KONAMI Opens Steam Wishlist Registration for Roguelike Card Game PROJECT ZIRCON
The wishlist opening confirms that PROJECT ZIRCON, originally pitched as a Web3 co-creation project at Tokyo Game Show 2023, is now taking concrete shape as a conventional PC game on Steam.
Key Facts
- PROJECT ZIRCON is a deck-building roguelike card game developed for PC (Steam) by Konami Digital Entertainment.
- Steam wishlist registration opened on September 4, 2026, during the KONAMI PRESS START program.
- The game spans five in-game years, culminating in a battle against the Dragon of Calamity in year five.
- PROJECT ZIRCON was first announced in 2023 as KONAMI's first Web3 co-creation project.
- The story changes based on player choices and events, with multiple endings available.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), Game Spark.
Konami Digital Entertainment began accepting Steam wishlist registrations for PROJECT ZIRCON, a deck-building roguelike card game, during its KONAMI PRESS START program that aired worldwide on September 4, 2026. The game casts the player as a head of state who recruits character cards as allies and builds facilities to develop a nation over five in-game years, with a final battle against the Dragon of Calamity in the fifth year. A developer commentary trailer released alongside the announcement introduces the two-phase gameplay: a Strategy Phase for expanding territory and acquiring cards and facilities, and a Governance Phase where placing cards near facilities earns points. The story branches based on player choices and events, leading to multiple endings. PROJECT ZIRCON originated as a Web3 co-creation project first announced in 2023, allowing anyone to contribute characters and worldbuilding while permitting derivative works under published guidelines. The Steam store page is now live for wishlisting.
- KONAMI PRESS START broadcast worldwide starting at 0:00 Japan time on September 4, 2026, with the wishlist opening delivered at 0:00 that same day.
- 4Gamer notes the project was announced at Tokyo Game Show 2023 as KONAMI's first Web3 project, and its related article highlights the "Resella" distribution system, which was designed to let users trade without being conscious of NFTs.
- The co-creation guidelines also permit commercial use of content that utilizes the IP, according to 4Gamer's link to the published rules.
- Game Spark's developer commentary trailer frames the premise as saving the world from the revived "Dragon of Catastrophe," with different strategies each playthrough.
- Yearly objectives in the Strategy Phase and Governance Phase combine: placing character cards near facilities earns points, and facility upgrades plus recruiting allies build strength toward the fifth-year final battle.
- Game Spark confirms development is for PC (Steam) and describes the game as dark fantasy themed, matching 4Gamer's genre label.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.