Aiming Signs Exclusive Thailand and Vietnam Publishing Agreement for The Eminence in Shadow: Master of Garden

Japanese mobile developer Aiming has announced a new publishing agreement that could strengthen the international presence of The Eminence in Shadow: Master of Garden. On October 19, the company confirmed that it had signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Singapore-based RGS Online covering Thailand and Vietnam. RGS Online operates within the Razer group and concentrates on publishing and operating online games.

The agreement gives the Singapore company exclusive rights associated with the title in the two Southeast Asian markets. Master of Garden is based on the popular Japanese fantasy franchise The Eminence in Shadow, which follows a protagonist determined to become a mysterious mastermind operating behind the scenes. The mobile adaptation combines familiar characters, original storytelling and RPG progression systems.

Thailand and Vietnam represent attractive markets for Japanese anime-inspired games, particularly as smartphone penetration and digital entertainment spending continue developing. However, successfully expanding a live-service game involves considerably more than translating the interface. Local payment preferences, customer support, community management, marketing and technical operations all influence whether a title can establish a sustainable audience.

Aiming has not announced a specific launch date for the new publishing arrangement, and the agreement should not be interpreted as confirmation that a new version is immediately available. The company also stated that the financial impact associated with the agreement had already been incorporated into its previously disclosed third-quarter expectations. For RGS Online, the deal provides another opportunity to build its publishing portfolio around recognisable entertainment properties.

For Aiming, it offers access to a regional partner with established gaming-industry connections. Apparently operating from the shadows is considerably easier when somebody else handles local distribution.