Voltage (company)

Last updated
Voltage Inc.
Native name
ボルテージ
Industry Visual Novel
FoundedSeptember 1999
Headquarters Tokyo, Japan
Subsidiaries Voltage Entertainment USA
Website www.voltage.co.jp/en/

Voltage Inc. is a Japanese developer and publisher of interactive story apps, such as visual novels and otome games, for iOS and Android devices. They also previously developed games with their San Francisco based subsidiary Voltage Entertainment USA.

Contents

History

The company originated in 1999, [1] based in Tokyo, and began to expand to English-speaking audiences in 2011, releasing English-language versions of their games through the Apple Store and Google Play. They went on to establish a US subsidiary company, Voltage Entertainment USA, in 2012. [2] Expanded versions of several of their games were previously released through GREE, however support for the GREE platform ceased in 2014. [3]

Voltage's American subsidiary, Voltage Entertainment USA, have released adaptations of existing Voltage games which have been localized to appeal to Western audiences. Beginning in 2013, the subsidiary began producing original games marketed directly to their English-speaking audience. By 2014, it was reported that Voltage had an audience of 22 million across all its games. [4] In 2017, Voltage Entertainment USA launched the multi-series app Lovestruck: Choose Your Romance and transitioned its AmeMix series into the app. [5] In July 2020, Voltage Entertainment USA's writing staff went on strike and won increased wages and greater workplace transparency. [6]

In December 2021, Voltage announced they would be shutting down Voltage Entertainment USA in 2022 to allocate resources more efficiently. [7]

Games

NameRelease date(s)Platform(s)
Celebrity Darling2008Android, IOS
Love Letter from Thief X2011
7 Sep. 2020 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
My Forged Wedding2011
17 Sep. 2020 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
My Sweet Bodyguard2011Android, IOS
Pirates in Love2011Android, IOS
Be My Princess2012Android, IOS
Kiss of Revenge2012Android, IOS
Class Trip Crush2012Android, IOS
A Knight's Devotion2012Android, IOS
Seduced in the Sleepless City2012
20 Oct. 2022 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
In Your Arms Tonight2012Android, IOS
Metro PD: Close to You2013Android, IOS
10 Days with My Devil2013Android, IOS
Our Two Bedroom Story2013
5 July 2020 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Kissed by the Baddest Bidder2013
28 Nov. 2019 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Serendipity Next Door2013Android, IOS
Dreamy Days in West Tokyo2013Android, IOS
Office Secrets2013Android, IOS
Star-Crossed Myth2014
29 Aug. 2019 (Switch)
22 Mar. 2023 (Steam)
Android, IOS, Switch, Steam
Scandal in the Spotlight2014
25 Mar. 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Sakura Amidst Chaos2014Android, IOS
Enchanted in the Moonlight2014
13 Jun. 2019 (Switch)
22 Mar. 2023 (Steam)
Android, IOS, Switch, Steam
Kiss Me on Clover Hill2014Android, IOS
True Love Sweet Lies2014Android, IOS
Be My Princess 22014Android, IOS
Finally, in Love Again2014Android, IOS
First Love Diaries - A Kiss on the Beach2014Android, IOS
My Wedding and 7 Rings2014Android, IOS
Her Love in the Force2014
21 Jan. 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Bad Boys Do it Better2015Android, IOS
My Last First Kiss2015
25 Nov. 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Butler Until Midnight2015Android, IOS
Gossip Girl: Style Your Love2015Android, IOS
After School Affairs2016Android, IOS
Era of Samurai: Code of Love2016Android, IOS
Liar! Uncover the Truth2016Android, IOS
Dangerous Seduction2016Android, IOS
Irresistible Mistakes2017
18 Aug. 2022 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
When Destiny Comes Knocking2017Android, IOS
Rose in the Embers2017Android, IOS
Our Private Homeroom2017Android, IOS
Kings of Paradise2017
27 May 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
In Your Arms Tonight Season 22018Android, IOS
Love Brings you Home2018Android, IOS
Masquerade Kiss2018Android, IOS
A World with(out) You2018Android, IOS
Ayakashi: Romance Reborn2018
3 Apr. 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Romance MD: Always On Call2019Android, IOS
Destined Mr.Almost Right 2019Android, IOS
Love's Hella Punk 2020Android, IOS
Even If Tempest6 Sep. 2022Switch
The Red Bell’s Lament2025Switch

Voltage Entertainment USA

Adaptations

YearNameAdaptation of:
2012My Lover's a ThiefLove Letter from Thief X
2013My Killer Romance10 Days with My Devil
White Lies & Sweet NothingsMy Forged Wedding
Knight of My HeartA Knight's Devotion
Intimate BusinessOffice Secrets
Glass Stilettos in ManhattanSeduced in the Sleepless City
To Love & ProtectMy Sweet Bodyguard

Original titles

YearName
2013Speakeasy Tonight
2014Queen's Gambit
2015Astoria: Fate's Kiss [nb 1]
2016Kisses & Curses
Gangsters in Love
Castaway! Love's Adventure
2017Love & Legends
Starship Promise
Havenfall Is For Lovers
2018Villainous Nights
Astoria: Lost Kisses
Sweet Enchantments
2019Queen of Thieves
Sin With Me
Reigning Passions
2020Wicked Lawless Love
Tales of the Wild
Ever After Academy
2021Immortal Heart Society
My Siren Crush
Edge Case Love’s Pursuit

Augmented and virtual reality

Voltage Inc. has a subsidiary, Voltage VR Inc. Their first app, "Let's Snuggle! AR" allows users to interact and talk with characters from other Voltage romance titles in a more personal setting. [8]

YearNameGenre
2017Let’s Snuggle! ARAugmented Reality
Intimate VR: EisukeVirtual Reality

Notes

  1. Originally titled Labyrinths of Astoria.

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References

  1. http://www.voltage.co.jp/en/corporate/history.html Archived 2015-06-27 at the Wayback Machine Voltage Official Website Milestones
  2. "My Sensual Journey into Japan's $90 Million Fake Anime Boyfriend Market". Broadly, Vice (magazine). 2016-03-18. Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  3. "Voltage Inc. English GREE games to End Service in November". noobabble. 2014-09-26. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  4. "22 Million Women Worldwide Hooked on 'Otome' Romantic Dating Simulator Games". International Business Times . 2014-05-20. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  5. "Gamasutra - Press Releases - LOVESTRUCK: CHOOSE YOUR ROMANCE available on the Apple App Store and Google Play". Gamasutra . 2017-03-03. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  6. Carpenter, Nicole (August 11, 2020). "These game writers made history by going on strike — and winning". Polygon . Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  7. Mateo, Alex (2021-12-27). "Game Maker Voltage Shuts Down U.S. Division". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  8. "Voltage's 1st AR app gets a major update! Let's Snuggle! AR Released April 10th with a brand-new character". Archived from the original on 2017-06-21.