Irem Corp.

Kenzo Tsujimoto established the venture in Osaka, Japan, initially focusing on amusement machine manufacturing before transitioning fully into video game development. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the developer pushed technological boundaries with its proprietary M-92 arcade system board, which enabled highly detailed 2D sprite artwork and fluid animations. This hardware powered visually striking titles such as In the Hunt and GunForce II.

Internal restructuring in 1994 led to a significant shift, prompting a group of key designers and programmers to depart and form Nazca Corporation, the studio that subsequently created the Metal Slug franchise. Irem itself pivoted toward the home console market, finding success on platforms like the PlayStation 2 with unique, genre-defying series such as Disaster Report and Steambot Chronicles. Following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, the company cancelled several active projects and restructured its operations, leading chief designer Kazuma Kujo and other staff to exit and found Granzella, which now maintains the legacy of Irem's later intellectual properties.