mixi and on December 26, 2012, via Mobage.[166][167]
Maple Story Brave Monsters, a GREE release playable on iPhone, Android, and feature phones. It reached 100,000 players in approximately two weeks.[168][169]
Miko Note, amiko raising sim and 3D action RPG released on February 21, 2022, for Android and iOS.[170] The game had initially been announced on February 5, 2019, by Korean development company MADORCA.[171] An accompanying web short anime was also released, along with a set of LINE stickers.[172][173][174][175] It had been featured by FamitsuApp as an anticipated release for 2022.[176] The game closed in July 2022.[177][178][179][180]
Monster Arms, a social card battle game for iOS, released in Japan on April 24, 2012, after first being released in Canada and the United States. Players were able to connect with users in different countries.[181][182][183]
Onmyoji ~Heian Youkitan~, released on December 20, 2010, for Android and iOS, via GREE and mixi.[184]
Reign of Dragons, an Android and iOS successor toDragon x Dreizehn, released in both Japan and the United States via GREE.[185] It was additionally released in China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan on April 9, 2014, under the title 龙之崛起-风靡欧美战争卡牌. At that time, it had already been installed over 4,000,000 times, and ranked in the top 10 App Store games in the United States.[186]
Seikoku no Jeanne d'Arc, aGREE exclusive with scenarios by Ichiro Tezuka[187][188]
Sangoku Frontier, aRomance of the Three Kingdoms-themed social game, released for smartphones and feature phones via GREE on August 21, 2012.[189]
Sengoku Frontier, a social card battle game for Android, iOS, feature phones,GREE andmixi. As of September 18, 2012, the game had over 500,000 players on GREE and 100,000 on mixi.[190][191]
Spirit Force, Drecom's first native iOS game, which was released on April 9, 2012.[192]
Sword x Sword, a February 22, 2012 GREE release for smartphones and feature phones.[193] It was developed by then-subsidiary Grimoire, and part of theMaken Denshō series along withDragon x Dreizehn and later releaseBrave Sword x Blaze Soul. In April 2021, the 10th anniversary of this game was commemorated with a special illustration from Kawasumi, a 10th anniversary logo designed by staff from the time, and a message from the producers.[194]
World of Final Fantasy Meli-Melo aFinal Fantasy monster summoning and raising simulation RPG released on December 12, 2017, for Android and iOS, featuringShinji Hashimoto as executive producer and Hiroki Chiba as director.[195] Over 400,000 people signed up for the game in advance.[196] Based on thePlayStation 4 andPlayStation Vita titleWorld of Final Fantasy, it was billed as "the cutest Final Fantasy". The game ended approximately one year later, on December 13, 2018, with Twitter users lamenting its short operation period and wishing for a console release.[197]
Yankee Legend, a GREE social card battle game released on April 19, 2011.[198]
