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Alpha in Asia

Alpha In Asia follows Korea, Japan, and East Asia through two desks: Alpha for supply chains, semiconductors, platforms, and industrial strategy; Serina for games, anime, IP, and fandom business. Weekly podcast videos can also be watched directly from their newsletter pages.

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Weekly Supply Chain in Asia @ Substack

Showing 2 of 17 posts.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W35 (2026-08-20~2026-08-26)

East Asian industrial giants are shifting from export-led growth to integrated domestic production, effectively "exporting capability" rather than just goods. By localizing operations and bundling physical infrastructure with proprietary software, firms are securing long-term participation in foreign markets while navigating a tightening regulatory net. This structural pivot is most visible in the defense and energy sectors: Hanwha Aerospace is building howitzers on U.S. soil to work its way into the American defense industrial base, while Mitsubishi Electric and LS ELECTRIC are each buying or building the software layer that lets their hardware compete in the American and Korean power grids. Regulatory pressure is pushing in the same direction. The escalating U.S.-Canada tariff war is already forcing Korean automakers and battery makers to redesign supply chains built around the old, tariff-light North American arrangement. Whether through defense manufacturing in Alabama or smart-grid software acquisitions, the region's conglomerates are betting that the cost of becoming an insider in foreign markets is lower than the risk of being locked out.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W34 (2026-08-13~2026-08-19)

The U.S.-Japan joint currency intervention to stabilize the JPY/USD rate near 164 marks a return to coordinated financial policy, but it is merely the most visible layer of a broader, more granular struggle for industrial control. Across East Asia, manufacturers are navigating a tightening regulatory net that forces a choice between operational transparency and market access. From the White House's AI-driven surveillance of transshipment routes to Beijing's diagnostic programs requiring granular power consumption data from foreign firms, the era of "just-in-time" global supply chains is being replaced by a "just-in-case" model of localized regulatory arbitrage. Firms are no longer just managing logistics; they are managing the diverging compliance demands of Washington and Beijing, often at the cost of the very operational secrets that once defined their competitive edge. This week's developments illustrate how fiscal policy and border surveillance are becoming the primary levers for steering industrial behavior, forcing companies to re-engineer their footprints to survive in a bifurcated global economy.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W33 (2026-08-06~2026-08-12)

The era of globalized cost-efficiency is giving way to a regime of regional resilience. This week, the United States Department of Commerce finalized export restrictions on tungsten waste and black mass, while President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 15% tariff and price floors on polysilicon. These are not merely trade barriers; they are structural mandates forcing the relocation of foundational supply chains into the United States. Simultaneously, major industrial players are re-engineering their footprints to align with this new security-first reality. From Amkor Technology, a US-based semiconductor packaging and test provider, and SK Hynix, South Korea's second-largest chipmaker, reviewing the divestment of their Chinese semiconductor packaging operations to fund US-based AI chip manufacturing, to the UAE evaluating an east coast LNG facility to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, the message is clear: companies are prioritizing geographic alignment and supply chain hardening over traditional market access. Semiconductors, energy, and defense are the three sectors where this regional-resilience shift is hitting hardest, and in each one firms are unlocking capital from mature positions to fund the high-CapEx demands of a bifurcated global economy.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W32 (2026-07-30~2026-08-05)

Seoul's 2026 Tax Reform Plan does something East Asian industrial policy has largely avoided for a decade: it pays firms for output rather than for spending. The plan's Domestic Production Tax Credit covers six strategic industries, including semiconductors and secondary batteries, and ties the credit to production volume instead of capital expenditure. A regional coefficient of up to 1.5x pushes that production away from the capital region. The design is narrow and deliberate — it rewards the steps a company keeps inside the country and withholds the credit from the steps a company sends abroad, and Hyundai Motor is already running the same calculus in Indonesia, four years ahead of the mandate that will eventually require it. Its new 'Neira' electric SUV targets roughly 80% local content there — a level Jakarta will not require until 2030 — while the identical strategy is stalling in India, where a battery-localization plant sits mostly idle for lack of buyers.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W30 (2026-07-16~2026-07-22)

