HAL Laboratory
HAL Laboratory, Inc. (Japanese: ハル研究所, Hepburn: Haru Kenkyūjo) is a Japanese video game developer and software house headquartered in Tokyo, specializing in the research and development of digital entertainment products and game production systems.[1][2] Founded on February 21, 1980, in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, with an initial capital of 80 million yen, the company derives its name from the fictional AI HAL 9000 featured in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.[1][3][4] Established by Mitsuhiro Ikeda as its first president, HAL Laboratory initially focused on creating software for early personal computers such as the MSX and Commodore VIC-20, releasing simple titles like Rally-X ports and adventure games in the 1980s.[5][6] By the mid-1980s, under president Tsuyoshi Ikeda, the company expanded into console development and established a development center in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1991.[3] Its close affiliation with Nintendo began in the early 1990s, solidified when Nintendo invested 600 million yen in 1992 to rescue HAL from financial difficulties, transforming it into a key second-party developer for Nintendo platforms.[5][7] HAL Laboratory gained prominence in the 1990s with landmark titles including Kirby's Dream Land (1992), the debut of its flagship Kirby franchise—a series of platformers starring the pink puffball character, with intellectual property rights managed by Nintendo through its subsidiary Nintendo Stars Inc. (formerly Warpstar Inc., following HAL's sale of its stake in 2025)—and EarthBound (1994, originally Mother 2 in Japan), an influential RPG.[8][7][9] The company further cemented its reputation by developing the first two Super Smash Bros. games (Super Smash Bros. in 1999 and Super Smash Bros. Melee in 2001 for Nintendo 64 and GameCube, respectively), which popularized the crossover fighting genre.[8][7] Under the leadership of Satoru Iwata, a key programmer since the 1980s who became president in 1993 and later Nintendo's president in 2002, HAL emphasized innovative gameplay and efficient development processes.[5][6] In the 2000s and 2010s, HAL Laboratory continued to innovate with puzzle series like Adventures of Lolo revivals, Picross 3D (2010), and the BOXBOY! trilogy (2015–2017), alongside ongoing Kirby entries such as Kirby's Return to Dream Land (2011) and Kirby: Planet Robobot (2016).[8][10] The company contributed to later Super Smash Bros. titles, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), while maintaining its Nintendo-exclusive focus.[8][11] As of 2025, under president and CEO Shigefumi Kawase, HAL Laboratory remains active, with recent releases including Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022) and an enhanced edition for Nintendo Switch 2 released in August 2025, upholding its philosophy of creation that fosters joy for customers and employees alike.[12][10]History
Founding and early years
HAL Laboratory was founded on February 21, 1980, in Kanda, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, Japan, by Mitsuhiro Ikeda as a software development company initially focused on personal computers.[13] The company, named after the fictional HAL 9000 computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey, began operations during the burgeoning Japanese personal computer market of the early 1980s, where systems like the MSX and imported Western machines gained popularity among hobbyists and early adopters.[4] Under Ikeda's leadership, the initial team concentrated on creating accessible software, including ports of arcade titles, to capitalize on the growing demand for home computing entertainment in Japan.[5] In its early years, HAL Laboratory produced games for platforms such as the Commodore VIC-20 and MSX, marking its entry into the video game industry with simple yet engaging titles. Notable early releases included ports like Pac-Man for the VIC-20 in 1981, which faithfully adapted the Namco arcade hit for home use, and original adventure games that showcased the company's growing expertise in programming for limited hardware.[14] By 1984, HAL had expanded to the Nintendo Famicom with F1 Race, a racing simulation published by Nintendo, signaling an early shift toward console development amid the rising popularity of dedicated gaming systems in Japan.[15] The company also developed titles for the Commodore 64, further diversifying its portfolio during the mid-1980s PC boom. These efforts helped establish HAL's reputation for reliable ports and innovative adaptations suited to the era's 8-bit architectures. The Eggerland series emerged as a cornerstone of HAL Laboratory's early success, debuting with Eggerland Mystery in 1985 for the MSX and pioneering puzzle mechanics involving block-pushing and enemy avoidance in labyrinthine levels.