October 26^th, 2005 (1:21am) - KOEI has announced that is has expanded into Canada with KOEI Canada, Inc. This state-of-the-art studio is the headquarters for the company’s North American product development, and will have a significant effect on the city’s game development landscape.

With a focus on top Canadian talent, KOEI Canada has amassed a skilled team of 30 world-class artists, programmers, designers, and support staff, and is planning to increase its workforce to between 150 and 200 employees over the next few years. The Toronto-based team members will also be given the opportunity to work at KOEI’s other studios in Asia and Europe.

KOEI Canada is already developing two new titles, including a launch title for Sony’s highly anticipated PlayStation 3 console, Fatal Inertia, which is a futuristic aerial combat racing game.

"Toronto is a vibrant city with a rich cultural mosaic that provides us with the necessary talent to develop games for a global marketplace," said KOEI’s Founder and Chief Advisor Yoichi Erikawa, who under the pen name Kou Shibusawa is regarded as one of the world’s top game designers. "As a game creator, I am excited to be here and to work firsthand on the Fatal Inertia project. I feel that it will be a top launch title for the PlayStation 3."

KOEI continues to be one of the top publishers in its native Japan, and firmly believes that a presence in the global market requires product offerings that address the shifting needs of each region. KOEI Canada is a milestone in the company’s strategy for globalization.