The transition from globalized efficiency to regional resilience is defining East Asia's industrial strategy, as firms from Hyosung Heavy Industries to HL Group move production and intelligence layers onshore to bypass supply chain bottlenecks. This shift is no longer a defensive posture; it is a structural realignment driven by the intensifying competition for AI-grade memory and compute. As data centers and AI-defined vehicles (AIDV) compete for the same high-performance semiconductor capacity, the resulting "memory famine" is forcing a price-pass-through mechanism that is reshaping consumer electronics and industrial automation. Whether through Japan's FRONTia project, South Korea's Won Internationalization Roadmap, or localized manufacturing in the U.S. and India, the focus is on securing sovereignty over critical intelligence and hardware layers amidst global protectionism.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W29 (2026-07-09~2026-07-15)

The fragmentation of global supply chains is accelerating as East Asian firms aggressively pivot toward regionalized, non-Chinese networks to secure critical materials and defense autonomy. This week, the shift from just-in-time efficiency to resilience-based planning became starkly visible across semiconductors, defense, and energy. Whether through the vertical integration of critical minerals like tungsten or the strategic localization of battery cathode production in Europe, firms are prioritizing "trust-based" supply chain entry over traditional export models. As geopolitical chokepoints in the Middle East and beyond create immediate supply shocks and systemic inventory clogging, the financialization of these risks—through thematic ETFs and alternative credit models—is creating new systemic pressures for retail investors and market stability.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W28 (2026-07-02~2026-07-08)

The formalization of artificial intelligence as a household utility and a structural shift toward predictive supply chain management defined this week's landscape. As South Korea and Japan navigate the intersection of digital service inflation and industrial resource autonomy, the underlying theme is clear: AI has transitioned from an experimental enterprise tool to a foundational economic variable. This shift is accompanied by a defensive posture in financial markets, where corporate entities and governments are deploying tactical buffers to manage the volatility of currency, energy, and regulatory environments.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W27 (2026-06-25~2026-07-01)

South Korea is currently executing a massive, state-coordinated industrial pivot that marks a departure from traditional corporate-led growth. By committing nearly KRW 5 quadrillion to reshape its semiconductor, AI, and energy infrastructure, the nation is attempting to secure a "super-gap" in industrial competitiveness. This is not merely a collection of corporate capital expenditure plans; it is a top-down national strategy that integrates regional industrial clustering, energy independence, and financial modernization. As major conglomerates like Samsung and SK Group align their multi-year investment roadmaps with government policy, the country is effectively reconfiguring its entire supply chain to function as a singular, resilient engine for the AI era. This strategy, overseen by the current administration, aims to decentralize industrial capabilities and build a resilient, integrated domestic supply chain that can withstand global market volatility.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W26 (2026-06-18~2026-06-24)

The "AI premium" has officially migrated from the server rack to the factory floor. This week, the cost of AI is no longer just a compute bottleneck; it is forcing a structural repricing of consumer electronics and triggering a desperate scramble for cost-effective, localized supply chains across East Asia. As memory chip costs surge—reportedly fourfold since last year—manufacturers are being forced to choose between margin compression or passing the bill to the consumer. In response, the region's industrial giants are aggressively pivoting toward AI-integrated manufacturing and high-value materials, moving beyond simple automation to create adaptive, cost-resilient systems. Whether through Hyundai's new procurement hub in China or LG Chem's massive R&D pivot, the message is clear: in an era of geopolitical headwinds and insatiable hardware demand, the winners will be those who can integrate AI into their cost structures as effectively as they do their product designs.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W25 (2026-06-11~2026-06-17)

The AI revolution continues to be the dominant force reshaping East Asia's industrial landscape, with Korean tech giants leading a strategic charge into the US market for critical talent and component supply chains. This week, SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics intensified their global hunt for AI expertise, signaling a move beyond chip manufacturing to deeper integration in AI systems and physical robotics. Meanwhile, the semiconductor sector itself is undergoing a seismic shift: memory chips are now performance-defining powerhouses, not mere storage, as evidenced by soaring profits. Global players like TSMC solidify their foundry dominance, while emerging Chinese firms like YMTC aggressively challenge established NAND leaders. This dynamic underscores a broader trend of East Asian companies navigating intense competition, diversifying supply chains, and pushing technological boundaries to secure their position in the AI-driven future.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W24 (2026-06-04~2026-06-10)

