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Japan Forward
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Forward
[Gamer's World] BitSummit the 13th Brings Magic and Surprises from the Indie Game World
BitSummit is Japan's premiere indie game festival, held annually in Kyoto – and this year's 2025 edition was far and away the best yet. And I should know: I've been to every edition of BitSummit since it was first held as a tiny ramshackle gathering of 200 independent Japan-based game developers in 2013. This July, for its 13th edition – appropriately titled BitSummit the 13th – the show boasted more exhibitors than ever, spilling out of the two main floors of the Miyako Messe convention centre. The very definition of indie spirit, the event has grown organically and exponentially, drawing 58,065 visitors compared to around 38,000 in 2024 and 23,000 the year before (2023). That's a big leap for a small event! I've definitely noticed the rising recognition of BitSummit within the game industry. I go to a lot of global game expos throughout the year, and this past 12 months, I had more indie developers than ever tell me they were planning to go in 2025 – or that they hoped to go someday, or that exhibiting at BitSummit was their dream. This is a testament to the high bar of curation BitSummit has set: Getting your game into the official selection is a mark of quality. It's probably also because of BitSummit's reputation as a highly social event, where developers can quickly meet new business partners and make new friends. The show really nails this aspect, allowing participants to make essential network connections while also blowing off steam at after-hours parties and the show's legendary nighttime gatherings beside the Kamo River. he PlayStation booth showcased over a dozen indie games available on PlayStation 5. Despite featuring more games and more visitors than ever, this year's show felt extremely well designed. Many of the bigger booths were concentrated on the third floor, with platform holders Nintendo and PlayStation hosting a number of games playable on their respective hardware. However, the first floor also had some larger highlights, like PocketPair's booth showing Palworld as well as some other smaller games they are publishing. Overall, the venue was zoned so that you could easily find the types of games you like. Casual gamer who is new to the indie space? Start at the PlayStation and Nintendo booths. Prefer to go deeper and find smaller games made by one-person teams? Or deeper still to check out raw new demos whipped up in a game jam or by university students? Like games with insane controllers? Or board games, or merchandise? There was a corner for each of these and more, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in different islands of the indie game world. Hirokazu "Chip" Tanaka was a pioneer of chiptune back in the NES days, and performed an unforgettable live set on the BitSummit stage. There was also a large stage on each floor, with the first-floor stage playing host to sessions by influencers and streamers, and the third-floor marquee presenting special guests. That had a strong lineup that included live musical performances by pioneering chiptune composer Chip Tanaka and Final Fantasy legend Nobuo Uematsu. It also featured panels with renowned independent developers like Okami/Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya and Boku no Natsuyasumi creator Kaz Ayabe. Uematsu's performance in particular drew the biggest crowd in BitSummit's history, according to cofounder James Mielke. The grey-haired veteran musician performed songs from Final Fantasy alongside new songs by his band con TIKI. IGN Japan livestreamed some of the highlights from BitSummit on our YouTube channel, playing a selection of game demos interspersed with developer interviews from the show floor. With so many excellent games to choose from, we had to be extremely picky about our lineup, resulting in an all-killer no-filler selection. Here are some of my highlights from the BitSummit show floor. Henry Halfhead won the IGN Japan media award at BitSummit. Henry Halfhead is the game we picked as IGN Japan's game of the show, presenting developer Lululu Entertainment with the IGN Japan media award. It's a sweet, quirky game filled with curiosity and playfulness, where the player controls Henry, a 3-year-old toddler who can possess any item around him and play with them in unexpected ways. As the demo progresses, gentle narration reflects on Henry's childlike view of the world, resulting in a game that is both mischievous and moving. Dreams of Another is the latest opus from Kyoto-based Q-Games developer Baiyon. A paean to the 1990s original PlayStation days, it features dreamlike fuzzy visuals generated by modern tech, surreal gameplay where you clear a thick fog in each stage with a machine gun to find your way through oblique environmental puzzles, and deliberately hammy dialogue, evoking a bygone age while still feeling fresh and new. Awaysis, the new game from Kyoto-based studio 17-Bit, drew a constant crowd at BitSummit. Another Kyoto studio, 17-Bit, showed its new game Awaysis. This colourful dungeon brawler pits four friends against waves of enemies as you explore a fantasy landscape. A fun physics-based combat system allows players to knock enemies flying, interacting with items around the environments to inflict extra damage, while also engaging in some slapstick friendly fire. With four players and tons going on at once, the screen gets a little busy at times, but it'll be cool to see how the physics elements stack up for unexpected effects in the final game. Love Eternal from developer brika is an intriguing puzzle-platform game rendered