On March 10, 2025, bankruptcy proceedings began for A.I, the Machida, Tokyo-based developer that developed, co-developed, or otherwise worked on over a dozen games and spinoffs in the long-running Super Robot Taisen franchise.
The news is not surprising: The company's Twitter account had not been updated since 2021. The last game the account touted developing was Full Metal Panic! Fight! Who Dares Wins for the PlayStation 4 in 2018. The company's website had not been updated since 2014.
A.I was incorporated on July 1990. It was founded by former members of arcade game developer Sanritsu including programmer Hiroyuki Arai and graphic designer Noriyoshi Innai, who may or may not have been the source of the company's name. Mr. Arai was the original president; his son Kenichi eventually took over operations.
Judging by comments, Japanese gamers may only know A.I from its involvement in the Super Robot Taisen series, but it also developed many games for Atlus and Hudson over the years like Bonk 3 (PC Genjin 3), Wario Blast (Bomberman GB), and Bomberman Hero.
The company's early history is somewhat hazy. The company was started in 1990, but the A.I website listed the PC Engine version of Kyuukyoku Tiger (Twin Cobra), which was released in 1989. The 1990 date may only be referring to when it was formally incorporated. In between leaving Sanritsu and establishing A.I, it seems the founding members worked as freelancers, which was apparently the case with the development of Wrath of the Black Manta (Ninja Cop Saizou).
The original Super Robot Taisen series developer Winkysoft preceded A.I in bankruptcy in February 2016. Meanwhile, SIMS remains the last known (game developer) offshoot of Sanritsu.
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