South Korea is aggressively cementing its position at the forefront of the global AI revolution, moving beyond chip design to command critical elements across the entire supply chain. This week saw the nation secure priority access to NVIDIA's next-generation AI accelerators, formalize deep strategic partnerships spanning AI infrastructure and physical AI applications, and witness significant investments in foundational components like semiconductor substrates. While market volatility remains a concern, the concentrated strategic moves by South Korean conglomerates and government initiatives underscore a decisive push to lead in AI hardware, manufacturing, and infrastructure, reshaping the regional and global technological landscape.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W23 (2026-05-28~2026-06-03)

The relentless demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure is fundamentally reshaping global supply chains, creating a dynamic landscape of intense competition and strategic opportunities for East Asian companies. This week, the sheer scale of AI's influence was palpable, from SoftBank Group's colossal EUR 75 billion investment in French data centers to Nvidia's deepening "K-Alliance" in South Korea, extending beyond semiconductors into robotics and cloud ecosystems. Meanwhile, the semiconductor sector itself remains a focal point, with Samsung Electronics pushing the boundaries of AI memory with its HBM4E samples and TSMC's aggressive pricing strategies creating openings for rivals. These developments underscore a broader trend: East Asian firms are not just responding to market shifts but actively driving them, whether by challenging established automotive players, securing footholds in crucial energy markets, or pioneering new manufacturing techniques. Geopolitical currents and policy shifts continue to influence these dynamics, favoring resilience and strategic partnerships over pure cost optimization.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W21 (2026-05-17~2026-05-23)

East Asia's semiconductor titans are locked in an intense race for AI memory dominance, pouring billions into R&D and capacity expansion. This week, Samsung and SK Hynix signaled their commitment with significant R&D spending surges and accelerated fab buildouts, aiming to secure leadership in next-generation technologies like HBM. However, this relentless pursuit of market share is not without its friction. Internal labor disputes, particularly at Samsung, are testing corporate unity and profit-sharing models, while global competitors like Micron actively seek to poach critical AI memory talent. Meanwhile, the broader semiconductor ecosystem grapples with rising costs and supply chain pressures, even as advancements in foundry technology and packaging promise to unlock new frontiers in AI chip performance.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W20 (2026-05-10~2026-05-16)

East Asia's entrenched dominance in AI hardware is undeniable, yet this week's developments paint a picture of a sector grappling with unprecedented complexity and systemic pressures. Giants like TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix remain central to the global AI revolution, but they are increasingly navigating a dense web of supply chain constraints, intense competition, and evolving geopolitical currents. The region's structural advantage, forged through decades of targeted industrial policy and manufacturing scale, is now being tested by the very AI demand it helps to satisfy. This week highlighted critical bottlenecks in advanced packaging and materials, alongside strategic responses ranging from joint ventures and overseas R&D to navigating international trade shifts. The core tension lies in leveraging existing scale while adapting to fragilities—a delicate balance that is paramount to understanding the future trajectory of AI development and East Asia's pivotal role within it.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W19 (2026-05-03~2026-05-09)

East Asia's AI hardware race is entering a new, more complex phase. This week, the region's tech giants are navigating a landscape where US trade policy is increasingly defined by "power" rather than "rules," creating a dual environment of heightened risk and significant opportunity. While global geopolitical currents shift, the core of East Asia's strategy remains clear: an aggressive, coordinated push to dominate the AI hardware ecosystem, from foundational components to advanced chip architectures. This week's coverage underscores that this is not merely about manufacturing capacity, but a deliberate, multi-pronged effort involving industrial policy, cross-border alliances, and intense R&D investment, all aimed at shaping the future of AI technology amidst unpredictable global dynamics.

