Korean indie studio Team Tetrapod announced that it will simultaneously exhibit the supernatural mystery adventure ‘Stapper Retro’ at Korea’s ‘PlayXpo 2026’ and Japan’s ‘BitSummit 2026’.
[Related Article: K-Indie ‘Stepper Retro’ Launches Simultaneously on Switch and Steam… Series’ First Multi-Platform Challenge]
[Related Article: Team Tetrapod Participates in Steam Mystery Game Festival with ‘Stepper Series’]
Team Tetrapod plans to showcase their new game ‘Stapper Retro’ with support from the Korea Creative Content Agency at PlayX4 2026, held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do from May 21 to 24, and BitSummit 2026, held in Kyoto, Japan from May 22 to 24.
With the two events taking place around the same time, Team Tetrapod plans to expand user contact points in both Korea and Japan simultaneously and provide an opportunity to communicate with the core fanbase of the Stepper Series.
Stepper Retro is a mystery adventure game set in a world of superpowers where players solve cases by combining documents and clues. Continuing the worldview of the previous title, this game features over 30 hours of scenario content, a document-based deduction system, various choices, and plot twists. It also plans to elevate the series’ quality by adding character voice acting and enhanced direction.
At both venues, visitors can play the voice-enabled demo version scheduled to be released on Steam on May 7. This demo features Japanese voice acting for the ‘Act.1’ section, allowing attendees to experience the game’s atmosphere, mystery system, and voice direction firsthand.
Team Tetrapod is currently accepting pre-notification applications for a crowdfunding campaign commemorating the Stepper series via Tumblbug in Korea, and has released an idea page for the crowdfunding campaign for ‘Stepper Retro’ via CAMPFIRE in Japan. It is highly unusual in the indie game industry to conduct crowdfunding simultaneously in both countries like this, and the number of notification sign-ups has currently exceeded 480 in both nations.
This project goes beyond simple fundraising to expand official engagement with fans in both Korea and Japan, and is an attempt to present the new title, Staffor Retro, with a higher level of polish while reflecting on the series. The development team stated, “This funding campaign aims for full Korean and Japanese voice dubbing, and we plan to strengthen both the quality of the work and fan communication.”
Participation events linked to crowdfunding will also be held at the venues of both countries. At ‘PlayXpo 2026’, visitors who visit the Team Tetrapod booth and complete two or more missions—such as following X, adding to a Steam wishlist, or verifying sponsorship of the Tumblbug Stepper Series—will be given an L-holder and a tarpaulin bag.
In addition, at the ‘BitSummit 2026’ venue, L-holders and acrylic keyrings will be given to visitors who achieve two or more of the following: X Follow, bookmarking the CAMPFIRE project, and verifying that they have completed sponsorship. Visitors can also participate in sponsorship at a 5% discounted price on-site.
Team Tetrapod stated, “The Stepper series has grown amidst the support and interest of the fanbase formed in Korea and Japan,” adding, “Through our simultaneous participation in PlayXpo and BitSummit, we aim to connect more closely with users in both markets and further refine our new title, ‘Stepper Retro,’ in a better form alongside our ongoing crowdfunding campaign.”
