Platinum Games Gains Trademark for 2013 Action Title from Nintendo

Platinum Games has officially obtained the full rights to The Wonderful 101, a 2013 action game that was initially developed by Platinum and published by Nintendo. While the game was well-received as an exclusive on the Wii U, its sales failed to meet expectations.

In 2020, Platinum Games took the first step toward reclaiming The Wonderful 101 by acquiring its publishing rights from Nintendo. They also launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the game to modern consoles, and fans responded enthusiastically. The initial funding goal of $50,000 was reached in under 30 minutes, proving there was still significant demand for the title. Now, four years later, Platinum Games has secured much more than just the rights to remaster the game.

According to VGC, Platinum Games filed a request with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 19, seeking full ownership of The Wonderful 101 IP from Nintendo. Both parties agreed to the transfer, which officially took effect on September 9, 2024. With this move, Platinum Games now holds complete control over the franchise, including the potential for future sequels and spin-offs.

Platinum Games Gains Full Control of The Wonderful 101 Franchise

Reacquiring full rights to The Wonderful 101 marks a significant victory for Platinum Games, especially given the studio’s rocky recent history. Following several high-profile missteps, such as the cancellations of Scalebound, Babylon’s Fall, and World of Demons, Platinum has been working to distance itself from larger industry giants and shift towards publishing its own titles. In addition, the studio saw a major change in direction when one of its co-founders, Hideki Kamiya, parted ways with the company in 2023.

It’s rare for Nintendo to relinquish control of an IP, as the company typically holds onto all its properties, even if it has no immediate plans for them. However, Nintendo may have decided to hand over The Wonderful 101 rights to allow Platinum Games to focus on developing the Bayonetta and Astral Chain franchises. Both series were developed by Platinum but published and funded by Nintendo, with Bayonetta in particular becoming a massive hit. Bayonetta 3, released in 2022, shattered sales records for both companies.

Although there hasn’t been any official word from Platinum Games about a sequel to The Wonderful 101, the studio has previously expressed interest in revisiting the series. While fans await news of a potential follow-up, rumors are swirling that Platinum Games could become an early supporter of the next-generation Switch console, with a remastered Bayonetta trilogy reportedly in the works.