Weekly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-W18 (2026-04-26~2026-05-02)

East Asia's reign in AI hardware is undeniable, but this week underscored the intricate challenges accompanying that dominance. South Korea's export figures hit historic highs, propelled by the relentless global appetite for AI memory chips, with SK Hynix showcasing remarkable performance and market value gains. However, this success story is increasingly shadowed by tightening memory supply chains, escalating component costs, and simmering labor disputes within critical manufacturing sectors. Simultaneously, the region's industrial titans are strategically adapting: Hyundai Motor Group is doubling down on AI and software integration for its vehicles, while tech giants like Google scout for deeper partnerships. This period highlights a dynamic tension between scaling established strengths and navigating new frontiers, from advanced materials to global digital content, showcasing East Asia's ongoing, complex evolution where dominance is hard-won and constantly tested.

Monthly Supply Chain in Asia @ Substack

Showing 1 of 1 posts.

Monthly Supply Chain in Asia 2026-07

In July, **Samsung Group** and **SK Group** pledged combined domestic investment approaching KRW 5 quadrillion over the next decade, channelled through South Korea's "5-pole 3-special" balanced development strategy. The number is large enough to be abstract, so it is worth naming what it buys: four new semiconductor fabrication plants in Gwangju and gigawatt-class AI data centers built with GS and Naver, against a target of over KRW 1000 trillion by 2035.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia @ Substack

Showing 2 of 17 posts.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W35 (2026-08-18~2026-08-24)

The industry is aggressively pivoting toward vertical integration and niche-focused monetization as the era of broad-reach, hit-driven development faces structural headwinds. Platform owners and publishers are buying their way into the production side of the business rather than licensing it out — WEBTOON Entertainment acquiring the studios that will build its games, Kakao Entertainment folding three subsidiaries into one to run its own webtoon-to-adaptation pipeline in-house. Separately, Bain & Company's latest industry survey puts hard numbers on why the monetization side is shifting too: the top 20% of players now account for 60% of playtime and over 70% of spending. Roblox is the cautionary case — its retreat from aggressive monetization has cost it USD 70 billion in market value, as public equity markets punished the drop in short-term growth even while the platform chased longer-term retention. This shift aims to secure and validate niche audiences, prioritizing long-term retention over the volume-based strategies that defined previous years.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W34 (2026-08-11~2026-08-17)

NCSOFT's decision to terminate its global publishing contract with Amazon Games for Throne and Liberty effective February 1, 2027, and Nexon's announcement of a JPY 324 billion special dividend signal a broader shift in how major East Asian publishers manage their global operations and capital. NCSOFT is betting that its own infrastructure can carry work a partner used to carry; Nexon is betting that its revenue lines are durable enough to pay out rather than bank. Nihon Falcom spent the same week making the opposite bet to NCSOFT's, drawing 86.6% of quarterly revenue from licensing its IP to partners rather than operating globally itself. Neither route is a default setting: each reflects a studio's read on whether its own infrastructure can carry the regions it wants to reach. Independent and mid-tier studios are running that same calculation with far less room for error, against production costs and storefront mechanics that no longer move together.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W33 (2026-08-04~2026-08-10)

Square Enix Holdings, the Japanese publisher behind the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises, reported a 172.4% year-on-year increase in ordinary profit to JPY 18.766 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027. This performance, driven by a balanced portfolio of flagship console titles and diversified service-based revenue, highlights a broader industry shift: publishers are moving away from the volatility of hit-driven release cycles toward platform-integrated, high-margin ecosystems. Whether through proprietary infrastructure, algorithmic gatekeeping, or direct-to-consumer monetization, studios are tightening their control over the user journey to protect margins against the rising costs of high-fidelity development. This week’s developments confirm that owning the platform or shaping algorithmic visibility now carries the same competitive weight as the creative work itself. For players, that consolidation is not abstract: it arrives as walled-garden economies with spending caps, storefront queues that reward speed over quality, and a holiday calendar bending around a single release.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W32 (2026-07-28~2026-08-03)

