Observed Signal · Jun 29, 2026 · Company Formation · Source: PocketGamer.biz · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Ex-Nikke Developers Launch Control9 Studio
Veteran developers from Shift Up’s Goddess of Victory: Nikke have founded a new studio called Control9 and are developing Miresi: Invisible Future, a time-travel RPG for PC and mobile. Control9 is led by co-CEOs Soon-gu Cho and Se-woong Kwon, with illustrator Hyung-sup Kim (Hyulla) heading art direction. Publisher Smilegate has opened pre-registrations and will offer a playable build at Anime Expo 2026 in North America, including special rewards for attendees who pre-register. Early expo feedback prompted plans to overhaul the game’s 3D models after higher satisfaction with 2D illustrations. Smilegate is also recruiting creators for a Partner Creator programme for those with 100+ followers.
Veteran developers launching an independent studio and a new IP is noteworthy for the games and interactive-entertainment ecosystem; Smilegate's pre-registration and creator recruitment signals planned global marketing and creator-led promotion, but the story is not a major strategic shift for AdTech/MarTech.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Former Shift Up developers established a new studio named Control9.
- Control9 is led by co-CEOs Soon-gu Cho and Se-woong Kwon.
- Control9’s debut title is Miresi: Invisible Future, a time-travel RPG for PC and mobile.
- Publisher Smilegate opened pre-registrations and will let Anime Expo 2026 visitors try Miresi in North America.
- Smilegate launched a Partner Creator programme recruiting creators with at least 100 followers; early expo feedback led the team to plan a complete overhaul of 3D models.
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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