[After-Event Report] Shochiku Games Successfully Completes Its First Overseas Events Exhibiting at WePlay (Shanghai) & G-EIGHT (Taipei)

Upcoming titles‘Eternal Palace Sakura’ and ‘SONZAI’draw attention

Shochiku Games, a division of Shochiku Co., Ltd., exhibited consecutively at WePlay Expo 2025, held in Shanghai, China from November 22–23, 2025, and 2025 G-EIGHT Game Show, held in Taipei, Taiwan from December 12–14, 2025.

Marking its first participation in overseas events, Shochiku Games showcased two titles : ‘Eternal Palace Sakura’ and ‘SONZAI’. Visitors were able to  experience the latest demos, and the events concluded with great success.

This report highlights the vibrant atmosphere of the venues and the reactions of attendees, offering an authentic look at Shochiku Games’ on-site presence.

■Shanghai “WePlay Expo 2025”／November 22–23

At WePlay Expo in Shanghai, China, the venue was bustling with a wide range of attendees, from core gamers to casual players. The event featured over 500 exhibited titles and attracted more than 20,000 visitors in total.

At the Shochiku Games booth, many attendees stopped in front of the large monitors to watch the gameplay footage closely. In addition, a metal badge giveaway, held in coordination with the official campaign, drew many "Badge Hunters" to our booth, successfully boosting awareness for the title.

At the ‘Eternal Palace Sakura’ booth, many visitors who were already following the title stopped by, highlighting the strong level of interest even prior to the event. In particular, the cat-eared girl character “Letla” received overwhelming support from male players, with many enthusiastically examining the gameplay footage and character visuals.

At the ‘SONZAI’ booth, the overall art style was highly praised, with many attendees stopping by after being drawn in by the key visual and the atmosphere of the on-screen presentation. The title also attracted strong interest from female players, and many visitors came to the booth hoping to obtain a metal badge after discovering the game through its distinctive design.

WePlay Expo 2025

WePlay Expo is a large-scale exhibition in Shanghai, China, dedicated to indie games and culture. Visitors can enjoy diverse content including playable demos of the latest game titles, VR experiences, and character merchandise.

【Dates】November 22 (Sat) - 23 (Sun), 2025

【Venue】Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, Hall H3

【Website】 https://www.weplaymore.com/japanese 

■Taipei “2025 G-EIGHT Game Show”／December 12-14

G-EIGHT, held in Taipei, Taiwan, was conducted on the largest scale in the event’s history, far exceeding previous years, and attracted significant attention, with 11 teams exhibiting from Japan as well. The event drew a large number of core gamers, clearly reflecting the high level of interest in the showcased titles.

At the Shochiku Games booth, players were seen eagerly watching the gameplay footage even while waiting their turn to play, creating an atmosphere filled with excitement throughout the event. Visitors also showed a strong desire to engage with the exhibiting teams, making the event a valuable opportunity for Shochiku Games to gather many meaningful insights and opinions for future development and publishing activities.

At the ‘Eternal Palace Sakura’booth, the charm of the characters and the fast-paced, exhilarating combat were well received, with many positive comments shared after hands-on play sessions. Players became deeply engaged as they aimed to clear the game, drawing the attention of surrounding attendees and creating an intense, energetic atmosphere throughout the booth.

At the ‘SONZAI’booth, the art style itself received high praise, with many attendees stopping by after being drawn in by the game’s visual presentation. Numerous players became absorbed in the combo-driven combat, and players reaching the boss were frequently seen. On the final day, the title was featured in a live-streamed stage program, providing a valuable opportunity to introduce ‘SONZAI’ to a wider audience.

2025 G-EIGHT Game Show

An indie game–focused exhibition held in Taipei City, Taiwan. The event showcases a wide range of titles from indie game developers and small studios both from Taiwan and abroad, and has gained attention as a venue where visitors can experience creative and innovative indie games.

【Dates】Friday, December 12, 2025 - Sunday, December 14, 2025

【Venue】Taipei Expo Dome (Expo Park)

【Website】https://geight.io/en/category/geight-official/  

■Exhibition Title

１．Eternal Palace Sakura

Eternal Palace Sakura——Sharpen your blade and step into the Eternal Palace Sakura, a dream labyrinth haunted by restless yokai! This roguelike 3D action game was developed by Japanese indie team “Den Neko Yugi”. Control a cat-eared dual-weapon-wielder,“Retla”, to explore dungeons, strengthen yourself, and enjoy spectacular combat. A free demo is now officially available on Steam!

【Title】Eternal Palace Sakura

【Release】Q1 2026 (planned)

【Platform】PC (Steam)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2991310

【Price】TBD

【Players】1

【Developer】Denneko Yuugi 

【Publisher】Shochiku

© Denneko Yuugi. All rights reserved. Licensed to & published by Denneko Yuugi, Shochiku Co.,Ltd.

２．SONZAI

Welcome to Kumotoshi—the world's only town where magic exists. This game is a new-sensation RPG that blends a deep story with action utilizing combos. In a beautiful world colored by hand-drawn animation, the connections between people become the key to changing fate. Master swords and guns, and enjoy your own unique way of fighting!

【Title】SONZAI

【Release】TBD

【Platform】PC (Steam)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1380980

【Price】TBD

【Players】1

【Developer】2 Odd Diodes

【Publisher】Top Hat Studios, Inc. , Shochiku

SONZAI (©) 2020 by 2 Odd Diodes. All Rights Reserved. Licensed exclusively to Top Hat Studios, Inc.