Tokyo Game Show 2026 Confirmed ‘SELECTED INDIE 80’ as Sponsor

• Free entry opportunity for creative indie developers, establishment of SI80 Excellence Award lays the foundation for a global leap.
• Applications accepted until April 30… Key indie projects at TGS 2026, held for the longest period in history (5 days)

The Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA) officially announced the first sponsor group for ‘SELECTED INDIE 80 (SI80)’, an indie game developer support project for Tokyo Game Show 2026.

Nine companies—Nintendo, Kodansha, PlayISM, iGi Indie Game Incubator, CRI Middleware, Amakusa City, ASK, auryn, and WitOne—have been confirmed as sponsors for indie game developer support projects, including SI80. The sponsor names are listed in order of sponsorship plans and past sponsorship track records.

Free entry open to 80 works, regardless of nationality, age, or occupation

SELECTED INDIE 80 is an indie game developer support project targeting individual developers and small studios. Anyone can apply regardless of nationality, age, or occupation, as long as they meet the application requirements. The eligibility criteria include: annual revenue of less than $500,000 (less than $100,000 for individual developers) ▲ complete financial independence ▲ ownership of original IP ▲ compliance with CERO ethical standards ▲ possession of development licenses for the relevant platforms.

Selected titles can exhibit for free in the Indie Game Zone with the support of sponsoring companies, and benefits such as equipment rental (including PCs and display monitors) and title listing on a special Steam site (limited to Steam titles) will be provided. Starting this year, the first 40 companies will be able to directly select their booth locations on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early is advantageous. The application deadline is 5:00 PM (Japan Standard Time) on Thursday, April 30, and selection results will be notified via email around May 20.

Laying the Foundation for a Leap into the Global Market with the Newly Established ‘SI80 Excellence Award’

Along with SELECTED INDIE 80, a new evaluation system called the ‘SI80 Excellence Awards’ has been established. Approximately 10 titles are selected from the entries based on a comprehensive evaluation of creativity, game completeness, experiential value, and artistic merit; the winners will be announced in August, followed by an awards ceremony held at TGS. During the event, award marks will be displayed at the booths of the winning titles, allowing them to more effectively promote the works to visitors, media, and business stakeholders.

This system establishes itself as a new evaluation axis distinct from the existing ‘Sense of Wonder Night (SOWN),’ which assesses the originality of ideas, and aims to shed light on indie games from a more multifaceted perspective. Titles selected for SI80 are automatically registered as candidates for SOWN 2026. SOWN 2026 is scheduled to be held on September 17 at Makuhari Messe.

Held for a record-breaking 5 days to celebrate the 30th anniversary, aiming for approximately 300,000 visitors.

Tokyo Game Show 2026, marking its 30th anniversary, will be held for the longest period in its history for five days from September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture under the theme “The Longest Five Days of Nonstop Play.” The Business Days (September 17–18) will focus on industry networking and partnerships, while the Public Days (September 19–21) will allow gamers to experience the latest games firsthand.

With this sponsor announcement, CESA has established a concrete structure for industry cooperation to strengthen the indie game ecosystem. Sponsors of diverse nature are participating to form a comprehensive support system for indie developers, ranging from large corporations directly involved in game development and distribution, such as Nintendo and Kodansha Game Creators Lab, to organizations specializing in developer nurturing, such as iGi, Japan’s first indie game incubation program led by Marvelous.

CESA plans to continue recruiting additional sponsors who share the purpose of supporting indie games.

Information regarding SELECTED INDIE 80 (TGS 2026)