Netmarble (251270) stepped up its push into the Japanese market at Tokyo Game Show 2026, Japan's largest gaming exhibition, showcasing three new titles ranging from a game adaptation of a popular local intellectual property to a sequel built on a globally successful IP and an original in-house IP.
The company said on the 22nd that it took part in TGS 2026, held from the 17th to the 20th at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, where it unveiled "Shangri-La Frontier: Seven Strongest Species," "Solo Leveling: Karma" and "Pearl in Blue."
At the venue, Netmarble ran hands-on demo areas for all three titles and hosted voice-actor talk shows and cosplay events. It focused on promoting the new titles by widening contact with users, centering on works aimed at the Japanese market.
Among them, the tag-battle role-playing game "Shangri-La Frontier: Seven Strongest Species" drew visitor interest as the first game based on the original IP. "Shangri-La Frontier" began as a web novel that surpassed 1 billion cumulative views and grew into a popular IP with comic sales topping 18 million copies.
Netmarble unveiled the demo version of "Shangri-La Frontier: Seven Strongest Species" for the first time at this year's TGS. Visitors seeking to try the game formed lines at the demo area.
"Solo Leveling: Karma," a roguelite action RPG based on the "Solo Leveling" animation IP, also drew a strong response. Visitors who played the game praised its fast-paced action and vivid staging, while a cosplay show featuring popular cosplayers dressed as protagonists Sung Jin-woo and Cha Hae-in also caught visitors' attention.
"Pearl in Blue," a subculture collection RPG, also had its demo version unveiled for the first time at this year's TGS. Netmarble set up an experiential booth reproducing the game's world to introduce core elements including characters, visuals and story.
"Pearl in Blue" combines RPG elements with a dating experience that makes players feel like the protagonist of a romantic-comedy animation. The booth was designed to let visitors try the game's main content directly, introducing the title to Japanese users.
Netmarble, which drew a favorable response from local users at last year's TGS with "The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin" and "Mongil: STAR DIVE," raised its profile in the Japanese market further by taking part with its own standalone booth for a second consecutive year. On public days open to general visitors, long lines formed, and the numbered tickets distributed to ensure smooth access to the demos ran out early.
The lineup stood out for a strategy tailored to the Japanese market. With "Shangri-La Frontier: Seven Strongest Species," the company took on the first game adaptation of a popular local IP, while "Solo Leveling: Karma," based on the "Solo Leveling" IP, showed the expansion potential of a proven IP. The addition of the new IP "Pearl in Blue" rounded out a broad lineup spanning established and new IPs, widening contact with local users.
"Through this TGS appearance, we were able to confirm strong interest from local users in all three titles," a Netmarble official said. "Based on the feedback we heard on site, we plan to improve the games' quality and prepare for successful launches."
