- Business
- CRI Middleware Co., Ltd. CRI Middleware Co., Ltd. (3698.T) develops and licenses audio, video, and related middleware solutions primarily under the CRIWARE and OPTPiX brands for the gaming and enterprise sectors; core products include CRI ADX for advanced audio streaming and spatial sound design with tools like Atom Craft, CRI Sofdec for multi-platform video playback now supporting the AV1 codec since April 2025, CRI Clovis for in-game video streaming, OPTPiX SpriteStudio for 2D animation, OPTPiX ImageStudio for image optimization and super-resolution, CRI TeleXus for voice communication, CRI BEATWIZ for music analysis in rhythm games, CRI Sound Factory for procedural audio generation, and CRI D-Amp Driver for software-based digital amplification, alongside services such as contract software development, sound production via subsidiary TWOFIVE Co., Ltd., and technical support. The company operates gaming business segments focused on smartphone, console, and PC titles adopted in over 9,000 games worldwide, and enterprise segments targeting embedded systems including karaoke devices, in-vehicle equipment, home appliances, IoT, mobility/SDV simulations via partnerships like Open SDV Initiative, healthcare, security cameras, and web video; it maintains subsidiaries CRI Middleware China Co., Ltd. in Shanghai for licensing and support, CRI Middleware, Inc. in California, and TWOFIVE for production services. Founded August 1, 2001 and headquartered at 11/F, Infoss Tower, 20-1 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan, CRI Middleware conducts R&D in digital signal processing, AI-enhanced audio/video, 2D/3D graphics, and communication technologies, with global reach through events like GDC 2025, CEDEC 2025, and OTOTEN2025 demonstrations of new features in Atom Craft mixer, Sound xR spatial audio, Video Frame Interpolation, and partnerships such as Dirac for enhanced sound in mobile/PC, IoT, gaming, and automotive, plus middleware provision for Sega Sammy Creation's video casino machines including Railroad Riches on Genesis Atmos cabinets; recent strategic moves encompass CRI Sofdec AV1 support rollout, upward revisions to FY9/25 earnings forecasts amid 16.7% revenue growth to 2.611 billion yen and 147% operating profit surge in Q3, mid-to-long-term diversification into mobility/MaaS and TeleXus ventures beyond games, and ongoing global expansion via R&D investments and alliances.