Com2uS (Korean컴투스) is a South Korean mobile and online game development/publishing company established in 1998.[1] Com2uS develops games for Android, iOS, and other platforms.[2] The company's corporate offices are located in the United States, Korea, Japan, and China.

Com2uS
KRX: 078340
IndustryVideo games
Founded1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Founders
  • Jiyoung Park
  • Youngil Lee
  • Yu Jin Hyeon
Headquarters,
ParentCom2uS Holdings
WebsiteOfficial website

In 2007, Com2uS was listed on KOSDAQ.[3] On October 4, 2013, Gamevil acquired a majority stake in Com2uS for a little over $65 million.[4][5]

Com2us launched Summoners War in 2014 and subsequently went on to earn more than $1 billion in revenue from the game in over three years.[6][7][8][9][10] The results sky-rocketed the stock price of the company to over 1.3 trillion won as of April 2019.

History

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Com2uS Corporation was founded in 1998 by Korea University students Jiyoung Park, Youngil Lee, and Yu Jin (Gin) Hyeon, who developed games for mobile devices.

On September 10, 2008, the mobile game division of Disney (Disney Interactive) made a deal with Com2uS in which the latter would develop games for the former to publish and distribute in the United States. Disney Puzzle Family was the first game developed under the agreement, which was released later that month. The next title with Disney Interactive, Disney Game Parade, was released the following year.[11]

In 2008, Com2uS registered a trademark for the term "Tower Defense". Many developers who make tower defense games have changed their games because of this, including Ninja Kiwi's games in the Bloons Tower Defense series.[12] During early 2010, some developers in Apple's App Store affected by this change had reported receiving messages asking them to change names of games, citing trademark violation.[13][14]

On October 4, 2013, Gamevil acquired 21.37% of Com2us for $65 million.[4]

In January 2020, Com2uS teamed up with Skybound Entertainment, a U.S. entertainment company, to create a mobile game based on The Walking Dead series.[15]

On October 18, 2021, Com2uS announced that it had invested a total of 350 billion won ($295 million) in media and gaming companies that year.[16] Investments included acquiring 13.7% of Wysiwyg Studios in March, and an additional investment in August bringing its total stake in the company to 38.11%. Earlier in the year, In February 2021, Com2uS became the second-largest shareholder in Devsisters with a total 14.88% stake. Com2uS also acquired 2.1% stake in K bank, as well as investments into Allm, Grampus, Jungle Studios, Whynot Media, and Mediacan.

On November 30, 2021, Gamevil changed its corporate name to ‘Com2uS Holdings’ after 21 years in order to strengthen its holding role and increase cooperation with other affiliates in hopes of increasing its reach at a time of rapid global expansion.[17]

On March 28, 2022, Com2uS announced the acquisition of My Music Taste controlling a 58.5% stake in the company.[18]

The company launched its metaverse platform Com2Verse in July 2023, but began downsizing two months later after operating at a net loss.[19] In August, Com2uS partnered with Firefly Games, The Sandbox, and Formless Capital to form MetaWorld Entertainment, a new venture that would focus on Web3 experiences.[20] On November 1, 2022, Com2uS acquired a 4.2% stake in SM Entertainment.[21]

In January 2023, and subsequent 2024 Com2uS began looking for employees to voluntarily resign,[22] following an extended period of operating at a loss, as it looked to cut "a two-digit number of people."[22]

Com2uS said October 28, 2024 it will begin service of its subculture title, "Starseed: Asnia Trigger," in North America and two other English-speaking nations later this week.[23]

Summoners War

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The Summoners War series is the largest franchise of the company. Sky Arena the first in the series is a turn based RPG. The Lost Centuria is an earlier example of the now popular gacha game subgenre, with added elements of their previous series. Chronicles is their most recent installment and allows open world exploration as a MMORPG. Aside from the games the Summoners War series also has a light novel,[24] titled Summoners War: Summoner Combat and a comic Summoners War: Legacy.

