 | |
| Company type | Kabushiki gaisha |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 26 February 1993 |
| Founder | Yukinori Taniguchi |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | WWE 2K series (2000–2018) [1] |
Number of employees | 188 (January 2023 [2] ) |
| Website | www |
Yuke's Co. Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer based in Osaka. It was established on 26 February 1993 by Yukinori Taniguchi. The company is best known for developing the WWE video game series, based on the professional wrestling promotion of the same name, until 2018.
Founded in 1993, Yuke's was named after founder Yukinori Taniguchi's high school nickname. The first two games that the company developed were the platform game Hermie Hopperhead and the pro wrestling game Toukon Retsuden . [3] The latter title was a best-seller in Japan. [4] Though Activision purchased the rights to publish the game in North America and began localization work, [4] only the first game was localized, becoming Power Move Pro Wrestling with a different roster of wrestlers.
Beginning in 2000, Yuke's began to develop wrestling games for THQ based on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF; now WWE). They were recommended to THQ by Aki, who had developed their own line of wrestling games. [3]
From 2005 to 2012, Yuke's owned 54% of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the top professional wrestling promotion in Japan. [5] [6] [7]
In August 2019, then-series publisher 2K Games announced it had moved WWE game development to California-based studio Visual Concepts. [8] Earlier that year, Yuke's had revealed its frustration over what it had been able to achieve with recent WWE 2K games and suggested that its relationship with publisher 2K Sports was partly responsible. Producer Hiromi Furuta revealed that Yuke's had established a new development team tasked with creating a rival wrestling IP, with the intention of reinvigorating its staff. [9] On November 10, 2020, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced an upcoming console game developed by Yuke's, led by Def Jam Vendetta and WWF No Mercy director, Hideyuki "Geta" Iwashita, [10] ; this game would later go on to become AEW Fight Forever .
These are the list of games that the company developed. [11]
| Year | Title | Publisher(s) | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden | Tomy | PlayStation |
| 1995 | Hermie Hopperhead: Scrap Panic | SCEI | |
| 1996 | New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden 2 | Tomy | |
| 1997 | Ucchannanchan no Honō no Challenger: Denryū Iraira Bō | Hudson Soft | Nintendo 64 |
| 1998 | New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Toukon Road Brave Spirits | ||
| 1998 | New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden 3 | Tomy | PlayStation |
| 1998 | Soukaigi | SquareSoft | |
| 1998 | New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Toukon Road 2 - The Next Generation | Hudson Soft | Nintendo 64 |
| 1999 | Evil Zone | Titus Software | PlayStation |
| 1999 | Last Legion UX | Hudson Soft | Nintendo 64 |
| 1999 | New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden 4 | Tomy | Dreamcast |
| 1999 | The Pro Wrestling | D3 Publisher | PlayStation |
| 1999 | Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage | ASCII Corporation | Dreamcast |
| 2000 | WWF SmackDown! | THQ | PlayStation |
| 2000 | WWF Royal Rumble | Arcade, Dreamcast | |
| 2000 | WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role | PlayStation | |
| 2000 | The Pro Wrestling 2 | D3 Publisher | |
| 2001 | WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It | THQ | PlayStation 2 |
| 2002 | EOE: Eve of Extinction | Eidos Interactive | |
| 2002 | Edit Racing | D3 Publisher | |
| 2002 | WWE WrestleMania X8 | THQ | GameCube |
| 2002 | WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth | PlayStation 2 | |
| 2003 | WWE WrestleMania XIX | GameCube | |
| 2003 | WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain | PlayStation 2 | |
| 2004 | Online Pro Wrestling | Yuke's | |
| 2004 | WWE Day of Reckoning | THQ | GameCube |
| 2004 | Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Shō | Sammy Corporation | PlayStation 2 |
| 2004 | WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw | THQ | |
| 2004 | Rumble Roses | Konami | |
| 2005 | D1 Grand Prix | Yuke's | |
| 2005 | WWE Day of Reckoning 2 | THQ | GameCube |
| 2005 | D1 Grand Prix 2005 | Yuke's | PlayStation 2 |
| 2005 | WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 | THQ | PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable |
| 2005 | Wrestle Kingdom | Yuke's | PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 |
| 2006 | The Dog: Happy Life | PlayStation Portable | |
| 2006 | Rumble Roses XX | Konami | Xbox 360 |
| 2006 | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 | THQ | PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 |
| 2007 | The Dog Island | Ubisoft | PlayStation 2, Wii |
