Disgaea publisher downplays reports of its demise if Disgaea 5 doesn't sell on PS4

Disgaea series publisher Nippon Ichi Software says that, despite reports to the contrary, it's not in danger of going out of business or going bankrupt if its next game doesn't sell well on PlayStation 4.

Concerns over Nippon Ichi's fate spawned from what the company says is a mistranslation of the president's comments. Earlier this week, a widely circulated NeoGAF post said that Nippon Ichi president Souhei Niikawa said, "If Disgaea 5 doesn't sell as planned then we might not still be in business the year after. Even though Bloodborne is now releasing the same day, we really hope people will pick up both titles at once."

NIS said it had hoped to sell 150,000 copies of its next tactical role-playing game.

A statement from the company's North American arm, NIS America, says Niikawa's comments about the company's future were in jest and therefore misinterpreted. The correct translation of Niikawa's statement, NIS America says, is "If Disgaea 5 does not sell as planned, I, as the producer, might need to leave the Japanese gaming industry."

"This comment was simply self-deprecating humor and in no way did it mean or imply that Nippon Ichi Software as a company is going bankrupt or is in financial difficulties," Niikawa added. "I was merely trying to use humor in order to get the point across that we are committed to selling 150,000 copies of Disgaea 5."

Disgaea 5 is scheduled for release on March 26, 2015, in Japan. A North American release date has not been announced.