Core Insights - The Tokyo Game Show 2025 opened on September 25, showcasing popular game series that are set to be adapted into movies or animations, highlighting the increasing costs of game development and the need to enhance IP value through various channels [1][4]. Group 1: Industry Trends - The development costs for large-scale games are exceeding 10 billion yen, making it difficult to recover investments solely from the Japanese market [7]. - The Tokyo Game Show is evolving from a domestic exhibition to an international event, with a record 615 overseas companies participating this year [7]. - The Japanese gaming market has seen stagnation over the past five years, while the global gaming content market is projected to grow by 5% in 2024, reaching 31 trillion yen [4][7]. Group 2: Company Strategies - Sega has set up the largest exhibition area at the event, promoting its new game "Sonic Racing: Cross World," and plans to expand its IP through a "cross-media strategy" starting in April 2024 [3]. - The success of the "Super Mario Bros. Movie," which grossed over $1.33 billion globally, has prompted Japanese companies to adapt their major games into films [4][7]. - Konami's "Silent Hill f" is set to premiere in North America in January 2026, while Capcom's "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" will be released in September 2026 [4].

Core Viewpoint - Epic Games is struggling to achieve profitability for its game store after five years of operation, despite its aggressive marketing strategies and significant investments in user acquisition and game giveaways [1][3][5]. Financial Performance - Epic Games has spent over $100 million on legal disputes with Apple, with total losses potentially reaching $1 billion due to restrictions on iOS users [5][6]. - The company has experienced a 16% workforce reduction in 2023, raising concerns about its financial health [6][8]. - The Epic Games Store's monthly active users (MAU) decreased by 10.7% from 2023 to 2024, dropping from 75 million to 67 million [14]. Business Strategy - Tim Sweeney, the founder, expressed regret over prioritizing commercial features over user experience, indicating a shift in focus towards improving the platform [3][10]. - The store's strategy of giving away free games has incurred significant costs, as each game requires a revenue share with developers [8][10]. - Epic Games has employed a "limited-time exclusivity" strategy for new titles, such as paying over $10 million for the exclusive rights to "Control" [10]. Market Position - Epic Games Store's third-party game sales fell from $310 million to $255 million, a decline of 18%, indicating reliance on first-party titles for revenue growth [15]. - The store's performance is increasingly compared to other platforms like Ubisoft's Uplay and EA's Origin, as it struggles to close the gap with Steam [15][16]. Future Outlook - The company may need to reduce its free game giveaways and enhance user experience to achieve profitability [16]. - A shift from an overly optimistic approach to a more realistic strategy focused on revenue generation is anticipated for Epic Games [16].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the release of a new interactive game titled "The One Who Returned from Another World Missed Love," which features well-known adult film actresses, highlighting the game's lack of depth and quality despite its marketing strategy [4][6][9]. Group 1: Game Overview - The game tells a story of a protagonist who becomes a powerful magician in another world and returns to reality entangled in romantic relationships with several women [6]. - The game is categorized as a "dating simulation" but lacks substantial gameplay elements, primarily offering interactions with female characters [16][19]. Group 2: Reception and Criticism - The game has received a low approval rating of 42% on Steam, with many negative reviews accusing it of being a scam [13]. - Players have expressed disappointment over the game's execution, citing numerous issues such as bugs, poor controls, and subpar graphics [29][31]. - The involvement of well-known actresses is seen as a marketing gimmick rather than a genuine enhancement to the game's quality [21][40]. Group 3: Industry Trends - The article notes a trend where game developers are increasingly inviting adult film stars to participate in games as a strategy to attract attention and drive sales [37]. - This approach raises concerns about the quality and integrity of such games, as many appear to prioritize profit over player experience [34][42].