| 2007 | Wrestle Kingdom 2 | Yuke's | PlayStation 2 |
| 2007 | Go! Sports Ski | SCEI | PlayStation 3 |
| 2007 | Neves | Atlus | Nintendo DS |
| 2007 | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 | THQ | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360 |
| 2007 | Petz: Dogz 2 and Catz 2 | Ubisoft | PlayStation 2, Wii |
| 2007 | Soukou Kihei Votoms | Bandai Namco Entertainment | PlayStation 2 |
| 2008 | Double D Dodgeball | Yuke's | Xbox 360 |
| 2008 | Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters | Bandai Namco Entertainment | PlayStation 2 |
| 2008 | Neverland Card Battles | Idea Factory | PlayStation Portable |
| 2008 | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 | THQ | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360 |
| 2009 | WWE Legends of WrestleMania | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iOS | |
| 2009 | UFC 2009 Undisputed | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | |
| 2009 | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 | Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360 | |
| 2010 | UFC Undisputed 2010 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 | |
| 2010 | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360 | |
| 2011 | Real Steel | Yuke's | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| 2011 | WWE '12 | THQ | PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 |
| 2012 | UFC Undisputed 3 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | |
| 2012 | WWE '13 | PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 | |
| 2013 | Pacific Rim | Yuke's | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 |
| 2013 | WWE 2K14 | 2K Sports | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| 2014 | WWE 2K15 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | |
| 2015 | WWE 2K16 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | |
| 2016 | WWE 2K17 | ||
| 2017 | WWE 2K18 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
| 2018 | WWE 2K19 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
| 2019 | Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain | D3 Publisher | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 |
| 2020 | Earth Defense Force: World Brothers | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 | |
| 2023 | AEW Fight Forever | THQ Nordic | Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
| 2024 | Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 [12] | D3 Publisher | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 |
| 2025 | Double Dragon Revive [13] | Arc System Works | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
WWE 2K, formerly released as WWF SmackDown!, WWE SmackDown!, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw, WWE, and Exciting Pro Wrestling in Japan, is a series of professional wrestling sports simulation video games that launched in 2000. The premise of the series is to emulate professional wrestling, specifically that of WWE, formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The series began with WWF SmackDown! on the original PlayStation and has continued as an annual release. It was originally exclusive to PlayStation platforms until 2006's WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, which expanded the series to other platforms. In 2013, the series was rebranded as WWE 2K, beginning with WWE 2K14.
WWF No Mercy is a professional wrestling video game released in 2000 by THQ for the Nintendo 64. It is based on the World Wrestling Federation and is named after the company's annual event of the same name. Developed by Asmik Ace Entertainment and AKI Corporation, No Mercy is the last in a series of Nintendo 64 wrestling games from the companies that started with WCW vs. nWo: World Tour.
WWF WrestleMania X8 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and released on the GameCube by THQ in June 2002.
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for the PlayStation 2 on November 2, 2004 in North America. It is the sixth installment of professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)'s video game series, the sequel to 2003's WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, and the first game to be released under the SmackDown! vs. Raw title. The game series was rebranded after the introduction of the brand extension which divided WWE's roster into two brands, the latter brand in the game's title being named after WWE's weekly Monday Night Raw program.
WWF Raw is a professional wrestling video game released on the Xbox and Microsoft Windows by THQ in 2002. It is based on the television series of the same name. It was the first WWF game released on the Xbox and also the last WWF game released on PC until the release of WWE 2K15 12 years later in 2014. It is also the last game released under the WWF name as the World Wrestling Federation changed its name to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in May of that year.
