Industry

industry 1 sources · Jun 23

Kaeka Joins Tokyo Job Experience Program for Summer 2026

A speech-training startup joining a government-run job experience program signals growing institutional interest in communication skills as a formal career path and educational priority.

ASCII.jp
industrybusiness 3 sources · Jun 23

Google Invests $75 Million in A24 for AI Film Tool Development

The partnership marks Google's first direct equity investment in a film studio and places A24 at the center of a creator-driven approach to AI tool development, a contrast to the cost-reduction narratives that have dominated industry discussions.

KAI-YOU, GIGAZINE, GameBusiness.jp
industrybusiness 1 sources · Jun 23

Ubisoft Lays Off 93 Employees in San Francisco Office

The San Francisco layoffs are the latest sign of Ubisoft's ongoing financial struggles and the execution of a cost-cutting plan that has already closed multiple studios.

GameBusiness.jp
industrybusiness 1 sources · Jun 22

Sony Annual SEC Report Omits PC Release Plans Line

The omission formalizes a strategic shift away from PC releases for Sony's single-player first-party games, reversing a multiyear push that began with Horizon Zero Dawn in 2020.

Anime News Network
industrybusiness 2 sources · Jun 22

Yostar Official Shop to Raise Prices From July 1

The price hike signals that even major game publishers like Yostar cannot fully absorb rising production and logistics costs, passing them to consumers across merchandise lines.

Inside
industrybusiness 1 sources · Jun 22

KLab Sets Up Dubai Subsidiary to Expand Into MENA Region

KLab is formally entering the MENA market with a physical base, aiming to channel regional investment into its game business and act as a bridge for trade and technology between Japan and the Middle East.

GameBusiness.jp
industryevent 3 sources · Jun 22

Shuhei Yoshida and Daisuke Toki Named CEDEC2026 Keynote Speakers

Yoshida's keynote marks his first major public reflection on his PlayStation-era career since leaving Sony Interactive Entertainment, while Toki's focus on cross-sector technology production signals CEDEC's broadening scope beyond pure game development.

GAME Watch, Denfaminicogamer, GameBusiness.jp
industryevent 1 sources · Jun 18

Artists Meet Technicals 2026 Set for July 24 in Yokohama

The event addresses a gap in networking opportunities for technical artists, a growing but still niche role in game development, by providing a dedicated space for session review and community building.

GameBusiness.jp
industrybusiness 1 sources · Jun 18

Hakuhodo DY ONE Begins Handling ChatGPT Ad Pilot in Japan

This marks the first domestic handling of ChatGPT advertising in Japan, positioning Hakuhodo DY ONE at the forefront of a shift from keyword search to AI-driven dialogue as a consumer information channel.

ASCII.jp
industrybusiness 2 sources · Jun 18

Crunchyroll Plans to Expand to Taiwan and South Korea

The expansion targets two of Asia's most mature entertainment markets, where Crunchyroll will compete with established local platforms and a deeply embedded anime culture.

Anime News Network, AnimationXpress Anime
industrybusiness 1 sources · Jun 18

Sonagraf Opens Finnish Subsidiary Sonagraf Oy for European Expansion

The move gives Sonagraf a permanent European base led by a bilingual CEO with deep local ties and a CCO who knows both Japanese and global markets, enabling direct access to the Nordic Unreal Engine ecosystem without relying on third-party intermediaries.

ASCII.jp
industryevent 3 sources · Jun 17

Crunchyroll Wraps Ani-May 2026 With Drone Show Over Delhi

The drone show and Comic Con presence mark Crunchyroll's largest physical footprint in India to date, signaling the platform's bet on the country as a key growth market for anime fandom.

AnimationXpress Anime, Animehunch, OtakuKart Anime
industrybusiness 1 sources · Jun 17

Kodansha Sets Up Manga Publishing Joint Venture in India

Kodansha's move into India, a fast-growing market with high piracy and regulatory hurdles, signals a strategic shift by a major Japanese publisher to directly serve local demand rather than relying on imports.

Animenomics