The Anime News Network is reporting (via the Japanese site AnimeAnime) that GDH, the parent company of the Gonzo anime studio, has decided to divest itself of its online gaming subsidiary, Gonzo Rosso.   GDH made the decision in order to focus all its energy on its core anime production business.  GDH has also absorbed its Gonzo subsidiary and the resulting entity will take the “Gonzo” name starting on April 1st.

 

This is the latest in a number of steps that GDH/Gonzo has taken in an effort to deal with the declining anime market in Japan and abroad.  Previously Gonzo pared its staff (see “Gonzo Asks 50 to Retire”) and cut its yearly anime output nearly in half (see “Gonzo Reducing Output in 2009”).  While the Gonzo Rosso gaming subsidiary was not a money loser per se, ANN reports that the unit made a paltry profit of just $370,000 in the most recent fiscal year.