Group 1 - Whatnot completed a $225 million Series F funding round, achieving a valuation of $11.5 billion [1] - Founded in 2019, Whatnot initially focused on live auctions for collectible trading cards, which helped it stand out in a market dominated by eBay for over two decades [1][3] - The platform has expanded its offerings to include clothing and sneakers, competing with Amazon Live, eBay Live, and TikTok Shop, and has extended its live auction business to Canada and Europe [3] Group 2 - Hasbro reported that the operating profit from the Magic: The Gathering IP accounts for nearly 90% of the entire group's net profit [5] - The success of Magic: The Gathering is attributed to its cross-brand collaborations, such as the recent partnership with Final Fantasy, which generated $200 million in a single day [5][7] - The annual MagicCon event saw a 29% increase in VIP badge sales, with participation and interest metrics at historical highs [7] Group 3 - The Japanese trading card market is seeing a shift towards a more diverse player base, with significant participation from women and younger demographics [10][11] - Approximately 30% of men aged 20-39 and about 20% of women in the same age group have purchased trading cards, indicating a growing market [11] - The market is characterized by a digital transformation and the influence of popular IPs attracting new players [11] Group 4 - Bandai's sales for the Mobile Suit Gundam card game increased by 66.27% year-on-year, making it the top-selling toy IP for the company [14][15] - The company has established a dedicated division for trading card games, focusing on brands like One Piece and Dragon Ball, with plans for future releases [15] - Bandai is actively promoting its card games through global events and tournaments, enhancing player engagement [17][18] Group 5 - Tomy reported a 1.91% year-on-year increase in sales, with a notable 14.68% growth in action toys, including trading cards [22] - The Duel Masters card game continues to perform well, supported by collaborations with popular VTubers and a focus on digital card gaming [24][26] - The Disney Lorcana card game has successfully attracted a diverse player base, particularly women, through its engaging promotional strategies [26] Group 6 - Bushiroad's TCG business saw a 33.07% year-on-year increase in sales, driven by strong performance in both domestic and international markets [31] - The Godzilla card game has been well-received, contributing to the company's growth through targeted promotional events [35] - The company is leveraging its IPs to attract new players and maintain stable popularity across its card game offerings [33] Group 7 - Konami's digital entertainment segment, including TCG, reported an 18.17% year-on-year increase in sales, with a significant boost from the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise [43] - The company is actively developing digital card games and has launched new services to enhance player engagement [49][50] - Yu-Gi-Oh! continues to attract a dedicated player base, supported by various tournaments and promotional events [47] Group 8 - The Pokémon Trading Card Game (PTCG) remains a market leader, with strong sales and a vibrant secondary market [53] - The recent Pokémon World Championships saw participation from over 2,400 players, highlighting the game's global appeal [59] - The PTCG is expanding its reach through various events and collaborations, including a partnership with Uniqlo for merchandise [57]

Group 1: Market Overview - The Japanese toy market is projected to reach a scale of 302.46 billion yen (approximately 15 billion RMB) in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 9%, and trading card games (TCG) account for 27.5% of the total market [1] - Despite a decline in sales for Pokémon cards, new releases such as Dragon Ball Super cards and growth in other franchises like Duel Masters and Yu-Gi-Oh! contribute to the overall market expansion [3][4] Group 2: Company Performance - Bandai's sales for the first half of 2025 show significant performance, with Mobile Suit Gundam leading at 43.4 billion yen (up 18.9%), followed by One Piece at 40.6 billion yen (up 12.47%) [5][6] - Tamiya's sales reached 114.74 billion yen (up 12.87%) in the first half of 2025, with action figures being the most profitable category [17] - Bushiroad's TCG sales increased by 34.42% to 14.85 billion yen in the first half of 2025, driven by successful new releases and collaborations [25] Group 3: Product Releases and Events - Bandai released 93 card-related products in the first half of 2025, including new One Piece and Gundam cards, with various promotional events to engage players [8][10] - Tamiya's Duel Masters launched 9 new card packs, with a successful collaboration with VTuber Rainbow Company, leading to sustained popularity [19] - Bushiroad's Cardfight!! Vanguard released 9 new card packs and hosted various tournaments, maintaining player engagement [28] Group 4: Competitive Landscape - The TCG market is highly competitive, with Pokémon leading in sales, followed by Duel Masters and Yu-Gi-Oh! [4][46] - Konami's Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG saw a 6.93% increase in sales, with new tactical packs performing well and promotional animations enhancing visibility [38][42] - Pokémon's sales reached 410.93 billion yen (up 38.1%) for the fiscal year ending February 2025, with a strong lineup of new products and events [46][48]

Core Insights - The international gaming industry is witnessing significant revenue growth, with Hasbro's "Monopoly Go" achieving over $5 billion in revenue within 24 months, making it the fastest mobile game to reach this milestone [1][3] - The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has also shown impressive performance, generating $1 billion in revenue within 204 days of its launch [1][3] Group 1: Hasbro and Pokémon - Hasbro and Mattel are planning to invest more in video game products due to the success of "Monopoly Go" and the Pokémon card game, indicating a trend of combining physical brands with virtual worlds [3] - The Pokémon Trading Card Game (PTCG) Pocket, launched by DeNA, has seen a total of 40 billion cards collected globally, with over 100 million downloads and a monthly active user base of approximately 51 million [5][7] - PTCG Pocket's revenue for the fiscal year ending March 2025 reached 28 billion yen, a 120% increase year-on-year, with operating profit of 18.6 billion yen, recovering from a loss of 200 million yen in the previous year [5] Group 2: TCG Market Dynamics - The TCG market in Japan is evolving, with new products and brands emerging, as seen in the March 2025 sales rankings where Pokémon, Duel Masters, and Yu-Gi-Oh! lead the market [4] - Bandai's "One Piece" card game achieved sales of 94.2 billion yen, a 56.22% increase, while "Dragon Ball" sales reached 29.9 billion yen, up 30% [14] - Bushiroad's TCG sales increased by 27.7% year-on-year, with successful launches of new card games like "Love Live!" and continued strong performance from established products [33][37] Group 3: Marketing and Events - PTCG Pocket is actively releasing new card packs and features, enhancing user engagement through trading options and promotional events [7][12] - Bandai is hosting global events for its card games, including tournaments and promotional activities, to maintain player interest and engagement [21][23] - Tomy has successfully launched "Disney Lorcana," which has quickly gained popularity through extensive marketing campaigns and events, including large-scale competitions [26][30]