mostly in black and white. It has a mysterious story of family tragedy intercut with its well-designed puzzle box levels where you must control gravity to avoid brutal obstacles and reach the end of each screen. One More Plate! is a two-player party game where players must work together to catch falling snacks and feed them to the hungry monsters waiting mouth-open on each side of the screen. The controls are simple but deliberately tricky, and teamwork is a necessity, meaning you'll laugh and argue and sweat your way to victory in the vein of Overcooked. HellHeart Breaker is the new game from Singapore-based developer Battlebrew Productions. Cuisineer developer Battlebrew Productions unveiled new game HellHeart Breaker, a hack and slash roguelite game with a dating sim twist. Monster girls you date unlock additional powers, and the ones you don't become the bosses you fight. This game's cute graphics, 1920s Shanghai-inspired setting and abundance of tasty looking food make it one to watch. The central pun in the title of Building Relationships is that it is a game about both developing bonds between characters, and the central characters literally being buildings. Controlling a boxy house that cartwheels hilariously through an island setting, you must find other houses, windmills and sheds to befriend and romance, all through a filter of retro visuals and arcadey gameplay. The surprisingly risqué dialogue and challenging platforming will bring a smile to your face. But BitSummit is about more than just traditional games, no matter how unusual. The Unique Controller area featured around 20 short, sharp games built around inventive inputs and hysterical outcomes. One of these, Okonomiyaki Taiken Game: Kote no Meijin, was made by students of Tokyo Polytechnic University as a graduation project. It tasked players with flipping an okonomiyaki pancake when prompted by the game. Okonomiyaki is of course a cuisine native to Kansai, where Kyoto is located, so the game seemed geographically relevant. The plastic okonomiyaki device was designed to crumble to pieces quite easily, while the size of the spatulas available – small, medium and large – translated to hard, normal and easy modes. It includes a device fitted with an accelerometer to tell the game when it has been flipped, and other sensors to detect whether it has remained intact. I watched a guy walk up and boldly proclaim that he is a real-life okonomiyaki chef. But as he confidently flipped the pancake and set it down smartly, he misjudged the edge of the table, sending half the pieces scattering all over the floor – and eliciting shrieks of laughter from the crowd around him. Other games were controlled by snakes, digital beer glasses, bananas, spinning office chairs and screams. It's well worth a browse of the X (Twitter) feed of Unique Controller area curator for videos of many of these bizarre devices in action. BitSummit draws a diverse crowd, from hardcore gamers who travel from around Japan and overseas to attend, to locals who bring their families to simply spend a day at play. Daniel visits the official photo booth at BitSummit. This year I had the pleasure of seeing the show through the eyes of a newbie, as an old friend who lives locally and who doesn't usually play games came to check out the show for the first time. Overwhelmed at first by the hundreds of games, the friend quickly became mesmerised watching someone play the humorous game Baby Steps, before finding a few games to try for themselves, chatting with the developers who made them, and eventually leaving the show with a couple of games on their wishlist. That's the magic of a game show like BitSummit. Big enough to offer something for everyone, small enough to be intimate, and filled to the brim with surprises. This year's 13th edition of was far from unlucky – and I can't wait to see how BitSummit levels up again in 2026. Author: Daniel Robson Daniel Robson is the Executive Producer of IGN Japan
Toronto Sun
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Indie game studios battle for piece of Switch 2 success
Published Jul 18, 2025 • 3 minute read At the BitSummit expo in Kyoto, indie designers touted their games. Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP Kyoto (Japan) (AFP) — Players line up inside Nintendo's booth at a Japanese game fair to try upcoming Switch 2 titles, but, for once, the company's chirpy red-capped mascot Mario is nowhere to be seen. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The three games on display are all made by smaller-scale, independent developers seeking to impress users of the device that became the world's fastest-selling console after its launch last month. But with Nintendo game sales long dominated by in-house franchises — from 'Super Mario' to 'Donkey Kong' to 'Animal Crossing' — it can be hard for outsiders to break through. 'The Switch 2 has certainly gotten off to a strong start,' said Krysta Yang of the Nintendo-focused Kit & Krysta Podcast. But so far, 'for third-party game creators, the success of Switch 2 didn't necessarily translate into strong sales'. Many Switch 2 owners bought the gadget to play Nintendo exclusives, such as 'Mario Kart World', and the high price of the console and its games mean consumers have been less keen to splash out on a range of titles, Yang told AFP. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Also, many non-Nintendo games currently sold on the Switch 2, such as 'Cyberpunk 2077', were already available on rival platforms such as Sony's PlayStation 5. 