Aiming 2020 Fiscal Year Earnings Results

Aiming’s fiscal year 2020 earnings results demonstrate a successful turnaround for the company, marked by a return to profitability driven primarily by the strong performance of the mobile title Dragon Quest Tact. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, the company reported net sales of 11,903 million yen and an operating profit of 1,673 million yen, a significant improvement over the operating loss of 871 million yen recorded in 2019. Net income reached 1,693 million yen, bolstered by the recognition of deferred tax assets.

The company’s performance throughout 2020 was characterized by a strategic shift toward cost optimization and the establishment of a stable revenue base. Key operational changes included the divestiture of the Osaka studio, the downsizing of the Taiwan studio, and personnel adjustments in Tokyo. These structural reforms, combined with the successful launch of Dragon Quest Tact in July 2020, enabled the company to achieve its full-year earnings targets. Financially, the company also strengthened its position by raising approximately 2.1 billion yen through the exercise of stock acquisition rights, which concluded in September 2020.

While the fourth quarter saw a decline in revenue and profit compared to the third quarter—largely due to the natural performance fluctuations of Dragon Quest Tact and the payment of performance-based bonuses—the company maintains a focus on long-term growth. The 2021 strategy emphasizes continued cost reduction, including the reduction of office space, and the expansion of the development pipeline. The company is currently managing a portfolio that includes ongoing titles like Caravan Stories and new projects, such as the game adaptation of Mushoku Tensei and a title based on the DanMachi animation series, balancing self-developed projects with contract-based development to ensure sustainable growth in the competitive smartphone gaming market.