Say Hello to Toei Games, a New Branch With No New Kamen Rider Games

Why It Matters

By entering game development with fresh IPs, Toei diversifies revenue and taps the $300 billion global gaming market, challenging established publishers.

Key Takeaways

• Toei Games launches under “Toei New Wave 2033” strategy.
• No Kamen Rider or Dragon Ball games will be produced.
• First original title announced April 24, 2026.
• Global dev team hired to build new gaming IPs.
• Toei aims to become a new pillar alongside animation and film.

Pulse Analysis

Toei Co., best known for long‑running live‑action series such as Kamen Rider and the anime juggernauts Dragon Ball and One Piece, is expanding its portfolio into interactive entertainment with the creation of Toei Games. The move arrives at a time when the global video‑game market exceeds $300 billion and continues to outpace traditional media growth. By establishing a dedicated studio, Toei signals its intent to capture a slice of that revenue stream and to leverage its storytelling expertise in a format that reaches younger, digitally native audiences worldwide.

The decision to forego adaptations of Toei’s flagship franchises is a calculated risk. While fan expectations lean toward familiar IPs, original titles allow the company to avoid licensing complexities and to build proprietary assets that can be monetized across multiple channels, from console releases to mobile and live‑service models. Recruiting talent from both Japan and overseas gives the studio a hybrid development culture, blending the cinematic flair of tokusatsu with contemporary game design practices, potentially yielding fresh gameplay experiences that stand apart from typical anime‑based games.

Industry observers see Toei Games as a potential new competitor to established publishers that have successfully translated anime properties into hit games, such as Bandai Namco and Square Enix. If the first title announced on April 24 resonates with players, Toei could quickly establish a pipeline of cross‑media projects, feeding new narratives back into its animation and live‑action divisions. The broader implication is a further blurring of lines between film, television, and interactive media, reinforcing the trend toward integrated entertainment ecosystems that dominate the next decade.