Exhibition - Japan Expo 2025: a celebration of video games featuring Japanese innovation, world premieres, and iconic figures from the industry

By Mulder, 19 june 2025

From July 3 to 6, 2025, the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center will host the 24th edition of Japan Expo, a flagship event that is now the third largest trade show in France in terms of daily visitors and the leading European festival entirely dedicated to Japanese culture and entertainment. With more than 200,000 visitors expected, over 670 events spread across 140,000 square meters, 11 stages, 31 masterclasses, 10 signing areas, and nearly 3,000 accredited participants, Japan Expo continues to grow and dazzle year after year. Video games, the real heartbeat of the 2025 edition, will take center stage with an exceptional program bringing together the biggest names in the industry, exclusive conferences, preview demonstrations, meetings with renowned artists and voice actors, as well as tournaments, activities, and discoveries that will delight all enthusiasts. It's a real showcase for Japanese video games in Paris, combining reinvented classics with the latest technological innovations in the gaming world.

Among the prestigious guests, Hajime Tabata, former iconic director at Square Enix and now founder of JP UNIVERSE Inc., will present his futuristic vision of video game creation. Known for orchestrating the ambitious transmedia project Final Fantasy XV Universe—including the main game, the anime Brotherhood, and the CGI film Kingsglaive—Hajime Tabata is now looking to the future with the development of OwnWorld, an intuitive and accessible platform for everyone that integrates artificial intelligence into video game creation. His new flagship project, Ryugukoku, aims to lay the foundations for a national Japanese platform that uses video games to promote Japanese culture around the world. His appearance at Japan Expo 2025 will not only be an opportunity to look back on his revolutionary career, but also to unveil the outlines of this ambitious and visionary initiative that could transform the global video game industry in the years to come.

Another key figure at the show, Hiroshi Matsuyama, president of CyberConnect2 studio, is returning once again to Japan Expo, faithful to his annual appointment with French fans. A prolific creator at the helm of sagas such as .hack//, Fuga: Melodies of Steel, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, and Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba, Hiroshi Matsuyama embodies a pure passion for video games fueled by his love of manga—he reads more than sixty magazines a month!—which he translates into increasingly cinematic and accessible works. A true showman, he will share his enthusiasm at conferences and autograph sessions, which are always very popular, offering visitors direct contact with the creative energy of Fukuoka.

The Arc System Works studio, meanwhile, will make a big splash with the European exclusive reveal of three new fighting games. Renowned for bringing visual and technical masterpieces such as Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, and Dragon Ball FighterZ to life, Arc System Works has become an essential reference in the world of versus fighting. Their presence at Japan Expo 2025 promises to be explosive, with a booth entirely dedicated to their universe, immersive animations, challenges for players, and major announcements about the future of the genre. Once again, the publisher will showcase the combination of high-definition anime aesthetics, powerful rock music, and technical gameplay mastery for a total sensory experience.

The public will also be able to enjoy a rich program of demonstrations on the Také stage, with Bandai Namco unveiling three flagship titles from its 2025 catalog on Saturday, July 5, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. First up is PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY, a double rhythm compilation beloved by fans, returning for the first time on PS5, Switch, and PC with gameplay redesigned for modern platforms. Next is DIGIMON STORY TIME STRANGER, a brand-new RPG that promises to be one of the highlights of the fall with a release date set for October 3, 2025. Finally, TOWA AND THE GUARDIANS OF THE SACRED TREE, a colorful roguelite with enchanting Japanese art direction, will transport players on a mystical quest led by the heroine Towa and the celestial children. These exclusive presentations will be accompanied by interactive moments, giving fans the opportunity to experience the evolution of Japanese video game culture live.

Another highlight of the show will be the conference event for NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2, which will be previewed worldwide on Thursday, July 3 at 4 p.m. on the Také stage. This direct sequel to the cult music game developed by Metronomik and published by Shueisha Games will bring together a host of special guests: Kelly Marot, the French voice of Mayday and known for her voice work on Katniss Everdeen and Sansa Stark; Donald Reignoux, the voice of Zuke, Spider-Man, and Sora; and Idir Alexander Ould Braham, the game's executive producer. Together, they will look back on the genesis of this long-awaited sequel, its artistic DNA, its rhythmic ambitions, and the new gameplay features that will thrill fans. Visitors will also be able to attend exclusive autograph sessions, a rare opportunity to meet the iconic voices that have brought the world of NSR to life since its inception.

Nintendo, meanwhile, will be taking advantage of Japan Expo 2025 to usher the public into the era of the Nintendo Switch 2. Between brand new multiplayer games and breathtaking solo adventures, the Nintendo booth will offer exclusive experiences such as Mario Kart World, Drag x Drive, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Donkey Kong Bananza (available July 17), and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, playable for the first time at 120 FPS with a viewfinder via the new Joy-Con 2 mouse mode. All this will be accompanied by tournaments open to the public, a Pop-Up Store filled with exclusive products straight from the Nintendo Tokyo and Osaka stores, and appearances by surprise guests. Nintendo will also showcase a selection of upcoming third-party games for Switch 2, such as Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster, and Hogwarts Legacy.

RPG fans will not be disappointed with the presence of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a true revelation of the year, which will be the focus of a round table discussion on Friday, July 4 with Lorien Testard, Charlotte Hoepffner, Maxence Cazorla, Estelle Darnault, Céline Melloul, and William Tomasi, the artists who breathed life, music, voices, and movement to this uniquely rich universe. This special moment will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, an understanding of the intentions behind the game mechanics, and an opportunity to gauge the growing impact of the European independent RPG scene on the international landscape.

Finally, Cygames will be in Hall 6 at booth E662 to introduce the public to a series of playable titles such as Umamusume: Pretty Derby, Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. As a highlight, the European premiere of the film Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era will take place free of charge on Friday, July 4 at 6:30 p.m. on the Kuri stage. Special guests, contests, a merchandise store featuring items from Japan, and a festive atmosphere will round out an impressive showing by Cygames, a true pillar of Japanese mobile and PC gaming.

Japan Expo 2025 will also be an opportunity for Konami to showcase the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!, with a stand entirely dedicated to the franchise, ahead of the World Championships to be held in Paris at the end of August. On Saturday, July 5, from 2 to 3 p.m., a special live event will bring together well-known influencer Zouloux, Laurent Sao (voice of Yugi Muto), Nessym Guetat (voice of Seto Kaiba), and Samir Bachar, France's double representative at the World Championships, for a chat with fans. A prestigious lineup for a franchise that spans generations and continues to fascinate millions of players around the world.

With this exceptionally packed program, Japan Expo 2025 confirms its status as a cultural and technological hub unlike any other in the world. From the metaverse to the Switch 2, retro beat 'em ups to futuristic RPGs, voice acting stars to industry pioneers, the show offers total immersion in the world of video games, while celebrating Japan's diversity, creativity, and heritage. More than just a convention, it is a human, sensory, and passionate experience that offers visitors a window into the future of the most popular leisure activity of the 21st century.

(Source: press release)