As the year comes to an end, Japanese gaming outlet 4Gamer.net has once again published its annual end-of-year interviews with multiple Japanese game creators. This time, the website spoke with 194 developers, asking them about their ambitions for the year ahead.
Most kept main information hidden, but it is clear that 2026 is going to be a major year for Japanese games, driven by milestone anniversaries, long-awaited sequels, and studios openly teasing “surprising” new projects.
Here are the most interesting parts!
A Year Full of Major Anniversaries
A big reason 2026 looks so full is the sheer number of iconic franchises hitting milestone anniversaries.
ATLUS confirmed that Persona will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026, with multiple developers hinting at global celebrations and future announcements linked to the series. With Persona 4 Revival already planned, fans are clearly being asked to stay tuned.
Square Enix is also preparing for a massive year, as Dragon Quest turns 40. Producer Yosuke Saito described plans for a “grand celebration,” and also teased a small something related to NieR: Automata’s ninth anniversary.
Other long-running series are joining the party as well. Arc System Works plans to celebrate Kunio-kun’s 40th anniversary, and Bandai Namco confirmed that Tales of will hit its 30th anniversary, with remasters and future series updates coming. CyberConnect2 is also marking 30 years as a studio, promising multiple announcements for the occasion.
Long-Awaited Sequels and Concrete Plans
Beyond celebrations, some studios were far more direct about what is coming.
Idea Factory confirmed that the next mainline Neptunia game is finally aiming for release in 2026, following the franchise’s 15th anniversary. According to the team, development is already well underway, with the intention to deliver a new Hyperdimension story.
Inti Creates also revealed plans to announce new developments for the Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX series in the second half of 2026, alongside entirely new titles that have not been revealed yet.
Dungeon RPG fans have something to look forward to as well. Experience confirmed that Demon Kill Demon, a new dungeon RPG set after Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi, will release in 2026, alongside continued work on the Spirit Hunter series.
“We Can’t Say Much Yet, But…”
As expected, many of the most exciting parts did not come with a lot of information.
Square Enix had multiple creators teasing new challenges and different approaches planned for 2026, without revealing what form they will take. SEGA echoed a similar message, saying that while Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties are already confirmed for early 2026, “surprising and exciting announcements” are also planned later in the year.
Koei Tecmo’s Team NINJA confirmed that even if several games are already scheduled for release, new titles and even new series are waiting to be announced as well. Gust, meanwhile, stated that it is working not only on Atelier, but also on new projects.
M2, known for its retro-focused releases, might be one of the busiest studios of all. The company hinted that 2026 could be its most full year ever, thanks to a backlog of projects linked to the 10th anniversary of its M2ShotTriggers label.
New Ideas, Not Just Nostalgia
Not everything is about the past. JP Games, led by Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata, confirmed plans to begin beta testing for RYUGUKOKU, an online RPG set in a fantasy version of Japan featuring user-generated content and historical figures.
LEVEL-5 also reassured fans that Decapolice is progressing nicely, highlighting new gameplay challenges centered around deduction and narrative design.
Nihon Falcom, meanwhile, noted that its expanded development structure is finally allowing the studio to increase its output, with more information planned throughout its 45th anniversary year.
2026 Is Quietly Becoming a Big Deal
None of these interviews drops major bombshells on their own, and that is kind of the point. Taken together, they paint a picture of companies deliberately teasing and planning ahead.
Between milestone anniversaries, long-awaited sequels, and multiple studios taking new directions, 2026 feels less like a normal release year and more like a payoff year for projects that have been building quietly behind the scenes.
One thing is sure, we will keep an eye out in 2026 and share with you all the major announcements!
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