[16] Developed by Ikeda and a small core team, the series drew on contemporary puzzle trends to create addictive, logic-based gameplay that emphasized strategic navigation over action, influencing later titles in the genre.[17] Subsequent Eggerland entries, such as Eggerland: Meikyuu no Fukkatsu for the Famicom in 1988, refined these mechanics while expanding to Nintendo hardware, reflecting HAL's growing alignment with console markets. By 1989, this evolution culminated in The Adventures of Lolo for the NES, an international release that adapted the Eggerland formula with the character Lolo, solidifying HAL's transition from PC-centric development to prominent console contributions.Financial crisis and Nintendo acquisition
In the early 1990s, HAL Laboratory faced mounting financial pressures from ambitious projects that exceeded budgets and underperformed commercially, including the protracted development of the Famicom title Metal Slader Glory (1991), which took over three years to complete and sold poorly, failing to recoup even its advertising costs. Efforts to expand its operations, such as establishing a development center in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1991, along with international publishing ventures like porting and distributing third-party games such as Stargate for the NES in 1987, also strained resources without sufficient returns, exacerbating the company's vulnerabilities amid a competitive market.[3][18][19] These issues culminated in June 1992 when HAL formally entered bankruptcy proceedings with approximately ¥5 billion in liabilities, threatening its survival.[19] Nintendo intervened to prevent HAL's collapse, providing financial backing in 1992 to cover debts, on the condition that restructuring leadership occur.[20] In March 1993, at the insistence of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi, Satoru Iwata—a longtime HAL programmer who had previously forged ties with Nintendo through software development—was appointed president to oversee recovery efforts.[21][19] Under Iwata's leadership, HAL implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures, including reducing staff and streamlining operations to prioritize high-quality development over volume production, shifting focus from independent publishing to collaborative Nintendo projects.[22] This strategy facilitated a turnaround, highlighted by the release of Kirby's Dream Land in April 1992—which, though predating Iwata's presidency, benefited from his earlier programming contributions and marked HAL's pivot to accessible, successful platformers—and the critically acclaimed EarthBound (1994), co-developed with Ape Inc., which helped stabilize finances and solidified HAL's role as a key Nintendo partner.[21][23] As part of its post-crisis reorganization, HAL restructured in 1992 by separating its publishing arm into the independent HAL Corporation, while the core development division emphasized software innovation, eventually formalizing as HAL Laboratory Inc. in 1997 to reflect this specialized focus.[13] By the late 1990s, these changes had paid off, with HAL fully repaying its debts by 1999 and establishing a stable, exclusive partnership with Nintendo.[20]Modern era and recent milestones
Following Satoru Iwata's leadership as president until 1999, HAL Laboratory experienced continued growth as a prominent Nintendo second-party developer during the GameCube and Wii console eras. The studio played a key role in the GameCube's launch lineup with Super Smash Bros. Melee in 2001, a fighting game that sold over 7 million units and established the series as a flagship Nintendo franchise. Under subsequent leadership, HAL focused on innovative titles that leveraged Nintendo's hardware advancements, solidifying its reputation for accessible yet deep gameplay experiences. In the 2010s, HAL Laboratory shifted emphasis toward Nintendo's portable and hybrid systems, adapting to the rise of the Nintendo DS and 3DS. The studio introduced the BoxBoy! series in 2015, a critically acclaimed puzzle-platformer on Nintendo 3DS featuring minimalist design and creative mechanics centered on a box-shaped protagonist. This era also included Kirby: Planet Robobot in 2016, a 3DS entry that innovated the Kirby series with robotic suit mechanics allowing environmental manipulation and boss battles. The 2020s brought further evolution with HAL's exploration of mobile and hybrid platforms amid the Nintendo Switch's dominance. Part-Time UFO, released in 2020 for iOS, Android, and Switch, offered a charming physics-based puzzle game where players stack objects as a UFO worker, though its mobile versions were delisted on October 22, 2024, ending online services. A landmark achievement came with Kirby and the Forgotten Land in 2022, the series' first full 3D platformer, which introduced open-ended exploration in a post-apocalyptic world and sold millions, praised for its vibrant visuals and co-op features.