'Nintendo is incentivised to keep their third-party developer relationships strong as they understand to sustain a console lifecycle,' but 'there certainly are challenges' ahead for the developers, Yang warned. The Switch 2 is more powerful than its hugely popular predecessor. (Yuichi YAMAZAKI/AFP) Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP That did not put off scores of hopefuls from travelling to Kyoto, Nintendo's home city, to tout their games — many still works-in-progress — at three-day indie game expo BitSummit, which kicked off Friday. At booths showing off new software from retro-style puzzles to immersive horror epics, several gamemakers said they were in talks with Nintendo about launching their work on the new console. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Switch 2 is more powerful than its hugely popular predecessor, and that 'opens up the space for what can be made', said Ryan Juckett of the US studio Hypersect. Nintendo's own games 'can be quite expensive, so there's a gap for cheaper, easier-access games that people can play on the fly', said Kent Burgess from New Zealand, part of the team behind the game 'Bashful Adoration'. Other concepts were more eclectic — from sword-fighting with barbecued sausages to a game where the main character is a shy giraffe whose head explodes if he talks to a stranger. In the United States, 'some people, when they try the game, are like, 'oh we don't quite get it because we are so extrovert',' said Lin Huang, the artist behind 'A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe'. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Nintendo once had a a reputation of being hard to negotiate with for outside gamemakers. (Yuichi YAMAZAKI/AFP) Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP Gaming industry consultant Serkan Toto said Nintendo once had 'an almost legendary reputation of being hard to negotiate with' for outside gamemakers. 'But that changed with the Switch 1', which launched in 2017 after the company's previous console the Wii U was 'a total flop' — opening the way for more third-party games, including indie titles, Toto said. And the landscape could change further as new technologies gain pace. No indie gamemakers AFP spoke to at BitSummit said they used artificial intelligence heavily at work, although some said generative AI helped speed up coding tasks. Few were worried about the potential for job losses in the industry, for now. 'There is not going to be a world in which an AI game will be better than a hand-built game, because there is going to be that love and soul that developers put into it,' said Lauren Kenner, senior brand manager for Noodle Cat Games. Toronto & GTA Tennis Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs MMA
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Gaming Legends Take Center Stage at ‘BitSummit The 13th: Summer of Yōkai'
Indie game fans are in for a treat this July as BitSummit returns to Kyoto with a spectacular roster of industry icons on stage. Taking place from July 18 to 20 at Miyako Messe, the "BitSummit the 13th: Summer of Yōkai" will feature live music, panel discussions, and world premieres from some of Japan's most influential creators. Legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu, best known for his work on Final Fantasy, will perform with his band conTIKI on July 19-marking his first-ever concert in Kyoto. The event will also spotlight chiptune pioneer Hirokazu "Chip" Tanaka, renowned for the Game Boy Camera and soundtracks in Metroid and Mother, performing on July 20. Harumi Fujita (OkanP), composer of classic titles like Mega Man 3 and Pulstar, will premiere a brand-new track live, driven by her viral TikTok success. In addition to musical performances, BitSummit has lined up an impressive panel of veteran game developers. Kaz Ayabe, creator of the beloved Boku no Natsuyasumi, will share insights into his journey and the founding of Millennium Kitchen. Hideki Kamiya, known for Bayonetta and Okami, teams up with Crystal Noda (creator of the Noda Game series) to explore the evolving blend of technology and individual artistry in game development. Plus, Jiro Ishii, famous for 428: Shibuya Scramble, will deliver a world premiere of his next narrative-driven game, Shibuya Scramble Stories. BitSummit kicks off with a business-only day on July 18, followed by two days open to the public (July 19–20). Stage events and performances will be live-streamed on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok in both English and Japanese. With 120 global indie titles, demos, and special announcements, this year's lineup promises something special for both local and international indie game enthusiasts. BitSummit 2025 offers an unforgettable showcase of creativity, collaboration, and community in the Japanese indie scene. Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Japan Times
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
John Davis: ‘At its core, indie is about creative freedom'
John Davis , 45, has been immersed in the Japanese gaming industry for over 20 years, first as a writer for outlets like Weekly Famitsu, and later working at studios such as Q-Games. He is the co-founder of BitSummit, the Kyoto-based indie game festival that has grown into a major international event, and a global PR specialist for Shueisha Games. 1. What brought you to Japan? I came here for work opportunities in writing and journalism, and that eventually led me to game development. The indie scene wasn't really thriving when I first arrived (in 2003), but I saw an opportunity to help foster that, and it became a big part of my career. 2. How does working in Japan compare to the U.S.? The work culture in Japan is structured and methodical, whereas in the U.S. there's more of a startup mentality. Japan values longevity and relationships in business, meaning deals can take longer but often result in long-term partnerships.
