PlatinumGames has secured the rights to The Wonderful 101 from Nintendo! Read on to learn more about the trademark and the Wii U action-adventure game’s journey throughout the years.
PlatinumGames Reclaims The Wonderful 101 Trademark
A Wonderful Reunion Between PlatinumGames and The Wonderful 101
PlatinumGames, renowned for games like Bayonetta and Nier: Automata, has swooped in to rescue the beloved superhero squad The Wonderful 101 from the clutches of uncertainty. The trademark of the said action game, originally released on the Wii U in 2013, has finally returned to its original creators.
As spotted by Redditor Joseki100 and reported by VGC, PlatinumGames submitted a request to the US Patent and Trademark Office on August 19 of this year to take over a trademark then owned by Nintendo. Platinum successfully secured the trademark earlier this month, September 9. This transfer of trademark rights grants PlatinumGames full ownership and control over the game series, paving the way for potential sequels, spin-offs, or other future projects.
This acquisition comes after years of speculation and hopes among fans, eager to see what the future holds for the said title. The Wonderful 101 was a critical darling upon release, praised for its gameplay reminiscent of the Pikmin series. However, the game’s sales on the Wii U were disappointing. It didn’t help that the console was struggling to gain players as well.
Despite this, PlatinumGames has always held a special place for The Wonderful 101, even going so far as to create a Kickstarter-funded remaster in 2020 to bring the game to a wider audience on PC, PlayStation 4, and the Nintendo Switch. The campaign was such a success that it exceeded its goal of ¥5,425,000 in just a few minutes, earning ¥235,320,52 or $1.5 million dollars.
"We felt it did not quite reach the audience that it deserved," said Hideki Kamiya, then-Vice President of PlatinumGames, in a 2020 interview with Gematsu. "As creators we are very confident in the game. This project is a unique opportunity to bring the fans together and see how far the game can go, which is why we went the crowdfunding route. We did speak with Nintendo about it initially, but they said ‘you either do it only with us or do it yourselves.’"
It is worth noting that, at the time, PlatinumGames held rights only to the remastered version and its spin-off, The Wonderful One: After School Hero, but not the full ownership of the property.
This news of the trademark's acquisition comes shortly after the departure of Hideki Kamiya, who served as game director on The Wonderful 101. Kamiya left PlatinumGames in October 2023.
"My work with PlatinumGames was based on a relationship of trust with the company," Kamiya said in an interview with IGN Japan. "I decided to leave because I felt that the direction of the company was heading in was different from my beliefs as a developer. Without that element of trust, I couldn’t continue working there, and so I left, so that I could continue working in what I consider to be the right way."
For more on Hideki Kamiya’s departure, check out our article below!
For fans who have been holding out hope for a sequel or another remaster (to the Switch 2 or PlayStation 5, maybe), this news couldn’t come soon enough. The acquisition opens doors for PlatinumGames to explore new possibilities for Wonder-Red and the gang without needing Nintendo’s approval.
At the moment, it’s unclear what PlatinumGames’ plans are for the sequel for the franchise, but fans are no doubt excited about the possibilities. With any luck, fans will see more of The Wonderful 101 in the years to come.
Source:
Redditor Joseki100 Finds the Acquisition Document
VGC | PlatinumGames has acquired The Wonderful 101 trademark from Nintendo
The Wonderful 101: Remastered Kickstarter Campaign
Gematsu | The Wonderful 101: Remastered announced for Switch, PS4, and PC with Kickstarter campaign
IGN | Hideki Kamiya On Why He Left PlatinumGames, His YouTube Channel, and His Next Game
