Marvelous ends partnership with Tencent: impact on Story of Seasons

In brief

• Marvelous has ended its six-year partnership with Tencent.
• Development of the Story of Seasons mobile game, which had been in the works since 2019, has been cancelled.
• Tencent said the decision was tied to the business environment and profitability.

GAME-scanner analysis

The end of the partnership between Marvelous and Tencent marks a significant shift in both companies’ strategies. Tencent, which acquired a 20% stake in Marvelous in 2020 for around £48 million ($65 million), has now decided to re-evaluate its investments in several Japanese game developers. This could point to a broader trend within Tencent, which may be shifting its focus toward other areas such as AI technology. The cancellation of the Story of Seasons mobile game, which had been in development since March 2019, is a disappointment for fans hoping to see the franchise expand onto mobile platforms. Despite this setback, the underlying 2019 licensing agreement remains in place, giving Marvelous the option to तलाश for a new partner for the mobile game.

What does this mean for players?

For Story of Seasons players, it’s important to note that the cancellation of the mobile game does not appear to have any direct impact on the upcoming console version of the game. That offers some reassurance for fans looking forward to new content. However, the future of the franchise will depend on Marvelous’ ability to find a new partner and the direction it chooses for future mobile projects.