Awards

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Game Awards[25]
Games Awards Year
Summoners War: Chronicles won the Grand Prize at the 2022 Korea Game Award 2022
Summoners War Wins OGN G-Rank Global Special Award 2016
Summoners Wars Winner of Korea Game Awards Excellence Prize & Technology Award 2014
Slice It Winner of 2010 Korea Game Grand Prize 2010
Super Action Hero 2 Winner of the Korea Game Awards Excellence Prize / Game Character Award 2008
Super Action Hero Winner of the 'Best Game Design Award' in China's 3rd Excellent Mobile Game Award 2008
Mini Game Paradise 3 Winner of Korea Game Grand Prix 2007
Mini Game Paradise Awarded Minister of Culture and Tourism Prize for Korea Cultural Contents Export Award in 2003

Other Awards

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Source:[25]

  1. Com2uS, Wins the 16th Korean Consumption Culture Awards
  2. Com2uS, Selected as the Top 5 Global Developers by UK Pocket Gamer
  3. Com2uS, Winner of the US 2015 DARI Award 'Korea Enterprise of the Year'
  4. Com2uS Hub, Winner of the 7th Korea Internet Grand Prize Presidential Award
  5. Com2uS, Wins the Presidential Commendation for the 9th Gender Equality Employment Equity Award
  6. Com2uS Wins the 4th Prime Minister's Software Industry Development Award

Studios

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List of studios
Name Location Acquired Ref(s).
Day7 Seoul, South Korea 2019 [26]
Nova Factory Seoul, South Korea 2019 [27]
Mana Core Seoul, South Korea 2019 [28]
Com2uS Tygem (formerly Dongyang Online) Seoul, South Korea 2020 [29]
Tikitaka Studio Seoul, South Korea 2020 [30]
Out of the Park Developments Berlin, Germany 2020 [31]
allm Seoul, South Korea 2021 [32]
FunFlow Seoul, South Korea 2021 [33]

Games

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Summoners War

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The Walking Dead

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  • The Walking Dead: All-Stars: A mobile idle survival role-playing video game available both on Android and iOS.[34] It was released globally on August 31, 2022.[35] It features a vast array of characters and skills, as well as idle battle and collection systems.[36] In this game, players must strategically recruit survivors and collect resources through a variety of story-driven modes and in-game events to build and evolve their own sanctuary while fighting against zombies to survive.[37]

Other

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  • 9 Innings: Pro Baseball
  • Ace Fishing: Paradise Blue
  • Caligo Chaser
  • Chocolate Tycoon
  • Chronicles of Inotia 2: Wanderer of Luone
  • Chronicles of Inotia 3: Children of Carnia
  • Chronicles of Inotia 4: Assassin of Berkel
  • Chronicles of Inotia: Legend of Feanor
  • Crazy Hotdogs
  • Dead City
  • Dragon Sky
  • East Legend
  • Escape the Ape
  • Gold Jumper
  • Golfstar
  • GrandPar Golf
  • Heavy Gunner 3D
  • Heir of Light: Eclipse
  • Home Run Battle 2
  • Home Run Battle 3D
  • IMO: The World Of Magic
  • Inotia
  • Magic Tree by Com2uS (Social Network Game on iOS and Android)
  • Mini Game Paradise
  • Piggy Adventure
  • Puzzle Family
  • Queen's Crown
  • Skylanders Ring of Heroes!
  • Slice It!
  • Sniper Vs Sniper: Online
  • Starseed: Asnia Trigger
  • SummitX Snowboarding
  • Super Action Hero
  • Third Blade
  • Tiny Farm by Com2uS (Award at Korean Game Conference 2012, 13 million players in 2013)
  • Tower Defense: Lost Earth
  • Witch Wars
  • World of Tunes
  • Zombie Runaway
  • MLB9Innings23

Discontinued

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  • Arel Wars
  • Arel Wars 2
  • Kung Fu Pets
  • Soul Seeker
  • Zenonia 1,2 & 3
  • Soccer Spirits

