Marvelous has officially cancelled Story of Seasons Mobile after six years of development, bringing an abrupt end to its collaborative mobile project with gaming giant Tencent. The decision follows a board vote by Marvelous to cut business ties with Image Frame Investment, a Hong Kong-based Tencent subsidiary.
Quick Facts
- Project: Story of Seasons Mobile (cancelled free mobile game)
- Developer Partners: Marvelous and Tencent (Image Frame Investment)
- Partnership Duration: Six years (licensing deal signed in March 2019; initial 20% stake acquired in May 2020)
- Shareholder Impact: Tencent's Image Frame Investment reduced its ownership in Marvelous from 20.01% to 0.99% via buybacks and stock sales
Impact on Future Games and Console Releases
While the cancellation of the free mobile game halts any immediate plans for iOS and Android players, Marvelous confirmed that upcoming console releases in the franchise remain entirely unaffected by the studio split.
Furthermore, because the original March 2019 licensing agreement survives the termination of the broader corporate alliance, Marvelous retains the legal capability to partner with a different publisher should it decide to revive the mobile adaptation at a later date.
Tencent Investment Rollback
The dissolution of the partnership triggers major structural changes for Marvelous's ownership table. Tencent subsidiary Image Frame Investment is lowering its stake in Marvelous from 20.01% down to 0.99% through stock sales and share buybacks. Following the transaction, Marvelous founder and former Sega CEO Hayao Nakayama stands as the company's largest shareholder.
The split aligns with a broader strategy by Tencent, which invested approximately $65 million for its initial 20% stake in May 2020. Reports indicate Tencent is reevaluating its holdings in Japanese game developers to focus on larger, more profitable ventures elsewhere, such as its Vantage Studios partnership with Ubisoft.