Editing Taito (section)

===1990s–2000s===
In 1992, Taito announced a [[CD-ROM]]-based [[video game console]] named WOWOW, that would have allowed people to play near-exact ports of Taito's arcades (similar to the [[Neo Geo (console)|Neo Geo]]), as well as download games from a satellite transmission (as the [[Satellaview]] would do later). It was named after the Japanese television station [[Wowow|WOWOW]] and would have utilized its stations to download games. The WOWOW was never released.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/08/the_tragic_tale_of_taitos_wowow_the_console_which_promised_download_gaming_in_1992|title=The Tragic Tale Of Taito's WOWOW, The Console Which Promised Download Gaming In 1992|date=August 11, 2015|website=Nintendo Life}}</ref>

Taito America ceased operations in July 1996 after more than 20 years of existence. Taito had already sold exclusive rights for publishing its games in America to [[Acclaim Entertainment]] the previous year.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Industry Rebounds|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=88 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=January 1996|pages=22–23}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Jupiter Strike|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=15 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=March 1996|page=81}}</ref> Similarly, a division existed in [[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]] to distribute Taito games in Europe. '''Taito (Europe) Corporation Limited''' was created in 1988 and liquidated in February 1998.

When Taito was owned by [[Kyocera]], its headquarters were in [[Hirakawachō]], [[Chiyoda, Tokyo|Chiyoda]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/19980111203350/http://www.taito.co.jp/PROFENG.HTM Company Outline]." Taito Corporation. January 11, 1998. Retrieved on January 30, 2011 "Head Office 2-5-3 Hirakawa-cho,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 102,JAPAN." [https://web.archive.org/web/19980111203215/http://www.taito.co.jp/PROFJAP.HTM Address in Japanese]: "東京都千代田区平河町二丁目5番3号"</ref> In October 2000, Taito merged with Kyocera Multimedia Corporation to enter the market of mobile phones for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Taito Corporate History|url=https://www.taito.com/corporate/history|publisher=Taito|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref>

[[File:TAITO Ebina Development Center.jpg|thumb|Taito Ebina Development Center in [[Ebina, Kanagawa|Ebina]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture]]. Opened in 1979, it closed in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://killscreen.com/previously/articles/the-demolition-of-japans-videogame-history/|title=The demolition of Japan's videogame history|date=March 24, 2016|website=Kill Screen}}</ref>]]

In August 2005, it was announced that the gaming conglomerate [[Square Enix]] would purchase 247,900 Taito shares worth ¥45.16 billion ([[United States dollar|US$]]409.1 million), to make Taito Corporation a subsidiary of Square Enix.<ref>{{cite web | author=Jenkins, David | date=August 22, 2005 | title=Square Enix Makes Bid For Taito | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/square-enix-makes-bid-for-taito | access-date=2007-08-26}}</ref> The purpose of the takeover by Square Enix was to both increase Taito's profit margin exponentially as well as begin its company's expansion into new forms of gaming, most notably, the arcade scene, and various other entertainment venues. The takeover bid from Square Enix was accepted by previous stockholder Kyocera, making Taito a Square Enix subsidiary.<ref>{{cite news|title= Square Enix ready to acquire Taito|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2005/08/23/business/square-enix-ready-to-acquire-taito/#.WODa3vnyvIW|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|date=23 August 2005|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref> 

On September 22, 2005, Square Enix announced successfully acquiring 93.7% of all shares of Taito, effectively owning the company by September 28, 2005.<ref>{{cite web | author=Carless, Simon | date= September 22, 2005 | title=Square Enix Nears Takeover Of Taito | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/square-enix-nears-takeover-of-taito | access-date=2007-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Klepek, Patrick | date=September 28, 2005 | title=Square Enix Swallows Taito | url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3144185 | access-date=2007-08-26 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204034021/http://www.1up.com/news/square-enix-swallows-taito | archive-date=February 4, 2012 }}</ref>  In March 2006, Square Enix wanted to make Taito a wholly owned subsidiary.<ref name="Taito-SQEX merger"/><ref name="second company"/> To accomplish this goal, Square Enix merged Taito into SQEX Corporation.<ref name="Taito-SQEX merger">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970713090108/http://www.gamasutra.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 1997|title=Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games|first=David|last=Jenkins|website=www.gamasutra.com}}</ref><ref name="second company"/> Although the combined company took on the name "Taito Corporation", it was actually Taito that was dissolved and SQEX that was the surviving entity.<ref name="second company">{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.square-enix.com/company/en/news/2005/download/release_20051216en.pdf |title=Square Enix To Make Taito A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary|publisher=Square Enix Co., Ltd.|date=12 December 2005|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref> Taito became a subsidiary wholly owned by Square Enix and was delisted from the First Section of the [[Tokyo Stock Exchange]].<ref name="second company"/>

In July 2008, [[Square Enix]] announced that it would liquidate two subsidiaries of Taito, Taito Art Corporation (an insurance and travel agent subsidiary) and Taito Tech Co., Ltd. (an amusement and maintenance subsidiary) on the grounds that both had fulfilled their business purpose. The process ended in October 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.square-enix.com/jp/company/e/news/2008/download/20080728en_40.pdf |title=Notice regarding Dissolution and Liquidation of Subsidiaries|publisher=Square Enix Co., Ltd.|date=28 September 2008|access-date=28 September 2008}}</ref>