Shueisha Games is opening the door for new game pitches, and the interesting part is this: you don’t need to be an experienced game developer to apply.
The publisher, known recently for backing Urban Myth Dissolution Center, has announced that it is looking for fresh game proposals from creators. If a pitch is selected, Shueisha Games says it will support the project as a publisher, covering areas like development costs, recruitment help, QA, promotion, sales, marketing, and localization.
Basically, if they like your idea, they are not just saying “good luck bro.” They want to work closely with creators and help turn the concept into an actual game.
No game dev experience? Still can try
What makes this announcement stand out is that Shueisha Games is specifically encouraging submissions from people who may not have any formal game development experience.
Instead of only looking at technical background, the company says proposals will be judged based on three things:
- A creative personality that feels hard to imitate
- An idea that feels genuinely original
- A level of quality that can stand out against similar works
That is a pretty big signal. Shueisha Games seems to be looking beyond the usual “show us your finished prototype and team CV” approach. They want strong creators, not just established studios.
For Malaysia and SEA, this is the part worth paying attention to. We have a lot of artists, writers, manga-style illustrators, visual novel fans, indie devs, and game jam people with strong concepts but limited funding or production support. A chance like this could be interesting for creators who have a killer story, world, or character-driven idea, but belum ada proper studio setup.
What applicants need to submit
According to the announcement, creators can apply through the official Shueisha Games webpage by sending in:
- A game proposal
- A portfolio showing past creative work
If the game is already in development, applicants can also include production materials such as a current build, trailer, specifications, scripts, or setting documents.
Submissions can be made in Japanese or English, which is important for creators outside Japan. For Malaysian applicants, that lowers the barrier a lot. You still need a strong pitch, of course, but at least you are not forced to prepare everything in Japanese.
Read the IP terms properly
There is one important legal detail creators should not skip.
Shueisha Games states that copyrights and other intellectual property rights in submitted proposals remain with the applicants. However, the company is not prevented from creating, selling, or using media that may unintentionally resemble submitted content.
Applicants also agree not to claim similarity in those cases, though they can raise an argument if it appears that Shueisha Games intentionally based something on their submitted proposal.
In simple terms: your submitted IP remains yours, but ideas can sometimes overlap. If you are applying, especially from outside Japan, read the official terms properly before sending your dream project.
Why this matters
Shueisha is a huge name in Japanese entertainment, and Shueisha Games is clearly trying to tap into creators beyond the usual game studio pipeline. That is exciting because some of the best game ideas do not always come from people who already know how to code or manage production.
For SEA creators, this is another reminder that the gap between manga, anime, games, and indie storytelling is getting smaller. If you have a strong concept with a distinct voice, this might be the kind of opportunity worth checking out.
Source: Automaton Media