Toei Company is stepping properly into games, and no, this is not just another quick anime licensing play.
The legendary Japanese entertainment company behind major anime names like One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Sailor Moon has announced a new games division called Toei Games. The studio already has something in development, with its first title scheduled to be revealed on April 24.
For anime fans in Malaysia and across SEA, this is the kind of announcement worth keeping an eye on. Toei is not some random new studio trying to borrow anime vibes. This is one of the biggest names in Japanese entertainment attempting to build a proper games business from the ground up.
Toei Games will focus on new IP
The most interesting part? Toei says Toei Games is not starting by leaning on its famous existing franchises.
That means the first reveal is unlikely to be a One Piece, Dragon Ball, or Sailor Moon game. Some fans might feel disappointed, especially because those brands already have massive followings here. Dragon Ball and One Piece are basically permanent fixtures in Malaysian anime culture, from manga shops to figure collectors to mamak anime debates.
But honestly, this direction is more exciting than it sounds. Instead of making another expected tie-in game, Toei Games is aiming to create original IP from scratch. That gives the studio room to build new worlds, new characters, and hopefully new gameplay ideas without being trapped by decades of fan expectations.
Toei president and CEO Fumio Yoshimura described games as a global entertainment medium that can travel across language and national borders. He also positioned the gaming business as a fresh pillar for Toei, sitting beside its long-running work in film, television, and events. The move is tied to the company’s wider Toei New Wave 2033 vision, which is about bringing Toei-created stories to audiences worldwide.
In simple terms: Toei wants games to become a serious part of its future, not just a side hustle.
First game is coming to Steam first
So far, Toei Games has only shared a few platform details. Its debut title is planned for PC via Steam first, with console versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox expected later.
That Steam-first approach matters for SEA players. PC gaming is still huge in Malaysia, whether you are playing on a budget laptop, a proper gaming rig, or something in between. A Steam launch usually means easier regional access, clearer pricing, and fewer headaches compared to Japan-only console releases.
Of course, we still need to wait for the actual reveal before judging. We do not know the genre, art style, price, release window, or whether the game will support multiple languages. For Malaysian players, localisation will be a big thing to watch. English support is basically mandatory for broad SEA reach, while simplified Chinese would also help a lot with regional audiences.
Why this could be a big deal
Anime companies moving deeper into games is not new, but Toei’s approach feels different because it is starting with original IP instead of just pushing the obvious franchise buttons.
That is a gamble. Famous IP gives instant attention. Original games need to earn trust from zero. But if Toei can bring its animation experience into game development properly, the result could stand out in a crowded market.
The April 24 reveal will tell us whether Toei Games is cooking something genuinely fresh or just testing the waters. Either way, anime and gaming fans in Malaysia should pay attention. When a company with Toei’s history decides to build a new game brand, the potential impact goes way beyond Japan.
Source: Dot Esports