Shueisha Games Aims to Become the Japanese Equivalent of Devolver

A year has passed since the Japanese manga publishing giant Shueisha launched its dedicated gaming division. The concept originated from Shueisha's Game Creators Camp, which John Davis, the western PR manager, describes as "an incubator for Japanese indie developers." Since its inception, the company has successfully released several games, including Kenei Design's Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni and Tasto Alpha's Arcana of Paradise - The Tower, with most titles emerging from the Creators Camp. According to Davis, the natural progression was to transition from supporting indie developers to publishing and funding them. The primary objective of the Creators Camp is to establish a community where developers, artists, engineers, and influencers can collaborate, providing resources for Shueisha and other Asian publishers. Shueisha Games' first published project was Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions, featuring eight IPs from Shueisha's portfolio. The company aims to leverage its mother company's IPs while exploring beyond these boundaries. Davis states that they are building a new indie publishing brand to spread Shueisha's name globally, utilizing some IPs to create interesting projects. The anime and manga adaptations market is thriving, with established players like Spike Chunsoft, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix. However, Shueisha's key differentiator is its focus on smaller teams and games with fewer restrictions. Davis confirms that using big IPs can be challenging due to the need for extensive approval, and they aspire to be like Devolver in Japan. Devolver Digital has a distinct personality, and Davis believes that publishers should have a strong brand identity to attract people. Shueisha Games wants to support Japanese and global indies, showcasing diverse artists and IPs. The company has a long-term vision, which is a strong point, and they can think ahead due to their substantial budget. There is potential for crossover between mediums, and Shueisha has already released board games and a one-shot manga based on its IPs. The publisher wishes to remain multiplatform, with a focus on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation, while being cautious about Xbox due to its low market share in Japan. Mori mentions their mobile projects, such as Unveil, developed in partnership with NetEase. The company's budget will depend on the mothership, and Davis notes that Shueisha has significant investment capital for projects. Shueisha Games is building its team, currently employing 20 staff, and aims to increase this number in the future. The company's strong point is its long-term vision, and they can think ahead due to their substantial budget. Shueisha Games wants to create a virtuous circle by having multiple entry points into its IPs, allowing people to discover and engage with their content in various ways. To attract more players, the company hopes to introduce variety in its catalog, making it appealing to a broader audience. The Japanese indie development scene has evolved, and Shueisha Games aims to be part of this movement. The company's objectives are to become profitable, increase its global sales share, and create high-quality games that win awards, ultimately becoming the Japanese equivalent of Devolver.