Video Game Companies With The Most IPs

Summary

• To stay relevant, major video game companies have created dozens, if not hundreds, of IPs in hopes of finding the next big hit.
• Nintendo and Sega, in particular, have some of the largest IP counts of any video game studio.

Did you know some video game companies have created hundreds of IPs (intellectual property) over the years? Game studios are always looking to create the next big hit, leading many to experiment with new characters and series. At times, it can feel like playing darts in the dark, since you can never really know what’s going to land.

Almost every major video game publisher, from Nintendo to Sega, has a vast portfolio of IPs: some worldwide icons, some cult classics, and some extremely obscure titles that only the most dedicated collectors know about. But which game company has the most series on its resume?

8

Capcom

From The Blue Bomber To Blue Lawyers

Capcom has one of the most diverse game libraries ever, creating 42 IPs across several genres. From the sci-fi action in Mega Man to the thrilling murder mysteries from Ace Attorney, there’s a little something for everyone in the company’s catalog.

The studio is arguably best known for Resident Evil and Street Fighter, each of which continues to revolutionize their respective genres. Of course, you can’t forget about fan favorites like the spooky platformer Ghost ‘n Goblins and the drastically underrated JRPG Breath of Fire.

7

Bandai Namco

There’s A Lot More Than Just Pac-Man And Tekken

It’s hard to imagine where video games would be without Bandai Namco. In 1980, the company revolutionized the industry with its break-out hit, Pac-Man, followed closely by other arcade classics like Dig Dug. The studio broke into the fighting game scene one decade later with legendary series like Soulcalibur and Tekken.

Overall, Bandai Namco has 60 IPs under its belt. In addition to the big ones, it’s also worth checking out its smaller series, such as the quirky puzzler Katamari Damacy and the whimsical 2D platformer Klonoa.

6

Sony

Norse Gods + Rapping Dogs = Success

There’s no doubt that Sony is a powerhouse in the video game industry, creating dozens of groundbreaking series since the PlayStation 1. The company first gained notoriety with hits like Ape Escape and Grand Turismo. In the PS2 era, the studio dominated the gaming scene with classics like Ratchet and Clank, Sly Cooper, and Shadow of the Colossus.

Since then, Sony has become famous for its award-winning IPs, including Astro Bot, God of War, The Last of Us, and Until Dawn. The list goes on and on, amounting to a total of 73 series. Don’t forget about the cult classics like Jak and Daxter and PaRappa the Rapper!

5

Square Enix

All Hail The Master Of RPGs

Since the NES, Square Enix has reigned as the king of JRPGs. The company has mastered the art of creating outstanding fantasy worlds, whether it’s in Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, Star Ocean, or Final Fantasy – the studio’s crown jewel.

The company has also branched out to many other genres. Some key examples are the critically acclaimed Life is Strange games and the Japanese-exclusive party series Itadaki Street. Additionally, Square Enix acquired several IPs after purchasing Taito, including Space Invaders, Bubble Bobble, and Gex. If you add them all up, it comes out to 75 series in total.

4

Microsoft

Just How Many Studios Does This Company Own?

Over the years, Xbox Game Studios has amassed quite an impressive game lineup, with the Halo and Gears of War series being two notable examples. However, Microsoft’s IP count skyrockets if you include all the studios it’s acquired throughout the decades.

While there are far too many to name, here are some of the most noteworthy:

• Rare – Known for Banjo-Kazooie, Conker, Perfect Dark, and Viva Piñata.
• Bethesda – Known for Doom, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and The Evil Within.
• Activision Blizzard – Known for Crash Bandicoot, Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and Overwatch.

Needless to say, Microsoft’s resume is one of the largest in the industry, and many of its IPs are among the biggest series in video game history. Talk about one heck of a portfolio.

3

EA

Football And Aliens And Sims, Oh My!

EA is arguably one of the most infamous video game developers, for better or for worse. Despite the many controversies, the company has collected plenty of heavy-hitting series, including Dead Space, Mass Effect, The Sims, and Plants vs. Zombies.

However, you may best recognize EA as a major influence in sports video games. The company owns the rights to the FIFA and Madden NFL series, along with many other sports-related IPs. Altogether, the studio has a whopping 93 series in its catalog.

2

Sega

Doing What Nintendon’t Since 1985

Many of Sega’s IPs have been dormant for quite a while, but back in the ’90s, it produced hit after hit to compete with Nintendo. In total, the company owns 112 series – 97 of which are internally developed, and 15 were acquired from Atlus.

Nowadays, Sega is famous for the Sonic the Hedgehog, Yakuza, Super Monkey Ball, and Persona games. Sadly, dozens of its brands faded into obscurity when the company became a third-party developer. Still, retro game fans may remember classics like Crazy Taxi, Columns, and NiGHTS into Dreams.

1

Nintendo

The Game Company With The Most IPs

To no one’s surprise, Nintendo has the most video game IPs by far. Since the ’80s, the company has created a whopping 356 series, ranging from household names like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda to lesser-known cult classics like Kid Icarus and Punch-Out.

It should be noted that this number counts sub-series like Mario Kart and Mario Party as their own individual IPs. If we group all spin-offs as one massive brand, the total drops to 306.

However, would you believe that over half of Nintendo’s IPs are one-off series? These include classics like Ice Climber and Duck Hunt and more obscure titles like the GameCube god-simulation Doshin the Giant. It turns out that being one of the oldest video game developers gives you quite the resume.