During the Tokyo Game Show 2024, we had the privilege of touring the Osaka Cygames Studio to witness firsthand how their magic is created. Cygames, Inc. stands as one of Japan’s largest game publishers, renowned for their successful franchises, Granblue Fantasy: Relink and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. With their narrative-driven and character-focused gameplay, it is no surprise that these titles have become fan favorites. Cygames has a deep understanding of their audience and continues to cater to their preferences with a proven formula.

Osaka Cygames Studio Tour

Our extensive tour included a fascinating look at their motion capture process, where actors bring characters to life, and the intricate Foley work that enhances their sound design. We also had the opportunity to speak with Tsutomu Kokufu and Kazuhiro Tsuchiya about the winning formula that enables Cygames to consistently deliver outstanding games.

“The one really big strength of this company is that it trusts in its employees and you can see that in the efficiency in the way that they do things. So making those creative requests, getting the stuff that you need to do your work, you can really focus on the creative stuff while leaving the bureaucracy behind a little bit, and that allows us to produce higher quality products,” mentions Tsutomu Kokufu during his interview.

Our tour commenced at the Osaka Cygames Studio, where we waited in the designated waiting rooms. During our visit, we noted that the washrooms are equipped with laundry areas and showers. This thoughtful provision allows staff and talent to refresh themselves during long hours of work and performance, ensuring they can deliver the high-quality titles we know and love.

According to Tsutomu Kokufu, the Osaka Cygames Studio is responsible for console game development and CG production. The highly acclaimed Granblue Fantasy: Relink was developed here and has enjoyed worldwide success, particularly in the Chinese and Asian markets. This success has led to the establishment of their Singapore office.

Foley Studio

The first major stop in our Osaka Cygames Studio is the state-of-the-art Foley Studio. Our tour guide was Lee-san, who is the Lead Foley Artist and Sound Editor. They are responsible for “recording game sound effects and by upping the quality of the recorded sound effects, it increases immersion, and it’s honestly something that players have come to expect.“

Previously, Cygames had to book external studio time for their Foley work, which imposed time restrictions and limited their creative options. With the establishment of an in-house Foley studio at the Osaka Cygames Studio, they now have the flexibility to control their schedule and experiment with a variety of sounds, enhancing the sound design that players have come to appreciate.

Upon entering the studio, we were greeted by an extensive shoe rack filled with various types and sizes of footwear, ranging from leather shoes to cloth, ski boots, high heels, and everything in between. This collection allows Foley artists to accurately replicate the sounds of footsteps, tailored to a character’s gender, role, and time period. While it may seem excessive to the uninitiated, it is an essential part of the process.

The Foley studio we entered features a wide array of surfaces, including asphalt, concrete, marble pits, sand pits with both coarse and fine sand, and wood, providing numerous options for recording. This setup allows Foley artists ample space to experiment, and the surfaces are strategically placed away from the walls to prevent unwanted sound reflections from interfering with the microphones.

A variety of sounds are captured, from destruction noises to the splashes created by puddles and the distinct footsteps on each surface. The studio also houses various doors and gates to replicate sounds typical of a European castle. Notably, an old gate was specially procured to produce a unique creaking sound that a new gate cannot replicate.

Lee-san and the other Foley artists demonstrated how sound design is integrated into a 15-second clip. We observed the meticulous process, from the character’s footsteps to the sheathing of their blade, as different layers of sound effects were added to bring the animated clip to life.

What was particularly surprising was the intricate layering of sounds added to the drawing of the sword. From the sheen of the blade to the swing of the sword, and finally the signature shining sound characteristic of many anime and game set pieces, the entire process took at least 10-15 minutes of meticulous timing and overlaying by the sound designers. One can only imagine the effort involved in adding sound for all the characters in Granblue Fantasy!

Motion Capture Studio

The next part of our tour was the Motion Capture Studio. While the Foley Studio focuses on sound, the Motion Capture Studio brings the action to life. Our guides at Osaka Cygames Studio, Tajiri-san and Irie-san, showed us how both talent and staff collaborate to animate our favorite scenes in Granblue Fantasy.

The Motion Capture Studio at Osaka Cygames is one of the largest in Japan, measuring 10 by 14 meters with a height of six meters. The floor is made of antibacterial linoleum, which helps alleviate stress on the actors. The studio is equipped with two projectors: one for regular work and one for capturing data, allowing for real-time confirmation of actions in the physical space.

The intricate setup of the Mo-Cap studio includes areas we could explore and several off-limits sections marked by tape. These restricted areas house highly calibrated micro-cameras that capture every precise movement of the mo-cap talent. Any slight misalignment would necessitate a laborious reset.

Similar to the Foley Studio, we observed a few action scenes being filmed on a wide screen. The mo-cap actors performed with wire work, and as the cameras rolled, we witnessed multiple takes of actors facing off against each other, capturing their actions in detail.

To bring these motions to life, several character weapons and arsenals have been 3D printed, providing the life-like weight and scale seen in Granblue Fantasy characters. From swords to staves and even 3D-printed firearms, all these actions are captured through their motion capture technology to enhance realism.

Osaka Cygames Studio operates under an actor-first policy, prioritizing the welfare of their talent. The state-of-the-art facilities and provided amenities ensure actors remain comfortable and stress-free. This supportive environment allows actors to enjoy their work, resulting in higher levels of creative output and well-received final products, such as Granblue Fantasy: Relink.

Putting Their Staff and Talent First

The final leg of our tour included a Q&A session with Kokufu-san and Tsuchiya-san. They introduced themselves and provided an overview of Osaka Cygames Studio, its history, and its future plans.

Cygames was founded in May 2011 by CEO Koichi Watanabe, Yuito Kimura, and current CTO and Executive Director Eikoshi Ashihara. Today, Cygames employs 3,600 people, with 300 of them working at Osaka Cygames Studio under the leadership of Tsutomu Kokufu.

Established in 2015, Osaka Cygames Studio moved to its current office in 2022, which houses the Foley Studio and Motion Capture Studio. These facilities are a small part of the office, which primarily focuses on console game development. The studio has several ongoing projects, many of which are still in production and do not yet have a release schedule.

During the Q&A session with the media, Kokufu and Tsuchiya emphasized that Osaka Cygames Studio is dedicated to delivering high-quality games.

“A major feature of the company is the idea that we need to focus on our workers so we can empower them as creators,” Kokufu reiterates. They speak about how they were able to acquire the current studio, which used to be a music hall. As the previous music hall shut down during the pandemic, Kokufu narrates how quick the turnaround was to move from renting the building to ultimately purchasing it. He recalls the anxious moment he had to present the cost of the building to Koichi-san, their CEO.

“During the pandemic, the music hall closed. When Cygames received the information, the decision to go from renting the music hall to purchasing the building only took one week. It was intimidating to take a single piece of paper with a giant number on it to the CEO and put it in front of him.”

“But in allowing us to purchase this space, it really shows how much trust he had in us in console game developers and how much he was willing to invest in console game development, and now it is our turn to return that trust by producing great results,” concludes Kokufu-san.

While there were no specific announcements of what the future holds for Osaka Cygames Studio, we can be sure that we can continue to await new titles to come out of their company. And if Granblue Fantasy ReLink serves as the barometer for that success, with the care and trust they put on their staff and talent, we can only be assured that we can expect great things to come out of their studio. 

Special Thanks to Osaka Cygames Studio, Tsutomu Kokufu, Kazuhiro Tsuchiya, Tajiri-san, Irie-san and The Motion Capture staff and Mo-Cap actors, and Lee-san and the Foley Studio staff for this opportunity.