‘Business as usual’ for Atlus despite parent company’s financial troubles

Earlier today, GamesBeat reported that Japanese company Index Digital Media filed for civil rehabilitation, which is similar to U.S. bankruptcy proceedings. Index, among other things, is the parent company of game publisher Atlus.

Fans of the publisher worried that this might mean bad things for the publisher, which is best known for releasing titles like role-playing game Persona 4: The Golden. That’s not the case, according to Atlus chief executive officer Naota Hiraoka.

“Currently, Index Digital Media, Inc. and the Atlus brand are unaffected by the Index Corporation proceedings in Japan,” Hiraoka told GamesBeat in a statement. “We’re carrying on day-to-day activities, business as usual. Shin Megami Tensei IV and Dragon’s Crown are still releasing on July 16 and Aug. 6, respectively, and we’re licensing and publishing third-party titles such as R.I.P.D: The Game and Daylight. We want to thank all of our fans for their outpouring of support.”

Index owes more than $200 million to creditors. Through civil rehabilitation, the Japanese government will help mediate new management for the company — that could include some of those entities it owes money to.

In Japan, Index is one of the countries biggest entertainment companies. In addition to Atlus, it is also runs a major movie studio, Nikkatsu, and the Madhouse anime studio.