Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025

Shochiku Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of the historic Shochiku Group, has today announced the launch of the Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025. The program seeks to empower innovative game-related startups and technology companies to enter the Japanese market or expand their global reach.

The Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025 offers startups a unique opportunity to collaborate with a major player in the Japanese entertainment industry. Building on Shochiku’s recent publishing successes, such as the critically acclaimed MiSide (80,000 "Overwhelmingly Positive" Steam reviews), the accelerator provides a platform for selected companies to conduct Proof of Concept (PoC) development using Shochiku's existing game titles.

Selected companies will receive up to $100,000 (USD) in non-equity funding to support PoC initiatives. This funding is specifically for services that enhance the gaming experience; game development costs are not covered. Participants will also be invited to Tokyo and attend networking opportunities with leading Japanese venture capital firms, game publishers, and potential partners.

Takahiro Inoue, Managing Director at Shochiku Co., Ltd., said: “Shochiku’s gaming business has been evolving rapidly since its launch a year ago, with a strong focus on indie game publishing. With this accelerator program, we aim to broaden our reach beyond developers, welcoming companies specializing in middleware, SaaS, and infrastructure—essential components of the gaming ecosystem. He added, “Our goal is to contribute to industry growth, encourage innovation, and collaborate in creating new gaming experiences. We look forward to seeing many creative and forward-thinking applicants join us on this journey.”

Applications for the program are now open and will close on May 19, 2025, 11:59PM JST / 02:59AM UTC. Interested participants can apply using the following form. For more information on the accelerator and its eligibility and requirements criteria, please visit the official website.