Major Korean game companies including 3N (NC, Nexon, and Netmarble), Smilegate, and NHN mobilized for the 'Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2026' to target Japanese and global users. With the recent surge in popularity of subculture genres and global expansion becoming a key priority for the gaming industry, TGS is being treated as a trial run ahead of new title launches.
On the 20th, the Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, where 'TGS 2026' was held, was packed with gamers to the point of no room to move. This year's TGS marked its 30th anniversary and was held for five days (17–21) for the first time. A record-breaking scale saw participation from 53 countries and 1,138 companies, operating 3,999 booths. Foreign exhibitors numbered 598, surpassing Japanese participants.
NC unveiled its first demo build of 'Astra Oration' (hereafter Asuora), a new subculture genre title, at the TGS booth. Asuora is NC's flagship game for entering the Japanese market. Set in Tokyo in 1989, it features a unique experience where story, art, and gameplay seamlessly blend together.
Nexon showcased its new subculture title 'Paradolia' alongside its popular existing title 'Lineage M'. Nexon recreated the 'Tasogarekan' from Paradolia within the booth to enhance visitor immersion. A key feature of Paradolia is its voice recognition technology, allowing gamers to call out in-game maids using their voices. Leveraging this, Nexon hosted a rock-paper-scissors game with voice recognition at the booth.
Netmarble presented three titles: 'Shangrila Frontier: Seven Strongest Species' (hereafter Shangfr), 'Solo Leveling: Karma' (hereafter Karma), and 'Pearl in Blue'. Shangfr is a new title developed based on the mega-hit original manga, while Karma is the third game developed under the Solo Leveling IP, featuring content not present in the original work. Pearl in Blue is a full-fledged subculture new title specifically targeted at the Japanese market.
Netmarble Chairman Bang Jun-hyuk made a surprise visit to the TGS booth on the second day to gauge visitor reactions. He stated, "I was most curious about how Pearl in Blue, developed specifically for the Japanese market, would be received locally." Netmarble captured visitors' attention by installing statues of Sanraku and Sung Jin-woo at the booth. To ensure visibility from a distance, balloons shaped like Sanraku's face were suspended from the ceiling.
Smilegate revealed 'Dead Account: Two Blue Flames', based on a Japanese manga, and 'Mirai Shi: The Invisible Future', currently in development. Smilegate collected visitors' game scores in real time and provided coupons redeemable for future games. NHH set up its booth under the name PlayArt, its Japanese subsidiary, while Shift Up showcased 'Stellar Blade' for Nintendo Switch 2 at the SEGA booth. Additionally, Naver Webtoon and Samsung Electronics participated in the B2B (business-to-business) exhibition hall.
A gaming industry executive stated, "With the US 'E3' (Electronic Entertainment Expo) disappearing during the COVID-19 pandemic, TGS has emerged as one of the two major game shows alongside Gamescom." They added, "Given that global expansion is currently the top priority for the gaming industry, we expect more companies to participate in TGS with subculture titles and at Gamescom with PC and console games."
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