#Japan #Tokyo #Shochiku Ventures #Blacknut #Ememe

Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025: Announcing the Selected Companies

Shochiku Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of the Shochiku Group, has launched its accelerator program, Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025, aimed at fostering new game experiences and services. Following the program's launch and announcement in March 2025, approximately 200 companies applied, and after six months of rigorous selection, two promising companies have been successfully selected.

The upcoming phase involves these selected companies engaging in proof-of-concept (PoC) experiments, with a demonstration day scheduled for September 24 in Tokyo. This event will be held with the sponsorship of Xsolla, a global commerce company dedicated to supporting game developers in areas such as funding, distribution, marketing, and monetization.

Selected Companies

The selection process was designed to identify firms aiming for the Japanese market and global expansion of innovative services in game experiences. The chosen companies are recognized for their advancements in the genres of 'Generative AI' and 'Cloud Gaming.'

Blacknut Cloud Gaming

• - CEO: Olivier Avaro

Blacknut stands at the forefront of the cloud gaming industry, offering B2B solutions through partnerships with ISPs, device manufacturers, OTT platforms, and media companies, while also focusing on direct-to-consumer services. Their library boasts over 500 premium games, delivering seamless gaming experiences across various devices, including PCs, mobile devices, set-top boxes, and smart TVs. With operations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East & North Africa, and the US, Blacknut aims to elevate the gaming experience globally. Founded in 2016, their headquarters is located in Rennes, France, with additional offices in Paris, Seoul, and San Francisco.
- Visit Blacknut

Ememe Corporation

• - CEO: Yuka Kojima

Ememe is an innovative startup specializing in 'Text-to-Motion' technology, which autonomously generates 3D character motions and animations from text input. With this technology, they enable the creation of cut-scenes that reflect natural movements based on camera work and physics, significantly reducing costs in game and video production. Ememe is spearheaded by a group of entrepreneurs educated at MIT and researchers from the University of Tokyo with the goal of building infrastructure for next-generation content production.
- Visit Ememe

Sponsor: Xsolla

Xsolla is a powerful global commerce company designed to resolve various challenges faced by the video game industry. They offer tools and services that assist developers—ranging from indie teams to AAA studios—with funding, distribution, marketing, and monetization. Xsolla's mission is to equip game developers with opportunities and resources to realize their vision of the future of gaming. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla has supported over 1,500 game developers as a Merchant of Record, enabling them to reach more players and drive business growth. To learn more about Xsolla, please visit Xsolla.

About the Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025

The Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025 is tailored to assist businesses seeking to innovate and expand their game experiences in Japan and globally. Selected firms will conduct proof-of-concept procedures during their experiments, with networking opportunities presented during the September demonstration day in Tokyo. This event will gather key players from the Japanese venture capital and gaming sectors.

Shochiku's gaming division has also been actively publishing games worldwide on PC and home consoles, with impressive successes such as MiSide: ミサイド, which recently hit over 100,000 reviews on Steam, maintaining a rating of 'Overwhelmingly Positive' within just two months of its release.

Program Features:

• - Proof-of-Concept Support:

Conducting PoCs using Shochiku's games, with a maximum budget of $100,000 to support the program (non-equity funding).

• - Networking Opportunities:

Selected companies will be invited to Tokyo for a demonstration day featuring networking events where they can connect with Japanese venture capitalists and gaming companies.

• - Partner Participation:

Various venture capitalists and gaming companies are slated to participate as partners in the program.

Application Details

The ratio of applied startups includes 37% from Asia, 31% from Europe, and 20% from North America, showcasing a diverse global interest.

Schedule

• - June to September: First phase of proof-of-concept experiments
• - September 24: Demonstration Day (tentative)
• - October to December 2025: Second phase of proof-of-concept experiments

About Shochiku Ventures

Established on July 1, 2022, Shochiku Ventures aims to accelerate open innovation by investing in startups and fostering collaborative projects with them. For more information, visit Shochiku Ventures.