View source for Com2uS

{{Short description|South Korean mobile and online gaming company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Com2uS
| logo = Com2uS.svg
| traded_as = {{kosdaq|078340}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1998}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Jiyoung Park|Youngil Lee|Yu Jin Hyeon}}
| location_city = [[Seoul]]
| location_country = [[South Korea]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| parent = [[Gamevil|Com2uS Holdings]]
| homepage = [https://com2us.com Official website]
}}
'''Com2uS''' ({{Korean|hangul=컴투스}}) is a South Korean mobile and [[online game]] development/publishing company established in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|last=shoops|date=2021-06-23|title=Sauvez les animaux marins en voie d'extinction : Com2uS organise une campagne de protection de l'environnement pour les 7 ans de Summoners War !|url=https://lev3lup.be/sauvez-les-animaux-marins-en-voie-dextinction-com2us-organise-une-campagne-de-protection-de-lenvironnement-pour-les-7-ans-de-summoners-war/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Lev3lup.be|language=fr-BE}}</ref> Com2uS develops games for Android, [[iOS]], and other platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-21|title=Com2uS launches 'Summoners War' global environmental protection campaign|url=http://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=106693|access-date=2021-07-19|website=[[The Korea IT Times]]|language=ko}}</ref> The company's corporate offices are located in the [[United States]], Korea, [[Japan]], and [[China]].
In 2007, Com2uS was listed on [[KOSDAQ]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://global.com2us.com/about |title=Com2uS Corporate :: Company &#124; iPhone Games, iPod Touch Games, iPad Games, Android Games |publisher=Global.com2us.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-04}}</ref> On October 4, 2013, [[Gamevil]] acquired a majority stake in Com2uS for a little over $65 million.<ref name="toucharcade.com">{{Cite web|url=https://toucharcade.com/2013/10/04/gamevil-just-bought-com2us-for-roughly-65m/|title=Gamevil Just Bought Com2uS For Roughly $65m|first=Eli|last=Hodapp|date=October 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=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！|url=http://gamebiz.jp/?p=299145|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Social Game Info|language=ja}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/66387/summoners-war-1-billion-lifetime-revenues/|title=Summoners War clears $1 billion in lifetime revenues three years after launch|first1=Ric|last1=Cowley|website=pocketgamer.biz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Summoners War-Entwickler Com2uS startet Operation: Rette die Meerestiere! - PIXEL.|url=https://www.pixel-magazin.de/summoners-war-entwickler-com2us-startet-operation-rette-die-meerestiere/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=www.pixel-magazin.de|language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=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|url=http://gamebiz.jp/?p=299115|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Social Game Info|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=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|url=http://gamebiz.jp/?p=300234|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Social Game Info|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sheehan|first=Gavin|date=2021-06-22|title=Summoners War: Sky Arena Reveals Seventh Anniversary Milestones|url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/summoners-war-sky-arena-reveals-seventh-anniversary-milestones/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|language=en}}</ref> The results sky-rocketed the stock price of the company to over 1.3 trillion won as of April 2019.