References

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  1. ^ shoops (2021-06-23). "Sauvez les animaux marins en voie d'extinction : Com2uS organise une campagne de protection de l'environnement pour les 7 ans de Summoners War !". Lev3lup.be (in French). Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  2. ^ "Com2uS launches 'Summoners War' global environmental protection campaign". The Korea IT Times (in Korean). 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  3. ^ "Com2uS Corporate :: Company | iPhone Games, iPod Touch Games, iPad Games, Android Games". Global.com2us.com. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  4. ^ a b Hodapp, Eli (October 4, 2013). "Gamevil Just Bought Com2uS For Roughly $65m".
  5. ^ "GAMEVIL COM2US Japan、『サマナーズウォー: Sky Arena』『サマナーズウォー:ロストセンチュリア』でクロスイベント開始!". Social Game Info (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  6. ^ Cowley, Ric. "Summoners War clears $1 billion in lifetime revenues three years after launch". pocketgamer.biz.
  7. ^ "Summoners War-Entwickler Com2uS startet Operation: Rette die Meerestiere! - PIXEL". www.pixel-magazin.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  8. ^ "COM2US、『サマナーズウォー:ロストセンチュリア』で新規スペシャルモード実装や夏コンセプトを適用したシーズン3アップデートを実施". Social Game Info (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  9. ^ "GAMEVIL COM2US Japan、『サマナーズウォー:ロストセンチュリア』でアップデート実施! 「親善大会」や 新規モンスター2種も実装". Social Game Info (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  10. ^ Sheehan, Gavin (2021-06-22). "Summoners War: Sky Arena Reveals Seventh Anniversary Milestones". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  11. ^ Kapko, Matt (2008-09-10). "@ CTIA: mDisney: Development Deal With Korean Game Company Com2uS; Fall Games Lineup". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  12. ^ Jordan, Jon (25 January 2010). "Com2uS "guides" developers not to use its trademark Tower Defense". PocketGamer.biz. Archived from the original on 2010-11-29. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  13. ^ Jordan, Jon (January 25, 2010). "Com2uS "guides" developers not to use its trademark Tower Defense". PocketGamer.biz. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013.
  14. ^ Slashandburn/Mgate Labs (January 21, 2010). ""Tower Defense" is now up for CP Infringement". Touch Arcade. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  15. ^ "Com2uS partners with US entertainment company to create 'Walking Dead' mobile game". www.ajudaily.com. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  16. ^ "Com2uS invests ₩350 billion in media, gaming companies". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2021-10-18. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  17. ^ "Gamevil is officially renaming itself to Com2uS Holdings". www.gamingonphone.com. 2021-11-30.
  18. ^ Chang-won, Lim (2022-03-28). "Game developer Com2uS acquires controlling stake in K-pop platform MyMusicTaste". www.ajudaily.com. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  19. ^ Park, Danny (2023-09-22). "South Korea's Kakao, Com2Us wind down metaverse units". forkast.news. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  20. ^ Tan, Cindy (2022-08-09). "Firefly Games Partners with The Sandbox and Com2Us to Form MetaWorld Entertainment". NFTgators. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  21. ^ "Com2uS acquires 4.2 percent stake in SM Entertainment". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  22. ^ a b "Game publishers cancel titles, cut employees as economy struggles". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  23. ^ "Com2uS to begin service of subculture game 'Starseed' in North America this week". Yonhap News. 2024.
  24. ^ "Summoners War: Sky Arena | Com2uS". summonerswar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  25. ^ a b "Com2uS". us.com2us.com. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  26. ^ "Day 7 |". Com2uS.
  27. ^ "Nova Factory |". Com2uS.
  28. ^ "Mana Core |". Com2uS.
  29. ^ "Com2uS Tygem |". Com2uS.
  30. ^ "Tikitaka Studio |". Com2uS.
  31. ^ "Out of the Park Developments |". Com2uS.
  32. ^ "allm |". Com2uS.
  33. ^ "FunFlow |". Com2uS.
  34. ^ Kelly, Erron. "The Walking Dead: All-Stars is officially out". GamesBeat. GamesBeat. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  35. ^ Kelly, Erron. "The Walking Dead: All-Stars is officially out". VentureBeat. GamesBeat. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  36. ^ Kelly, Erron. "The Walking Dead: All-Stars is officially out". GamesBeat. GamesBeat.
  37. ^ Bunn, Glenn. "Walking Dead: All Stars - New TWD Survival RPG Revealed". Screenrant. Screenrant.
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