Voltage (company)
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.
Native name | ボルテージ |
|---|---|
| Industry | Visual Novel |
| Founded | September 1999 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Subsidiaries | Voltage Entertainment USA |
| Website | www.voltage.co.jp/en/ |
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
| Name | Release date(s) | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Celebrity Darling | 2008 | Android, IOS |
| Love Letter from Thief X | 2011 7 Sep. 2020 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| My Forged Wedding | 2011 17 Sep. 2020 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| My Sweet Bodyguard | 2011 | Android, IOS |
| Pirates in Love | 2011 | Android, IOS |
| Be My Princess | 2012 | Android, IOS |
| Kiss of Revenge | 2012 | Android, IOS |
| Class Trip Crush | 2012 | Android, IOS |
| A Knight's Devotion | 2012 | Android, IOS |
| Seduced in the Sleepless City | 2012 20 Oct. 2022 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| In Your Arms Tonight | 2012 | Android, IOS |
| Metro PD: Close to You | 2013 | Android, IOS |
| 10 Days with My Devil | 2013 | Android, IOS |
| Our Two Bedroom Story | 2013 5 July 2020 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| Kissed by the Baddest Bidder | 2013 28 Nov. 2019 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| Serendipity Next Door | 2013 | Android, IOS |
| Dreamy Days in West Tokyo | 2013 | Android, IOS |
| Office Secrets | 2013 | Android, IOS |
| Star-Crossed Myth | 2014 29 Aug. 2019 (Switch) 22 Mar. 2023 (Steam) | Android, IOS, Switch, Steam |
| Scandal in the Spotlight | 2014 25 Mar. 2021 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| Sakura Amidst Chaos | 2014 | Android, IOS |
| Enchanted in the Moonlight | 2014 13 Jun. 2019 (Switch) 22 Mar. 2023 (Steam) | Android, IOS, Switch, Steam |
| Kiss Me on Clover Hill | 2014 | Android, IOS |
| True Love Sweet Lies | 2014 | Android, IOS |
| Be My Princess 2 | 2014 | Android, IOS |
| Finally, in Love Again | 2014 | Android, IOS |
| First Love Diaries - A Kiss on the Beach | 2014 | Android, IOS |
| My Wedding and 7 Rings | 2014 | Android, IOS |
| Her Love in the Force | 2014 21 Jan. 2021 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| Bad Boys Do it Better | 2015 | Android, IOS |
| My Last First Kiss | 2015 25 Nov. 2021 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| Butler Until Midnight | 2015 | Android, IOS |
| Gossip Girl: Style Your Love | 2015 | Android, IOS |
| After School Affairs | 2016 | Android, IOS |
| Era of Samurai: Code of Love | 2016 | Android, IOS |
| Liar! Uncover the Truth | 2016 | Android, IOS |
| Dangerous Seduction | 2016 | Android, IOS |
| Irresistible Mistakes | 2017 18 Aug. 2022 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| When Destiny Comes Knocking | 2017 | Android, IOS |
| Rose in the Embers | 2017 | Android, IOS |
| Our Private Homeroom | 2017 | Android, IOS |
| Kings of Paradise | 2017 27 May 2021 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| In Your Arms Tonight Season 2 | 2018 | Android, IOS |
| Love Brings you Home | 2018 | Android, IOS |
| Masquerade Kiss | 2018 | Android, IOS |
| A World with(out) You | 2018 | Android, IOS |
| Ayakashi: Romance Reborn | 2018 3 Apr. 2021 (Switch) | Android, IOS, Switch |
| Romance MD: Always On Call | 2019 | Android, IOS |
| Destined Mr.Almost Right | 2019 | Android, IOS |
| Love's Hella Punk | 2020 | Android, IOS |
| Even If Tempest | 6 Sep. 2022 | Switch |
Adaptations
| Year | Name | Adaptation of: |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | My Lover's a Thief | Love Letter from Thief X |
| 2013 | My Killer Romance | 10 Days with My Devil |
| White Lies & Sweet Nothings | My Forged Wedding | |
| Knight of My Heart | A Knight's Devotion | |
| Intimate Business | Office Secrets | |
| Glass Stilettos in Manhattan | Seduced in the Sleepless City | |
| To Love & Protect | My Sweet Bodyguard |
Original titles
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Speakeasy Tonight |
| 2014 | Queen's Gambit |
| 2015 | Astoria: Fate's Kiss[nb 1] |
| 2016 | Kisses & Curses |
| Gangsters in Love | |
| Castaway! Love's Adventure | |
| 2017 | Love & Legends |
| Starship Promise | |
| Havenfall Is For Lovers | |
| 2018 | Villainous Nights |
| Astoria: Lost Kisses | |
| Sweet Enchantments | |
| 2019 | Queen of Thieves |
| Sin With Me | |
| Reigning Passions | |
| 2020 | Wicked Lawless Love |
| Tales of the Wild | |
| Ever After Academy | |
| 2021 | Immortal Heart Society |
Augmented and virtual reality
On January 13, 2017, Voltage Inc. released their first augmented reality title made available to users through the App Store and Google Play, entitled “Let’s Snuggle! AR”. The app is a unique first edition to the company's game portfolio, permitting fans of the Visual Novel romance apps to interact and talk with popular characters in a more personal setting. Following the release and success of the augmented reality app, Voltage Inc. created Voltage VR Inc., a subsidiary of Voltage Inc., dedicated to ensuring and providing fans high quality AR and VR games in the future.
| Year | Name | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Let’s Snuggle! AR | Augmented Reality |
| Intimate VR: Eisuke | Virtual Reality |
Notes
- Originally titled Labyrinths of Astoria.
References
- http://www.voltage.co.jp/en/corporate/history.html Archived 2015-06-27 at the Wayback Machine Voltage Official Website Milestones
- "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.
- "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.
- "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.
- "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.
- 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.
- 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.