==History==
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 [[The Walt Disney Company|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.<ref name=wpost>{{cite news|accessdate=2011-06-27|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/10/AR2008091001436.html|title=@ CTIA: mDisney: Development Deal With Korean Game Company Com2uS; Fall Games Lineup|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2008-09-10|author=Kapko, Matt}}</ref>
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.<ref name="towerdefense-trademark">{{cite news|url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/r/PG.Biz/Com2uS+news/news.asp?c=17997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129201058/http://www.pocketgamer.biz/r/PG.Biz/Com2uS%2Bnews/news.asp?c=17997|archive-date=2010-11-29|title=Com2uS "guides" developers not to use its trademark Tower Defense|last=Jordan|first=Jon|date=25 January 2010|work=PocketGamer.biz|access-date=27 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> During early 2010, some developers in [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[App Store]] affected by this change had reported receiving messages asking them to change names of games, citing [[trademark infringement|trademark violation]].<ref name="Pocketbiz2010">{{cite news|url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/17997/com2us-guides-developers-not-to-use-its-trademark-tower-defense/|title=Com2uS "guides" developers not to use its trademark Tower Defense|last=Jordan|first=Jon|date=January 25, 2010|work=PocketGamer.biz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530143312/http://www.pocketgamer.biz/r/PG.Biz/Com2uS+news/news.asp?c=17997 |archive-date=May 30, 2013}}</ref><ref name=MgateLabs2010>{{cite web|last1=Slashandburn/Mgate Labs|title="Tower Defense" is now up for CP Infringement|url=http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=42234|website=Touch Arcade|access-date=May 8, 2015|date=January 21, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081915/http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=42234|archive-date=May 18, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
On October 4, 2013, [[Gamevil]] acquired 21.37% of Com2us for $65 million.<ref name="toucharcade.com"/>
In January 2020, Com2uS teamed up with [[Skybound Entertainment]], a U.S. entertainment company, to create a mobile game based on ''[[The Walking Dead (comic book)|The Walking Dead]]'' series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ajudaily.com/view/20200130113120020|title=Com2uS partners with US entertainment company to create 'Walking Dead' mobile game|date=2020-01-30|website=www.ajudaily.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-18 |title=Com2uS invests ￦350 billion in media, gaming companies |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/10/18/business/industry/com2us/20211018180605758.html |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |language=en}}</ref> 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|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gamingonphone.com/news/gamevil-is-officially-renaming-itself-to-com2us-holdings/|title=Gamevil is officially renaming itself to Com2uS Holdings|date=2021-11-30|website=www.gamingonphone.com|language=en}}</ref>
On March 28, 2022, Com2uS announced the acquisition of My Music Taste controlling a 58.5% stake in the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang-won |first=Lim |date=2022-03-28 |title=Game developer Com2uS acquires controlling stake in K-pop platform MyMusicTaste |url=https://www.ajudaily.com/view/20220328132854404 |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=www.ajudaily.com}}</ref>
The company launched its metaverse platform Com2Verse in July 2023, but began downsizing two months later after operating at a net loss.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Danny |date=2023-09-22 |title=South Korea’s Kakao, Com2Us wind down metaverse units |url=https://forkast.news/south-korea-kakao-com2us-downsize-metaverse/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=forkast.news |language=en-US}}</ref> In August, Com2uS partnered with Firefly Games, [[The Sandbox (company)|The Sandbox]], and Formless Capital to form MetaWorld Entertainment, a new venture that would focus on [[Web3]] experiences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Cindy |date=2022-08-09 |title=Firefly Games Partners with The Sandbox and Com2Us to Form MetaWorld Entertainment |url=https://www.nftgators.com/firefly-games-partners-with-the-sandbox-and-com2us-to-form-metaworld-entertainment/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=NFTgators |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 1, 2022, Com2uS acquired a 4.2% stake in [[SM Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-01 |title=Com2uS acquires 4.2 percent stake in SM Entertainment |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/11/01/business/tech/Korea-Kpop-game/20221101153439093.html |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2023, and subsequent 2024 Com2uS began looking for employees to voluntarily resign,<ref name=":0" /> following an extended period of operating at a loss, as it looked to cut "a two-digit number of people."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-18 |title=Game publishers cancel titles, cut employees as economy struggles |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-01-18/business/industry/Game-publishers-cancel-titles-cut-employees-as-economy-struggles/1961701 |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241028003300320 |title=Com2uS to begin service of subculture game 'Starseed' in North America this week
|date=2024|website=Yonhap News }}</ref>
== Summoners War ==
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]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summoners War: Sky Arena {{!}} Com2uS |url=https://www.summonerswar.com/en/skyarena/universe_novels |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=summonerswar.com |language=en}}</ref> titled ''Summoners War: Summoner Combat'' and a comic ''Summoners War: Legacy.''
