XSEED Games is now Marvelous USA, brand to live on

North American publisher XSEED Games has been absorbed into the ever-expanding Marvelous AQL and will serve as the Japanese company's US arm.

Marvelous USA Inc announced its formation today, but it's actually the US company formerly known as XSEED JKS Inc under a new name. It will be led by president and CEO Shinichi Suzuki, who held the same titles at XSEED Games.

The newly-christened Marvelous USA will oversee all of Marvelous AQL's US operations. Under its aegis, XSEED Games will still exist as a brand of PC, console and handheld games. Marvelous does not expect any changes for consumers, as the whole XSEED team is apparently still on board at its Torrance, California office, and long-time manager Ken Barry will remain in charge of XSEED's publishign activities.

A second label, Marvelous Online, will cover mobile and online social games. The Marvelous Online team, which is based in Irvine, California, expects to expand, having picked up Atlus's Online Division earlier this year. It is led by senior director Tatsuya Nishioka.

The two offices employ 40 staff between them.

"Marvelous USA unifies our US operations under the global Marvelous brand while giving our customers topnotch products and support for both traditional and online social and mobile games," Suzuki said.

"Our XSEED Games console and PC brand will continue to offer the quality games and service for which it is known, and Marvelous Online gives us expanded reach into mobile and online social gaming markets."

XSEED was founded in 2004 by former Square Enix USA members to localise Japanese games, and started getting cosy with Marvelous AQL in 2008, eventually becoming a subsidiary. It has strong partnerships with several Japanese developers and was responsible for the North American release of The Last Story.

Thanks, Johnny.