We’ve learned (via MCV UK) that NIS America will no longer be publishing Atlus games in Europe.

This comes NIS America MD Takuro Yamashita, who explained that ever since Atlus was purchased by Sega that it had become more difficult to work with them.

He explains:

Around ten days ago, we terminated our alliance with Atlus in Europe and the US,” Yamashita told MCV.

Atlus became very picky about selecting the European publishing partner after it was bought by Sega. It always cherry picked its EU publishing partner based on who offered the highest minimum guarantee on a title by title basis. I noticed that it was very difficult for NIS America to establish an equal-partnership with Atlus.

Atlus and its European games have contributed a lot to the expansion of NIS America in Europe. I would like to express my greatest appreciation to them for that.

NIS America have been responsible for publishing Persona 4: Golden, Etrian Odyssey 2: The Fafnir Knight and Persona Q in Europe. This will not affect the European release of Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir.

This also raises the question of what will happen with the European release of Persona 5, whether they find a new publisher or simply publish it under Sega Europe.