Natsume Atari

Winning Entertainment Group is the current corporate name of the Japanese video game company historically known as Natsume Co., Ltd. and, from 2013 through 2025, Natsume Atari. The company was established in Japan in 1987 and developed games for home consoles, handheld systems, mobile platforms, and other publishers. Its earlier work was particularly associated with licensed and subcontracted software for systems such as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Boy Advance. Its clients and publishing partners included companies such as Imagineer, Bandai, THQ, and Taito. The company’s history is connected to, but distinct from, the separately operated American publisher Natsume Inc. Natsume Co., Ltd. established Natsume Inc. in the United States in 1988, and that American operation began publishing games in 1990. In 1995, Natsume Inc. became independent. Although the two companies retained the Natsume name and continued to collaborate on selected projects, they were no longer the same corporate entity. This distinction is important because Natsume Inc. published a number of titles developed by the Japanese company, while also operating its own publishing business. Natsume’s Japanese development activities covered both original software and licensed adaptations. The company worked on games connected with properties such as Power Rangers and developed entries in the Medarot series through the Game Boy Advance era. It also produced ports and other commissioned projects for outside publishers. Over time, the company became particularly visible among enthusiasts of technically polished action games, including Wild Guns, Shadow of the Ninja, Pocky & Rocky, and S.C.A.T., although some of these titles reached international audiences through Natsume Inc. rather than through the Japanese company’s own publishing operation. The organization also expanded beyond conventional console development. In 2002, Natsume established Atari Inc. in Osaka as a pachinko-related company specializing in slot and pinball-machine development. This Atari entity was unrelated to the American video game company Atari. A web and mobile-oriented operation began in 2005 under Natsume Solution and was subsequently merged with Evolve in 2006. In October 2013, Natsume Co., Ltd. changed its name to Natsume Atari after merging with its pachinko subsidiary. The company continued to develop software and maintained relationships with Natsume Inc., while also supporting projects aimed at reviving classic game properties. Its internal Tengo Project team, active since at least 2008, became associated with modern reinterpretations of older action games. These projects included Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors, and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined. On January 1, 2026, the company adopted the name Winning Entertainment Group. The rebrand was presented as the beginning of a new corporate chapter. Natsume Atari remains used for international operations in Europe and the Middle East, including an office in Bahrain, while Natsume Inc. continues as an affiliate rather than as the same company. The group’s documented business remains centered on video-game development and publishing, with additional historical experience in pachinko, web systems, mobile services, and commissioned software production.

Winning Entertainment Group traces its origins to the establishment of Natsume Co., Ltd. in Japan on October 20, 1987. The company entered the video-game business during the formative home-console and handheld eras, developing original titles, licensed adaptations, ports, and commissioned projects for other publishers. Its work was distributed through a network that included the American Natsume operation, which had been founded in 1988 and became independently owned and operated in 1995. During the NES, SNES, and Game Boy eras, the Japanese company built experience in action games, licensed entertainment properties, and subcontracted development. It worked with publishers including Imagineer, Bandai, THQ, and Taito. The company also developed Medarot games through the end of the Game Boy Advance period. Internationally recognized releases associated with its development history include Wild Guns, Shadow of the Ninja, Pocky & Rocky, and S.C.A.T.; however, publishing responsibilities varied, and the independent Natsume Inc. often handled releases outside Japan. Natsume expanded into adjacent businesses during the 2000s. In October 2002 it established Atari Inc. in Osaka, a pachinko-oriented company working on slot and pinball machines. This subsidiary was not affiliated with the American Atari video-game company. In May 2005, Natsume Solution began operating in Shinjuku with a focus on website development, mobile services, and web-system development. It was merged with Evolve in March 2006. The Japanese parent changed its name to Natsume Atari in October 2013 after merging with Atari Inc. The new name reflected the combined corporate structure, while the company remained separate from Natsume Inc. in the United States. The two organizations nevertheless continued to cooperate on selected releases and projects. Natsume Atari later became associated with the Tengo Project, an internal team formed by at least 2008. Tengo Project focused increasingly on updated versions of classic-style action games. Its work included Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors, and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined. These projects combined older design concepts with modern platforms and presentation, helping maintain the company’s profile among audiences interested in retro-inspired games. The company adopted the name Winning Entertainment Group on January 1, 2026. The change marked the end of the Natsume Atari corporate-name period in Japan, although Natsume Atari remains the name used for international operations in Europe and the Middle East, including an office in Bahrain. Natsume Inc. remains an affiliate and separately operated company. The group’s documented activities encompass game development, publishing, licensed software, mobile and web services, and historical pachinko-related development.