== Awards ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Game Awards<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Com2uS |url=https://www.com2us.com/corporation/company/history |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=us.com2us.com |language=en}}</ref>
!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<ref name="auto"/> ===
# Com2uS, Wins the 16th Korean Consumption Culture Awards
# Com2uS, Selected as the Top 5 Global Developers by UK Pocket Gamer
# Com2uS, Winner of the US 2015 DARI Award 'Korea Enterprise of the Year'
# Com2uS Hub, Winner of the 7th Korea Internet Grand Prize Presidential Award
# Com2uS, Wins the Presidential Commendation for the 9th Gender Equality Employment Equity Award
# Com2uS Wins the 4th Prime Minister's Software Industry Development Award
==Studios==
{| class=wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of studios
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Location
! scope="col" | Acquired
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}
|-
| Day7
| [[Seoul]], South Korea
| 2019
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-02-18-com2us-acquires-51-9-percent-stake-in-day7 |title=Day 7 {{!}} |publisher=Com2uS }}</ref>
|-
| Nova Factory
| [[Seoul]], South Korea
| 2019
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmoculture.com/2019/03/com2us-korean-mobile-giant-acquires-2-domestic-studios-for-global-expansion/ |title=Nova Factory {{!}} |publisher=Com2uS }}</ref>
|-
| Mana Core
| [[Seoul]], South Korea
| 2019
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmoculture.com/2019/03/com2us-korean-mobile-giant-acquires-2-domestic-studios-for-global-expansion/ |title=Mana Core {{!}} |publisher=Com2uS }}</ref>
|-
| Com2uS Tygem (formerly Dongyang Online)
| [[Seoul]], South Korea
| 2020
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/73793/com2us-acquires-tygem/ |title=Com2uS Tygem {{!}} |publisher=Com2uS }}</ref>
|-
| Tikitaka Studio
| [[Seoul]], South Korea
| 2020
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmoculture.com/2020/05/com2us-korean-gaming-giant-acquires-majority-stake-in-new-studio/
|title=Tikitaka Studio {{!}} |publisher=Com2uS }}</ref>
|-
| [[Out of the Park Developments]]
| [[Berlin]], Germany
| 2020
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-10-12-com2us-buys-out-of-the-park-developments |title=Out of the Park Developments {{!}} |publisher=Com2uS }}</ref>
|-
| allm
| [[Seoul]], South Korea
| 2021
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmoculture.com/2021/02/com2us-global-games-giant-acquires-kritika-and-lunia-studio-all-m/ |title= allm {{!}} |publisher=Com2uS }}</ref>
|-
| FunFlow
| [[Seoul]], South Korea
| 2021
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmoculture.com/2021/02/com2us-global-games-giant-acquires-kritika-and-lunia-studio-all-m/ |title= FunFlow {{!}} |publisher=Com2uS }}</ref>
|}
==Games==
===Summoners War===
* ''Summoners War: Lost Centuria''
* ''[[Summoners War: Sky Arena]]''
* ''Summoners War: Chronicles''
===The Walking Dead===
* ''[[The Walking Dead: All-Stars]]'': A mobile idle survival [[role-playing video game]] available both on [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Erron |title=The Walking Dead: All-Stars is officially out |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/the-walking-dead-all-stars-is-officially-out/ |website=GamesBeat |publisher=GamesBeat |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref> It was released globally on August 31, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Erron |title=The Walking Dead: All-Stars is officially out |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/the-walking-dead-all-stars-is-officially-out/ |website=VentureBeat |publisher=GamesBeat |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref> It features a vast array of characters and skills, as well as idle battle and collection systems.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Erron |title=The Walking Dead: All-Stars is officially out |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/the-walking-dead-all-stars-is-officially-out/ |website=GamesBeat |publisher=GamesBeat}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bunn |first1=Glenn |title=Walking Dead: All Stars - New TWD Survival RPG Revealed |url=https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-all-stars-survival-rpg-reveal/ |website=Screenrant |publisher=Screenrant}}</ref>
===Other===
* ''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====
* ''Arel Wars''
* ''Arel Wars 2''
* ''Kung Fu Pets''
* ''Soul Seeker''
* ''Zenonia 1,2 & 3''
* ''Soccer Spirits''
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://com2us.com/ Official website]
*[https://www.facebook.com/com2us/ Facebook Page]
*[https://www.linkedin.com/company/com2us/ LinkedIn Page]
*[https://twitter.com/com2us Twitter Page]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131020023815/http://techrux.net/gamevil-com2us/ Why did Gamevil acquire Com2us]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Com2uS}}
[[Category:Mobile game companies]]
[[Category:Video game companies of South Korea]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1998]]
[[Category:South Korean companies established in 1998]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:2013 mergers and acquisitions]]