PROTOTYPE

Japanese visual novel publisher founded 27 March 2006 by Toshio Tabeta (former Interchannel producer). Known for porting and publishing Clannad, Grisaia, Polyphonica and other VN titles to consoles. 2026 UPDATE: official multilingual site confirms 'planetarian: Snow Globe' (prequel to Key's planetarian) now on Nintendo Switch; Key-portfolio console ports continue (AIR global release 5 March 2025); founded 27 March 2006 by Toshio Tabeta re-confirmed per en-wiki.

• Type: Publisher · Buyer
• Headquarters: Japan
• Data updated: 15 Nov 2026

Key facts

• According to Games Atlas analysis of shipped-game credits, PROTOTYPE published or developed 7 games released 2006–2023 (+1 as distributor or contractor).
• Games Atlas data shows 4 of 4 PROTOTYPE titles with known production credits (100%) used external service partners.
• The most frequent external partner on PROTOTYPE titles is Sekai Project (4 shared credits, 2006–2023).

What PROTOTYPE outsources and how open it is to new partners

The verdict rates how hard it is for a new vendor to win work in each discipline: how much of the work goes to outside vendors rather than staying inside, whether the same partners come back or change from project to project, and how often first-time partners got in over recent years.

• Art, assets and fonts production services: Open: partners change from project to project. Sourcing model: regularly outsourced (2 vendors per title, typical 3). 3 of 4 titles with detailed credits since 2015 used an external partner (75%); 6 external partners, 0 of them returning (0% of outsourced titles), most often Aquamary Images (33%). Small base: a first signal, not a settled pattern.
• Audio design and production services: Open: partners change from project to project. Sourcing model: regularly outsourced (1.7 vendors per title, typical 1.8). 3 of 4 titles with detailed credits since 2015 used an external partner (75%); 5 external partners, 0 of them returning (0% of outsourced titles), most often AZ Creative (33%). Small base: a first signal, not a settled pattern.
• Marketing and consulting services: Full breakdown available to registered members.
• Trailers, cinematics and cut-scenes Production services: Full breakdown available to registered members.

Members-only data, free account. The full sourcing breakdown for PROTOTYPE is available to registered Games Atlas members. Registration is free. After sign-in, the page shows for Marketing and consulting services, Trailers, cinematics and cut-scenes Production services: share of titles outsourced, number of external partners, the largest vendors and their share, new partners in recent years, and how open each discipline is to new vendors, plus 19 more external partners. Create a free account.

External partners proven by shipped credits

• Sekai Project — Lead & co-development, Publishing, 4 shared credits, 2006–2023
• Tencent Holdings — Lead & co-development, 3 shared credits, 2006–2017
• Visual Art's — Lead & co-development, Publishing, 3 shared credits, 2006–2017
• Fruitbat Factory — Localisation services, Publishing, 2 shared credits, 2017–2018
• aiueoKompany — Lead & co-development, Publishing, 2 shared credits, 2018–2023

Methodology

Source: Games Atlas (gamesatlas.app), based on MobyGames production credits and Games Atlas analysis; the sourcing figures cover work credited on releases from 2015 onwards. One game counts once regardless of platforms, editions or add-ons. Games Atlas does not estimate revenue or report the performance of individual games. Profile: https://gamesatlas.app/companies/prototype