Festivals - Japan Expo 2026: DOFUS: Ankama Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary with a Brand-New Challenge Centered on the Turquoise Dofus

By Mulder, Villepinte, Parc des expositions, 09 july 2026

For Japan Expo 2026, Ankama is transforming its DOFUS area into a true battleground with an exclusive event designed specifically for the occasion. Taking place from July 9 to 12, this experience pits one of the Krosmoz’s most iconic Primordial Dragons, Aguabrial, against his longtime nemesis, Shuccube, in a scripted battle that blends storytelling, strategy, and the quest for the highest score. This original creation is part of the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of Ankama, a company founded in 2001 in Roubaix by Anthony Roux, Camille Chafer, and Emmanuel Darras. Over the years, Ankama has become one of the major players in the French video game industry thanks to the international success of DOFUS and later WAKFU, while also developing a vast transmedia universe known as the Krosmoz.

The animation presented at Japan Expo plunges visitors into an ancient rivalry resurfacing from the depths. Once betrayed and punished by Aguabrial, Shuccube returns with a single goal: to exact her revenge. Players take direct control of the demoness—equipped for the occasion with a brand-new set of skills—to face successive waves of aquatic creatures summoned by the Primordial Dragon. The game is deliberately structured around a challenge limited to ten turns, forcing participants to optimize each of their actions to eliminate as many enemies as possible. As players progress, permanent upgrades enhance the character’s abilities, notably increasing damage, mobility, critical hits, resistances, and action points, while various mechanics allow players to evolve certain spells or unlock passive effects. This gradual power-up adds a roguelite dimension that constantly refreshes the battles while rewarding players who can adapt their strategy.

However, this experience isn’t limited to a simple playable demo. Ankama has also set up a daily leaderboard displayed live on the DOFUS website, allowing visitors to compare their performance throughout the day. The leaderboard is reset every morning to give everyone a fresh chance to reach the podium. The top participants walk away with rewards including up to a year of game subscription, as well as a physical Golden Dragounette plush toy for first place, while second and third place winners receive six and three months of subscription, respectively. Players who successfully complete the challenge also receive a scratch-off card granting early access to an exclusive cosmetic item: the Quarter-Century Cape, specially created to celebrate the Roubaix-based studio’s 25th anniversary. Only one card is distributed per person, reinforcing the event-based nature of this reward.

This event perfectly illustrates how Ankama continues to bring its universe to life far beyond its MMORPGs. Since the release of DOFUS in 2004, the group has gradually built an ecosystem combining video games, animated series, comic books, manga, novels, board games, and merchandise. The shared universe of the Krosmoz regularly serves as a bridge between these different media, while events like Japan Expo provide prime opportunities to offer exclusive content designed to reward the most loyal players. This transmedia development strategy, initiated in the company’s early years with WAKFU and its many spin-offs, remains one of Ankama’s most recognizable hallmarks today.

The studio’s presence at Japan Expo also comes during a particularly significant year for the company. After facing the hacking of production documents related to the fifth season of WAKFU in early 2026, followed by a cyberattack that led to the leak of certain customer data in the spring, Ankama is nevertheless continuing its celebrations and showcasing its creations to the public. The presentation dedicated to the Turquoise Dofus thus demonstrates the studio’s commitment to maintaining a strong connection with its community by prioritizing exclusive, interactive experiences that are directly accessible at the convention, while reminding everyone that, twenty-five years after its creation, the DOFUS universe remains one of the historic pillars of French video games.