- The Milestone: Over 1,100 applications received—the first time the event has crossed the 1,000-entry threshold.
- The Scale: 200+ titles showcased, including 9 world premieres and an expanded “INDIE Waves” segment.
- The Reach: 100 million cumulative views and 3,100+ titles introduced since its inception in 2020.
- The Sponsors: A massive “INDIE Waves” segment powered by Cygames, featuring 160 rapid-fire reveals.
Asia’s premier indie game showcase, INDIE Live Expo 2026.4.25, has officially concluded, setting new benchmarks for the global indie scene. Broadcasted on April 25 across platforms like YouTube, Steam, and Twitch in four languages, the event solidified its status as the world’s most influential “gateway” for independent developers.
The “INDIE Waves” Expansion: Powered by Cygames
One of the most iconic segments of the show, INDIE Waves, returned with its largest lineup to date. Traditionally featuring around 100 games, this year’s segment—officially titled INDIE Waves powered by Cygames—scaled up to feature 160 titles.
Each game was showcased in a tight 15-second “wave,” allowing the audience to experience a massive variety of genres and art styles in a high-energy format. This rapid-fire approach remains the hallmark of INDIE Live Expo, ensuring even the smallest studios get a moment in the global spotlight.
World Premieres: LUNAR PULSE and More
The “INDIE Spotlight” segment featured 9 world-first reveals. The standout announcement came from Fahrenheit 213, led by former Fate/Grand Order producer Yosuke Shiokawa, who unveiled LUNAR PULSE—a stylish card-based roguelite featuring 13 witches.
Other major debuts included:
- Warota: I Live Next to The Demon King’s Castle LOL: A quirky management Action RPG from Team Earth Wars.
- Crymelight: A dark, evocative roguelike action title from Furyu.
- In Us: A 4-player co-op horror experience from Yaneura Games.
- No Mortal Space: A high-concept SF sandbox action RPG from Stellia Games.
Other representative titles revealed include Warota: I Live Next to The Demon King’s Castle LOL (Team Earth Wars), an action RPG where you run a village next to the Demon King’s castle; Crymelight (Furyu), a roguelike action game; and In Us (Yaneura Games), a 4-player co-op horror game.
In addition to these, there is the gamebook-style RPG Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle , the drinking survival game Drunken Goddess Reflux , the Metroidvania Feather’s Edge , and the healing-concept productivity game Memory of Memorie: A Chill Story . SF sandbox action RPG No Mortal Space (Stellia Games) was included.
‘INDIE Spotlight’ also announces a large number of updates for existing titles
In addition to the world premiere, major updates to previously announced titles followed one after another.
.45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND , the new title from the developer of the bartending adventure game VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, has confirmed its release in the third quarter of 2026.
Along with this, automation simulation game Moorestech announced its closed beta schedule, and turn-based chess roguelike game Gambonanza confirmed its release on May 1.
In addition, the dungeon crawling RPG Annihilated announced a release on July 22, and the parkour action game Motorslice announced a simultaneous multi-platform release on May 5.
Launch Dates and Major Updates
The showcase wasn’t just about new reveals; many highly anticipated titles used the platform to announce firm release windows and milestones.
| Title | Announcement | Target Date |
| .45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND | Official Release Window | Q3 2026 |
| Gambonanza | Release Date Confirmed | May 1, 2026 |
| Motorslice | Multi-platform Launch | May 5, 2026 |
| Annihilated | Release Date Confirmed | July 22, 2026 |
| moorestech | Closed Beta Schedule | TBA |
A Truly Global Broadcast
To accommodate its 100 million-strong cumulative audience, the event was broadcast simultaneously in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.
- Global Hosts: The show featured fan-favorite streamers and industry personalities, including Kishi Taiga for the Japanese stream and J-mon for the English broadcast.
- Korean Debut: Popular streamer “Yeokka” (여까) joined the roster for the first time, providing live commentary for the growing Korean indie community.
“The INDIE Live Expo exists to serve as a bridge between the creative passion of developers and the curiosity of gamers worldwide. Crossing 1,100 applications this year proves that the indie heart is beating faster than ever.” — INDIE Live Expo Organizing Committee
As the 2026 showcase draws to a close, the focus shifts to the upcoming summer and winter windows. With 200+ games now on the global radar, the indie ecosystem looks healthier—and more diverse—than ever before.
Official Website: indie.live-expo.games
