European publisher Rising Star opens U.S. arm, digital division

Newsbrief: European publisher Rising Star Games has opened a U.S. branch in California, and intends to begin releasing titles in North America, starting with a localized version of bullet hell shooter Akai Katana. Headquartered in the UK, Rising Star was founded in 2004, and has focused on localizing titles mostly from Japan for Europe. The firm says it's read to expand its business by reaching consumers "in more territories and on digital platforms." To supports it digital and international plans, the company has also formed a new global digital publishing division, Rising Star Games Digital, that will cater to Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, Steam, Android, and iOS devices. The first release out of the division and the newly created U.S. arm, Akai Katana, is a port of Japanese developer Cave's 2010 shoot'em up arcade cabinet. Rising Star will release the XBLA title in North America and Europe simultaneously sometime in the second quarter of 2012.