[24] 2025 marked HAL Laboratory's 45th anniversary since its founding in 1980, celebrated with reflections on its contributions to gaming innovation and Nintendo collaborations. The milestone year featured the release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World on August 28, an upgraded port with enhanced graphics, performance optimizations for the Nintendo Switch 2, and a new story expansion involving a meteor mystery and additional worlds.[25] HAL Laboratory maintains its headquarters in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, with approximately 215 employees as of 2023. The company upholds an exclusive second-party partnership with Nintendo, focusing solely on its platforms without a full acquisition.[26][4][27]Video games
Kirby series
The Kirby series, HAL Laboratory's flagship franchise, originated with Kirby's Dream Land in 1992 for the Game Boy, a simple action-platformer designed as a quick development project to help the studio recover from financial difficulties.[28] The titular character, a round pink puffball, was created by 19-year-old designer Masahiro Sakurai, who envisioned Kirby as a cute, approachable hero capable of floating with inhaled air to navigate levels and defeat enemies by spitting them out.[29] This debut title emphasized accessibility and brevity, with short levels and forgiving mechanics tailored for handheld play, establishing Kirby's world of Dream Land as a whimsical, pastel-colored realm threatened by invaders like King Dedede.[28] Core to the series' identity is Kirby's signature ability to inhale enemies and objects, introduced in the 1993 sequel Kirby's Adventure for the NES, allowing him to copy their powers for combat and puzzle-solving, such as breathing fire or wielding a sword.[30] This mechanic evolved across titles, expanding to include animal friends in Kirby's Dream Land 2 (1995, Game Boy) for cooperative abilities and multi-character modes in later entries, fostering replayability through diverse power combinations.[31] The gameplay shifted from traditional 2D side-scrolling platforming to innovative formats, like golf-simulation in Kirby's Dream Course (1994, SNES), while maintaining Kirby's emphasis on exploration, boss battles, and lighthearted humor. The franchise transitioned to 3D in Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022, Nintendo Switch), introducing open-ended "Mouthful Mode" where Kirby inhabits larger objects like cars for environmental interaction, blending platforming with adventure elements in a post-apocalyptic setting.[32] HAL Laboratory developed several landmark titles in the series, advancing its mechanics and scope:- Kirby Super Star (1996, SNES), a genre-defining anthology with multiple sub-games, including arena fighters and racing modes, that popularized copy abilities through remixable scenarios.[31]
- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2000, Nintendo 64), featuring 3D visuals in a 2.5D format and power-mixing, where combined abilities like fire + ice created steam blasts.[31]
- Kirby's Return to Dream Land (2011, Wii), the first multi-player focused entry with four-player co-op and the introduction of the Super Ability system for massive attacks.[31]
- Kirby: Planet Robobot (2016, Nintendo 3DS), incorporating mecha suits for robotic transformations and meta-commentary on technology invading Dream Land.[31]
- Kirby Star Allies (2018, Nintendo Switch), emphasizing friendship mechanics where recruited enemies form teams with shared abilities, updated post-launch with free content expansions.[31]
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022, Nintendo Switch), marking the series' full 3D debut with mouth-based powers and co-op play.
- Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023, Nintendo Switch), an enhanced remake adding new story chapters and Epilogue mode.
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (2025, Nintendo Switch 2), featuring graphical upgrades, improved performance, and a new expansion with interstellar exploration levels.[33]