In a strategic move, SBI Holdings reveals a substantial 100 billion yen ($661.7 million) fund, demonstrating Japan's commitment to nurturing startups in web3, gaming, and tech startups. Key financial institutions, including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mizuho Bank, Nippon Life Insurance, and Daiwa Securities Group, have collectively pledged over $330 million to this initiative.

The fund aims to facilitate the growth of 150-200 startups, each receiving significant backing ranging from hundreds of millions to a billion yen. This development comes as Japan, a prominent innovator in web3, seeks to strengthen its gaming and startup ecosystems. In this article, we look at some of the prominent Japanese gaming publishers building IP in web3.

Japan's booming gaming industry is represented by major players such as Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Sega, and Konami. All of them have been early adopters of web3 technology. The fresh funding could help bolster the following projects that are already building in the web3 gaming space.

Bandai Namco: RYUZO (Oasys)

Bandai Namco recently partnered with Oasys to create RYUZO, an AI-powered virtual pet game around a series of NFT-based digital creatures. The web3 game is being developed by Bandai Namco Research alongside Japanese startup Attructure, and published by Double Jump Tokyo. 

Square Enix: Symbiogenesis (Polygon)

Gaming giant Square Enix recently joined forces with Polygon to introduce its web3 project, Symbiogenesis. Utilizing the Polygon blockchain network, Symbiogenesis is aiming to offer players fast, secure, and sustainable gaming experiences. The collaboration between Square Enix and Polygon Labs, the team behind the decentralized Polygon protocol, underscores the increasing integration of web3 technology in gaming.

Sega: Battle of Three Kingdoms (Oasys)

Another example is Battle of Three Kingdoms - Sangokushi Taisen - a highly anticipated trading card game (TCG) being developed by Double Jump Tokyo on the Oasys blockchain in collaboration with Sega. Leveraging the Sangokushi Taisen franchise, the game is set to be Sega's first web3 project, offering a unique blend of traditional card gameplay with modern web3 technology. 

Konami: Project Zircon (TBD)

Konami, a company with a rich history in the gaming industry, known for popular titles such as Yu-Gi-Oh! and Castlevania, recently made headlines with the announcement of its new web3 game, Project Zircon. Konami’s official statement highlighted their aspiration to offer “a new co-creation experience by utilizing blockchain technology.” 

Final Thoughts

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently reiterated the government's commitment to supporting web3, gaming, and tech startups, expressing optimism about the industry's potential to drive innovation across various sectors. The newly announced fund by SBI Holdings aligns with Kishida's vision and compounds Japan's positive sentiments towards web3. The government aims to elevate startup investments from 800 billion yen in 2022 to an impressive 10 trillion yen (approximately $66 billion) by 2027, again indicating a robust commitment to fostering the growth of web3, gaming, and tech startups in the country.