Asmodee has purchased CMON's Japon Brand, with plans to use the studio as the cornerpiece for its new Nekuma studio. The studio, purchased by CMON back in 2023, is best known for publishing games like Love Letter, Machi Koro, and Timebomb, bringing the Japanese-designed games to the international market. Japon Brand was originally founded back in 2006.
According to a press release announcing the sale, Japon Brand "will continue to operate with its existing expertise and relationships, now supported by asmodee’s global publishing and distribution network, with no impact on current partnership or contract."
The new studio Nekuma will have two goals - to source quality games from local designers for global release as well as bring in Asmodee games in for local Japanese players.
The sale of Japon Brand also continues a period of divestment for CMON, which has struggled in recent years due to tariffs and a backlog of unfulfilled crowdfunding projects. This includes the sale of several keystone IPs, including the Zombicide franchise and Cthulhu: Death May Die, both of which were picked up by Asmodee.
