Game Freak was founded on April 26, 1989, by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori. The company later became the developer most closely associated with the main Pokémon video games.
Before it was a software studio, Game Freak was a self-published video game magazine created by Tajiri. Sugimori joined as its illustrator, and the pair eventually transformed the magazine name into a development company.
Game Freak’s early software included Quinty, released outside Japan as Mendel Palace. Its defining success came with Pokémon Red and Green, which it developed for Nintendo’s Game Boy. The company’s role is why Pokémon’s origin is often described as a collaboration among Game Freak, Nintendo and Creatures.
Nintendo is the publisher most familiar to players, but it did not found Game Freak. Creatures became involved in Pokémon’s development and merchandising, while The Pokémon Company was established later to manage the broader brand. Keeping these companies distinct helps explain how the franchise was created and distributed.