Sony Group’s confirmation that it will cease physical game disc production for new PlayStation titles by January 2028 marks a definitive pivot toward a digital-only ecosystem. The move maximizes margins by eliminating physical overhead, and it puts back in play a question the disc used to answer: what a buyer still holds once a storefront or a licence lapses. The same week offered a blunt reminder of what that pivot costs further down the market: Ambition, a Japanese mobile developer under a court-ordered preservation management order, shut down *Bungo Stray Dogs: Tales of the Lost* on July 31 and told players it would not refund their unused paid currency. Both poles turn on the same question — who still controls a work once the money has changed hands — and the week's publishers answered it by trying to hold the answer themselves, moving from licensing their intellectual property out to owning it end to end.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W31 (2026-07-21~2026-07-27)

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on July 1, 2026, that it will cease physical disc production for PlayStation games by January 2028. This decision follows a period where physical media accounted for only 15% of total sales in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a definitive pivot toward digital-first distribution. This transition is not an isolated event but part of a broader industry realignment where major IP holders and publishers are systematically dismantling legacy operational models. Whether through the termination of long-standing physical distribution chains, the consolidation of regional licensing rights, or the dissolution of local subsidiaries, the industry is moving toward centralized, data-driven management to protect margins and ensure brand consistency. As the economics of AAA production tighten, publishers are increasingly prioritizing operational efficiency and platform-controlled monetization. These shifts effectively sunset the siloed, volume-based acquisition models that defined the previous decade.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W30 (2026-07-14~2026-07-20)

The biggest sales milestone in games this week belonged to Ubisoft, and the release helping push it there was a revival rather than a new entry. That detail captures the strategy running through nearly every major announcement this week: publishers leaning on proven intellectual property and cross-media expansion to offset the rising cost and risk of high-fidelity AAA production. From the player's side it reads differently — this year's marquee names are arriving as expansions, remasters, and anime adaptations rather than as new worlds. Running beneath the IP-first posture is a quieter structural shift toward data-driven resource allocation and more formal labor models, as Japan's Freelance Act reshapes how studios staff their pipelines. The common thread is maturation: treating established assets as durable revenue while the economics of new AAA development tighten.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W29 (2026-07-07~2026-07-13)

Microsoft's ZeniMax restructuring, which targets the elimination of 3,200 positions and the closure of four studios by fiscal year 2027, underscores a broader industry trend toward tightening investment criteria. This shift, coupled with Alinea Analytics' report that Steam's 2026 H1 revenue reached USD 11.1B—a 14.5% year-over-year increase driven largely by legacy titles rather than new releases—highlights how major players are managing financial risk by leaning on proven, established content. As the industry moves away from experimental, high-gestation projects, platform holders and publishers are prioritizing established intellectual property and long-tail ecosystems to ensure predictable revenue. This week's developments reveal a wave of professionalization, where studios are centralizing technical infrastructure and standardizing production pipelines to mitigate the rising costs of high-fidelity development.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W28 (2026-06-30~2026-07-06)

Sony Interactive Entertainment's decision to cease physical disc production for new PlayStation titles starting in January 2028 marks a definitive shift toward platform-controlled digital distribution. This move, alongside restrictive AI governance from engine providers and state-led IP initiatives, signals a broader structural reset where publishers and developers must increasingly align with platform-holder mandates to ensure long-term viability. The industry is moving away from retail-reliant, decentralized growth toward managed ecosystems where platform holders and government frameworks exert greater influence over production pipelines and revenue structures.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W27 (2026-06-23~2026-06-29)

Krafton has appointed Jang Tae-seok, a central architect of the global success of PUBG: Battlegrounds, as the new head of group-wide publishing, marking a transition from foundational infrastructure development to an aggressive, IP-centric growth phase. Simultaneously, Nexon has launched a KRW 250 billion joint public-private fund in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Kona Venture Partners to support early-stage game developers. These moves reflect a broader shift among major East Asian publishers: they are moving beyond simple content production to actively managing the commercial ecosystems surrounding their intellectual properties. Whether through internal leadership realignments or external capital deployment, the industry is prioritizing the long-term lifecycle of franchises. This week's developments also highlight a concerted effort to modernize legacy assets through proprietary engines and cross-media tie-ins, while major studios synchronize their release pipelines with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 hardware cycle. The industry is effectively hedging against market volatility by diversifying its genre footprint and ensuring its franchises remain accessible across both new hardware and diverse media formats.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W26 (2026-06-16~2026-06-22)

Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly undergoing a significant restructuring, with multiple studios facing closure or divestiture as part of an internal 'Xbox Reset' strategy. This move signals a pivot towards consolidation and financial sustainability amidst intensified competition and rising costs. In parallel, the industry is seeing aggressive IP expansion and technological integration, with NEXUS acquiring One Store to build a web3 gaming hub, and companies like Nexon Korea detailing AI data strategies. These developments underscore a period of strategic realignment driven by market pressures and the pursuit of new growth avenues, alongside efforts to protect content and expand market reach.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W25 (2026-06-09~2026-06-15)

This week's developments in the East Asian gaming and anime industries underscore a clear dual strategy: established players are doubling down on core intellectual property for sustained growth, while traditional media and studios are actively forging new content avenues through webtoons and cross-media adaptations. These strategic moves occur against a backdrop of increasing regulatory scrutiny and evolving corporate governance demands. Companies are leveraging their most valuable franchises through remakes, new installments, and multi-platform releases, while simultaneously exploring the burgeoning potential of digital comics as a source for future entertainment empires. This dynamic landscape highlights a maturing industry that is both consolidating its strengths and diversifying its approaches to IP monetization and market reach.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W23 (2026-05-26~2026-06-01)

This week's developments in the East Asian gaming and anime industries highlight a bifurcated landscape. Major players are consolidating power through strategic acquisitions and the leverage of established intellectual property, while independent developers grapple with increasing challenges in discoverability and funding amidst a saturated market. This dynamic is reshaping how content is produced, distributed, and monetized, with success increasingly tied to IP strength and strategic business integration. The industry outlook suggests a continued focus on IP leverage, market saturation challenges, strategic consolidation, and evolving monetization models as key drivers for the foreseeable future.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W21 (2026-05-17~2026-05-23)

The past week in East Asian entertainment culture showcased a robust ecosystem adept at deepening fan engagement and navigating industry pressures. While major game launches were not the headline, established IPs continued to expand their reach through strategic merchandise and character reveals, with **Final Fantasy IX** offering a Vivi-themed deck box and **Blue Archive** generating significant buzz around the introduction of Erika Hatami. The anime sector, however, faced ongoing financial headwinds, with reports highlighting the persistent challenge of balancing rising production costs against revenue generation, even with strong international distribution. This period underscores the industry's multifaceted approach: leveraging beloved characters and practical merchandise to sustain engagement, while confronting the economic realities of content creation.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W20 (2026-05-10~2026-05-16)

This week's East Asian entertainment news highlights a pivotal hardware transition and the enduring strength of established IPs. Nintendo's president hinted at a robust software pipeline for the upcoming Switch 2, a strategy reinforced by the confirmation of FromSoftware's 'The Duskbloods' as a console exclusive, signaling a significant console generation shift. Concurrently, franchises across Japan and Korea demonstrated their market relevance: Bandai Namco detailed future Gundam directions, Konami reported strong sales for its Silent Hill titles, and Level Infinite and Shift Up leveraged character merchandising for 'Goddess of Victory: NIKKE.' These developments underscore how legacy IPs continue to drive regional market engagement and adapt to evolving player expectations.

Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W18 (2026-04-26~2026-05-02)

This week's East Asian entertainment landscape underscores a powerful, enduring strategy: the creative monetization of beloved Intellectual Property. From niche genre explorations in gaming to expansive merchandise lines and cross-industry collaborations, companies are demonstrating remarkable agility in transforming established characters and stories into diverse revenue streams. FuRyu's continued investment in the 'dark bishōjo' action roguelike genre with 'Crymelight,' alongside Nintendo's Kirby franchise leveraging apparel and accessories, exemplifies how IP is not just a product but a versatile engine for cultural and commercial expansion. This week's news highlights how East Asian creators are adept at tapping into deep fandoms, whether through new anime seasons, classic manga adaptations, or innovative collectible formats, reinforcing the region's position as a global powerhouse in entertainment IP.

Monthly Anime & Game in Asia @ Substack

Showing 1 of 1 posts.

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