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 is a professional wrestling video game and developed by Yuke's that was released on the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable by THQ in 2005. It is part of the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw video game series based on the professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and is the successor to the 2004 game of the same name. SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 was also the first game in the series to be released on PlayStation Portable and the last game in the SmackDown!/SmackDown! vs. Raw series that was PlayStation exclusive.
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It, known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling 3, is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's, and published by THQ for PlayStation 2, and was released in November 2001. It is the third game in the WWF SmackDown! series, based on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) professional wrestling promotion, the sequel to WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role, the first game in the series to be released on the PlayStation 2 console, and the last game in the series to be released under the "WWF" name.
WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role, known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling 2, is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's released in November 2000 on the PlayStation by THQ. It is the sequel to WWF SmackDown!, and the second game in the SmackDown series, itself based on the World Wrestling Federation professional wrestling promotion.
WWF SmackDown!, known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling, is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and released for the PlayStation by THQ. It is based on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and is named after the company's weekly SmackDown! television program. Originally released on 2 March 2000, the game received a direct sequel released several months later, entitled WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role.
WWF WrestleFest is a professional wrestling video game developed and released by Technōs Japan for arcades in 1991, featuring stars of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The game was distributed by Technōs in Japan and North America, and by Tecmo in Japan, Europe and Australasia. It is the sequel to Technōs' previous WWF game, WWF Superstars. Compared to Superstars, WrestleFest adds a variety of different wrestlers to the roster as well as enhanced graphics and sound. There are more voice samples, including commentary and pre-match introductions by WWF ring announcer Mike McGuirk. The voiced cut scenes featuring Gene Okerlund from Superstars returned as well.
Virtual Pro Wrestling is a professional wrestling video game series developed by AKI Corporation and published by Asmik Ace exclusively in Japan. The series started in 1996 with the release of the first Virtual Pro Wrestling for the PlayStation, which was localized in the West as WCW vs. the World. Two other games in the series were released exclusively for the Nintendo 64, Virtual Pro Wrestling 64 and Virtual Pro Wrestling 2.
Yukinori Taniguchi is a Japanese businessperson and auto racing driver. He founded Yuke's, a video game developer company, in Sakai, Osaka in 1993.
WWE All Stars is a professional wrestling video game published by THQ and developed by THQ San Diego for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems and Subdued Software for the PlayStation Portable, Wii, Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 2 systems. The game features current and former WWE wrestlers competing in fast-paced wrestling matches. It was released on March 29, 2011, in North America and April 1, 2011, in Europe. It is also the only WWE video game to be available for the Nintendo 3DS and the last WWE video game to be released on the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable.
WWE 2K14 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was released on October 29, 2013, in North America, October 30, 2013, in Japan, October 31, 2013, in Australia, and November 1, 2013, in Europe and India. The game's box art features The Rock as the cover athlete.
WWE 2K18 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K. It is the nineteenth instalment in the WWE game series and a follow-up to WWE 2K17. It was released worldwide on October 17, 2017, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. With its release, WWE 2K18 became the first in the series to be exclusively released on eighth generation hardware and also the first in the series to be released for PC and consoles simultaneously. A Nintendo Switch version followed on December 6, 2017, the only release of the series for the Switch and the first WWE game to be released for a Nintendo platform since WWE '13.
WWE 2K19 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K. It was released worldwide on October 9, 2018, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is the twentieth game in the WWE series, the sixth under the WWE 2K banner, and the successor to WWE 2K18.
WWE 2K20 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. It was released worldwide on October 22, 2019, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is the twenty-first installment of the WWE series, the seventh under the WWE 2K banner, and the successor to WWE 2K19. 2K20 is the first game in the series not to be developed by Yuke's, which had developed every entry in the series since its inception in 2000. Visual Concepts, who had previously worked with Yuke's as co-developers since 2014, took over as lead studio for the series.
AEW Fight Forever is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ Nordic. It is the debut title on home consoles and personal computers based on American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW).