Tuesday, 6 October 2026
Anime, manga, and games, with a take · A Yukimedia publication

← all stories

Shochiku

Shochiku is active as both an anime producer and a game publisher: its Shochiku Games office has a packed release slate running from July 2026 through late 2026 and into March 2027, and two television anime adaptations are confirmed, one premiering July 3 and another set for April 2027. The most recent activity centers on November releases and a Switch version of Mugen Sakura Roukaku.

Synthesized from 19 Yomimono stories · updated 1d ago

Shochiku's recent output is concentrated in two areas: publishing games in Japan through Shochiku Games, the game business office it set up in June 2024, and producing television anime adaptations. On the game side, the company has built a catalog around indie titles from Japan and overseas, including the hotel management and romance adventure Yog-Sothoth's Garden, which launched on Nintendo Switch on July 23, 2026 alongside a Japanese language update for its Steam version, and the haiku adventure OKU, which Shochiku Games will co-publish. The publisher's slate now runs well into 2027, with Hela: of Mice & Magic set for December 1, 2026, A Game About Digging A Hole Together for late 2026, Moomin: Midsummer Madness for November 12, and Mugen Sakura Roukaku for November 5.

Shochiku Games has also used Tokyo Game Show 2026 as a platform for hands-on demos of several titles, including REKA, which leaves early access on October 26, MONOPHOBIA, Estella, and OKU. The company participates in business matching events such as MeetToMatch and the Tokyo IP Market, where it is named as an IP holder for adaptation and remake rights.

On the anime side, the adaptation of Minoru Toyoda's Draw This, Then Die! premiered on July 3 on NTV's Friday Anime Night block, directed by Hiroaki Akagi at Shinei Animation. Shochiku also confirmed that Takeru Hokazono's Kagurabachi will receive a television anime in April 2027, produced at Cypic with Tetsuya Takeuchi directing. Its Blu-ray release of Return to Silent Hill is set for December 23, 2026, with re-releases of the two earlier Silent Hill films on the same day.

Key facts

Shochiku Games release date for Mugen Sakura Roukaku
November 5, 2026, for PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch, priced at 1,500 yen including tax ↗
Japanese release date for Hela: of Mice & Magic
December 1, 2026 ↗
Return to Silent Hill Blu-ray release
December 23, 2026, at 6,270 yen including tax ↗
A Game About Digging A Hole Together release window
Late 2026 ↗
Moomin: Midsummer Madness release date
November 12, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch ↗
REKA version 1.0 release
Steam, October 26, 2026, priced at 2,300 yen ↗
Yog-Sothoth's Garden Switch release
July 23, 2026, download version at 1,980 yen ↗
Draw This, Then Die! anime premiere
July 3 on NTV's Friday Anime Night block at 11:30 p.m. JST ↗
Kagurabachi anime
April 2027, directed by Tetsuya Takeuchi at Cypic ↗
Shochiku Games launch
Game business office set up in June 2024 ↗

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Announced
participation in the second Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, held at TIFFCOM 2026 · 2026-08-29

Connections

Produces
return to silent hill, algorithm prescription

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/shochiku. CC BY 4.0.

All coverage

2d ago

Shochiku Games Sets Mugen Sakura Roukaku for November 5

Shochiku Games will release the roguelite 3D action game Mugen Sakura Roukaku on November 5 for PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch, priced at 1,500 yen including tax. The publisher announced the date on September 30 alongside a Switch version that had not previously been confirmed; the game was originally planned for Steam alone. Developer Denneko Yuugi, an indie circle led by representative Hosenka and operating with a team of about five people, built the game around Retra, a dual-wielding cat-eared protagonist who enters the Far Eastern country of Ouran, becomes trapped in a dreamlike tower, and fights to escape. Combat pairs normal and strong attacks with Arts specials, chained through button presses and a tension gauge that fills toward the ultimate Over Arts. Runs combine more than 50 enhancement items called Attributes with the Dream Depth system, which adds debuffs and strengthens enemies as the player goes deeper.

2d ago

Shochiku Games To Publish Hela: Of Mice & Magic In Japan On December 1

Shochiku Games will handle Japanese publishing for Hela: of Mice & Magic, the open-world adventure in development at Windup Games, and the Japanese title is set as Hela: Chiisana Nezumi to Mahou no Mori. The release date is December 1, 2026. Platforms named across the cluster are Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Players take the role of a small mouse crossing a Nordic natural world to save a wizard who has fallen ill, using a magic frog backpack to hook onto branches and glide. Materials gathered in the field go into magic potions that help the animals of the forest. The game supports solo play, local two-player split-screen, and online multiplayer for up to four players. Preorders for the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 packaged versions are open. The download version costs 3,500 yen and the packaged version 4,400 yen, both with tax included.

2d ago

Return To Silent Hill Blu-Ray Lands December 23 With Two Earlier Films

Shochiku will release the Blu-ray of the live-action film Return to Silent Hill on December 23, 2026, at 6,270 yen including tax. The film adapts Konami's psychological horror game SILENT HILL 2 and is directed by Christophe Gans, who also directed the 2006 live-action Silent Hill. Jeremy Irvine plays protagonist James Sunderland, and Hannah Emily Anderson plays Mary. The film began streaming exclusively on Prime Video on May 15, 2026. The disc runs about 106 minutes and includes an original trailer plus a Japanese dub, with Chikahiro Kobayashi as James and Shizuka Ito as Mary. On the same day, Shochiku will re-release Blu-rays of Silent Hill and Silent Hill: Revelation at 6,270 yen each, both currently out of print. Preorders opened September 25, 2026.

6d ago

A Game About Digging A Hole Together Set For Late 2026 With Four-Player Co-Op

Shochiku Games announced on September 29, 2026 that it will release the digging simulation adventure game A Game About Digging A Hole Together in late 2026 with indie publisher rokaplay. Development is handled by Mipumi Games, working with the developer of the previous game, and the title arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC through Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store. The price is undecided. The game supports online co-op for up to four players with cross-platform play, described as the most requested feature from players of the first game. The core loop stays the same: dig, sell what you find, upgrade equipment, and dig deeper. New terrain and tools have been added, the systems were rebuilt from scratch, and the setting shifts to what appears to be a tropical beach. Features drawn from player feedback include greater dig depth and hidden elements.

Sep 20

Moomin: Midsummer Madness Gets November 12 Release On Switch 2 And Switch

Shochiku Games will release Moomin: Midsummer Madness on November 12, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. The point-and-click adventure adapts Tove Jansson's novel Midsummer Madness, following the Moomin family after a flood strands them in a floating theater. A Tokyo Game Show 2026 demo let players control Moomintroll and Little My, switching characters and investigating objects to advance the story.

Sep 14

Rojiura Developers Cloud Brings Five Indie Titles to TGS2026

Terui-do LLC will exhibit for the first time at Tokyo Game Show 2026 under the name Rojiura Developers Cloud, a community formed after TGS expanded to five days starting in 2026. The joint booth with Blast Edge Games Inc. runs in Hall 9 at the Indie Game Corner, booth H9-E32, with five playable titles. The lineup includes KARATE ROGUE, a karate-building roguelike RPG with a demo on Steam and a full release planned within 2026, and Animaroid Girl, a multi-ending raising ADV set in a kemonomimi, Hong Kong, cyberpunk world. The other three are XenoTechArena, a roguelike arena shooter built around crashing enemies into each other, God-Slaying Blue Silver, a region-conquest simulation RPG available on Steam since July 21, 2026, and Sushi Shogi, a turn-based board game where taking an opponent's piece means paying for the sushi, set for Steam in March 2027. TGS2026 runs September 17 to September 21 at Makuhari Messe.

Sep 9

REKA Version 1.0 Lands on Steam October 26

Shochiku Games announced September 9 that REKA, the witch exploration adventure from Berlin-based Emberstorm Entertainment, will leave early access and release version 1.0 on Steam October 26. The game costs 2,300 yen. Early access began September 12, 2024. The full release was originally planned for August 18 but was pushed back because playtests and third-party feedback surfaced bugs and performance issues that a small indie team needed time to fix. At 1.0, the game will add Japanese language support. A free demo arrives September 29, and a hands-on preview runs at the Shochiku booth during Tokyo Game Show 2026 at Makuhari Messe, September 17-21. Players control Reka, apprentice of the legendary witch Baba Yaga, and travel a procedurally generated 19th century Europe-inspired autumn world with a walking magic house on giant bird legs. The game has character creation, housing and decoration, animal taming, and quests where choices shape the player's identity as a witch. Shochiku Games publishes in Asia; Fireshine Games handles global publishing.

Sep 8

MONOPHOBIA Story Demo to Debut at Tokyo Game Show 2026

Shochiku Games announced on September 8, 2026 that MONOPHOBIA, the 2.5D urban legend adventure it publishes, will be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. The exhibition marks the first public showing of the game's story demo. The game follows two contrasting high school girls, the always mysterious Kirihara Konoka and the gal classmate Nakano Shino, who form a buddy pair to investigate eerie supernatural phenomena in a modern city rendered in nostalgic 2.5D pixel art inspired by 32-bit era adventure games. Light novel author Mikami Teren wrote the scenario, and illustrator Wata handled character design and the main visual. Developer Dendrobium, an indie team established in 2022, calls MONOPHOBIA its first independent development project. Japanese voice support is planned. The game is slated for PC via Steam with the price undecided.

Sep 4

Shochiku Games to Publish 3D Rhythm Game Estella With TGS 2026 Demo

Shochiku Games will publish Estella, a 3D music rhythm game developed by Taiwan's Imanity. Players steer an octagonal interface with mouse and keyboard while 3D effects unfold in sync with the music, a play experience the studio compares to traveling through space as a comet. Each planet is a chapter told in visual novel format. Steam early access is planned for this winter with about 40 songs. A limited demo will be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026 from September 17 to 21.

Aug 29

UniJapan Names Eight IP Holders for Second Tokyo IP Market

UniJapan announced on August 20, 2026 the first batch of IP holders for the second Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, held at TIFFCOM 2026. Eight publishing and film companies, including KADOKAWA, Shochiku, Toei, and Square Enix, will meet film producers from Europe, the U.S., and Asia seeking live-action adaptation and remake rights for Japanese IP. The event runs October 28-30 in Tokyo.

Aug 28

MeetToMatch Business Matching Event Returns for Tokyo Game Show 2026

MeetToMatch will hold its sixth annual Tokyo Edition from September 17 to 20, 2026, during the Tokyo Game Show 2026 period. The event connects Japanese game companies with overseas counterparts through pre-arranged business meetings. Japan-based companies can participate free of charge, with registration available on the dedicated website. Last year, 571 companies from 45 countries took part, including 120 Japanese firms, and 93% of meetings involving Japanese companies were with overseas partners. So far in 2026, 361 companies have registered on the platform, among them Bandai Namco Entertainment, Sega, Kodansha, Shochiku, Colopl, Drecom, G-mode, Kotobuki Solution, Crunchyroll K.K., 505 Games Japan, Active Gaming Media, Toylogic, and Chorus Worldwide. Meetings can be held at Makuhari Messe booths, public spots, rented rooms, restaurants, or online via Zoom, Google Meet, or a proprietary time-zone-adjusting system. Shochiku's Hiroaki Ishige noted that the most common contact he receives at conferences is from people who found him through MeetToMatch. The service is independent of Tokyo Game Show and not an official TGS offering.

Aug 13

Yog-Sothoth's Garden Trial Version Launches on PC and Switch

Shochiku Games released a free trial version of Yog-Sothoth's Garden on August 13, 2026, for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The game is a hotel management simulation and romance adventure set in the Cthulhu mythos. Players inherit a debt-ridden, dilapidated mansion and hire non-human girls, including artificial maids, apprentice grim reapers, and dragon girls, to renovate it into a luxury hotel. The trial covers the early hotel management and adventure segments, and includes a special scene featuring Tripoka, the grim reaper girl who is a key character. The full version has been on sale since July 2026, when the Japanese localization and Switch port launched. The English and Chinese versions first appeared on Steam in October 2023 and have sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. The trial was released in response to Japanese users who said they wanted to recommend the game to acquaintances. Steam reviews exceed 10,000, with a recent rating above 95%.

Aug 6

Algorithm Prescription Gets AGF2026 Stage With Cast Talk

Shochiku announced that the visual novel Algorithm Prescription will hold a special stage on November 7, the opening day of Animate Girls Festival 2026. The event takes place at Sunshine City Fountain Square in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, featuring voice actors Toshinari Fukamachi, Haruki Ishiya, and Junichi Toki.

Jul 23

Yog-Sothoth's Garden Launches on Nintendo Switch, Adds Japanese on Steam

Shochiku Games released the Nintendo Switch version of "Yog-Sothoth's Garden" on July 23, 2026. The hotel management simulation and romance adventure game, inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos, also received a Japanese language update for its existing Steam version on the same day. The game was originally released on Steam in Chinese and English in October 2023. It has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. Players inherit a debt-ridden mansion and hire non-human staff including an artificial maid, a reaper apprentice, a dragon girl, and a spirit slayer. The story's ending changes based on hotel management decisions and bonds with the heroines. The Nintendo Switch download version is priced at 1,980 yen, the standard physical edition at 2,970 yen, and the first limited edition at 4,400 yen. The Steam version costs 1,300 yen. A launch trailer featuring new illustrations has also been released. The game is developed by Bone Nail and published by Bone Nail and Shochiku.

Jul 9

Yog-Sothoth's Garden Switch Pre-Orders Open, New PV Narrated by Kana Asumi

Shochiku Games opened pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch download version of Yog-Sothoth's Garden on July 9, ahead of its July 23 release. The game, a hotel management simulation and romance adventure set in the Cthulhu Mythos, was originally released on Steam in October 2023 in Chinese and English. It has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide and holds a Very Positive rating from more than 10,000 Steam user reviews. The Switch version is priced at 1,980 yen for the download edition, with a 10 percent discount until July 22. Physical editions cost 2,970 yen for the standard version and 4,400 yen for the limited first edition. To mark the pre-order start, a special promotional video narrated by voice actress Kana Asumi was released. The video introduces the game's mix of cute heroines and madness, including the SAN value mechanic that decreases sanity for profit. The PV is available on the Shochiku Games YouTube channel until October 2026. The Steam version will also receive a Japanese language update on the same day.

May 17

Draw This, Then Die! Anime Reveals July 3 Premiere, Opening Theme

The television anime adaptation of Minoru Toyoda's manga Draw This, Then Die! will premiere on July 3. The first promotional video, released on Friday, reveals and previews the opening theme song "Isho" by Tatsuya Kitani. The series will air on NTV's "Friday Anime Night" programming block at 11:30 p.m. JST. The anime is directed by Hiroaki Akagi at Shinei Animation, with series scripts overseen by Hiroko Fukuda. The cast includes Akira Sekine as Ai Yasumi, Saori Hayami as Rei Teshima, and Inori Minase as Hikaru Sekiryū, among others. The manga, which launched in Shogakukan's Monthly Shonen Sunday in November 2021, won an award at the 70th Shogakukan Manga Awards in January 2025 and the 16th Manga Taisho awards in 2023. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the manga for English release.

May 16

Kagurabachi TV Anime Confirmed for April 2027 With Cypic Directing

Shochiku confirmed that Takeru Hokazono's Kagurabachi manga will receive a television anime adaptation in April 2027. The series is in production at Cypic, the studio previously known as CygamesPictures, with Tetsuya Takeuchi directing. Takeuchi's past work includes key animation on the Rock Lee versus Gaara fight in Naruto, a sequence Hokazono cited as a reason for his excitement about the adaptation. Keigo Sasaki is handling character designs, and Taihi Kimura, winner of the 2025 Seiyu Awards Best New Actor prize, will voice protagonist Chihiro Rokuhira. Shochiku and CyberAgent sit on the production committee. The announcement arrived during the fifth Jump Press program and was accompanied by a trailer, a teaser visual, and a commemorative illustration from Hokazono. A world tour starting in summer 2026 will screen 20 minutes of the first episode at events worldwide, culminating in a full first-episode screening in Japan in spring 2027 before the broadcast. The manga has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since September 2023 and has over 4 million copies in circulation.