• 2026

  The company becomes Winning Entertainment Group

  [1]Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org

  On January 1, 2026, the Japanese company adopted its current corporate name.

• 2013

  The company becomes Natsume Atari

  [1]Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org

  Natsume Co., Ltd. changed its name after merging with its pachinko subsidiary Atari Inc.

• 2006

  Natsume Solution merges with Evolve

  [1]Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org

  The web and mobile solutions operation was merged with Evolve on March 1, 2006.

• 2005

  Natsume Solution begins operations

  [1]Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org

  The Shinjuku-based operation began providing website, mobile, and web-system development services.

• 2002

  Atari Inc. is established in Osaka

  [1]Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org

  Natsume founded a pachinko-focused subsidiary working on slot and pinball machines.

• 1995

  Natsume Inc. becomes independent

  [1]Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org

  The American Natsume operation separated from the Japanese company and has since been separately owned and operated.

• 1988

  Natsume Inc. is established in the United States

  [1]Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org

  The Japanese company established Natsume Inc., which later became an independent American company.

• 1987

  Natsume Co., Ltd. is founded

  [1]Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org

  The Japanese company was established on October 20, 1987, creating the corporate foundation from which Winning Entertainment Group developed.

A Japanese game-development and publishing company with roots in licensed and commissioned console software, later known for technically focused action-game revivals and related entertainment development.

• Action video game

  Wild Guns

  A western-themed action title associated with the company’s classic console development work. The game became one of the company’s best-known properties and later received a modernized version through Tengo Project.

• Action video game

  Wild Guns Reloaded

  A modern revival of Wild Guns developed through the company’s Tengo Project initiative. It preserves the original game’s arcade-style action identity while extending the classic property for contemporary platforms.

• Platform action game

  Shadow of the Ninja

  A side-scrolling action game from the company’s earlier console-development history. It is among the classic properties later associated with the company’s broader retro-revival expertise.

• Action video game

  The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors

  A modern reinterpretation of a classic ninja action game, developed as part of the company’s effort to update established action properties for newer hardware and audiences.

• Shoot-'em-up action game

  Pocky & Rocky Reshrined

  A contemporary revival of the Pocky & Rocky property. The title reflects the company’s continued work on retro-inspired action games and its relationship with classic Japanese console franchises.

• Role-playing video game series

  Medarot

  A video-game series for which the Japanese company developed entries through the Game Boy Advance era. Some games in the series were published outside Japan by Natsume Inc.

• Video-game development services

  Licensed and commissioned games

  A substantial part of the company’s historical business involved producing licensed games, original subcontracted projects, and ports for other publishers. Documented clients included Imagineer, Bandai, THQ, and Taito, with work spanning console and handheld platforms.

• 2026

  Adopt the Winning Entertainment Group nameStrategy

  Background

  After operating as Natsume Atari since 2013, the Japanese company began a new corporate-name phase.

  Action taken

  The company changed its name to Winning Entertainment Group on January 1, 2026.

  Aftermath

  Natsume Atari remains in use for international operations in Europe and the Middle East, while Natsume Inc. continues as an affiliate.

  Source

• 2013

  Merge with Atari Inc. and rename as Natsume AtariM&A

  Background

  Natsume Co., Ltd. had operated a pachinko subsidiary named Atari Inc. since 2002. The subsidiary was unrelated to the American Atari video-game company.

  Action taken

  The Japanese company merged with the subsidiary and changed its corporate name to Natsume Atari in October 2013.

  Aftermath

  The company continued its game-development activities under the Natsume Atari name while remaining separate from Natsume Inc.

  Source

1. 1Natsume Atarien.wikipedia.org