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Arc System Works will open ARC SYSTEM WORKS TOKYO STUDIO “TAKUMI” in Shinjuku, Tokyo, on November 2, 2026. The new studio’s first announced assignment is an unnamed fighting game selected for Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) IP360 subsidy project. Arc System Works also describes Takumi as a global collaboration hub and is expanding recruitment for its founding creators.
What Takumi is and when it opens
The company announced the studio on October 15, 2026. Its full name is ARC SYSTEM WORKS TOKYO STUDIO “TAKUMI,” and it is scheduled to begin operations on November 2, 2026.
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Studio | ARC SYSTEM WORKS TOKYO STUDIO “TAKUMI” |
| Opening date | November 2, 2026 |
| Address | Urban Center Shinjuku, 2-5-10 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
| First disclosed project | A new fighting game selected for METI’s IP360 subsidy project |
| Hiring status | Arc System Works says it is significantly expanding recruitment for founding creators |
The address places Takumi in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s major commercial and transport districts. The announcement frames the site as an expansion of the company’s overall development capacity rather than a temporary project office.
What game is Takumi making?
The only project detail released so far is that Takumi will begin with a new fighting game chosen for METI’s IP360 project. Arc System Works has not announced the game’s title, intellectual property, platforms, release window, gameplay systems, or development staff.
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That means the project should not be identified with any existing Arc System Works series. In particular, the announcement does not establish a connection to Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, or another named franchise. Any claim about a returning series, licensed property, character roster, or launch platform would be speculation until the company provides more information.
What “IP360” means in this announcement
IP360 is a METI initiative connected with expanding the overseas business of Japanese content. Gematsu reported a policy target of 20 trillion yen in overseas sales of Japanese content by 2033. The subsidy selection indicates public support for the project’s international content ambitions, but it does not reveal the game’s budget, commercial terms, schedule, or eventual sales.
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- Furious beat-’em-up action for one or two players!
- Stunning pixel-art graphics plus anime and manga cutscenes!
- Fantastic soundtrack featuring NateWantsToBattle, Chipzel, Christina Vee, and Megan McDuffee!
- Six large city regions to fight through, complete with shops and side quests!
- Loads of weapons, items, and abilities to power-up your heroines!
Why Arc System Works created a separate Tokyo studio
Arc System Works calls Takumi a strategic cornerstone for moving beyond conventional game-development frameworks and delivering what it describes as “ultimate excitement” to players worldwide. The practical objective stated in the announcement is to increase development capability while creating a base designed for broader external cooperation.
The company says it does not view Takumi merely as a development site. It envisions an “outward-facing collaboration hub with a widespread global reach.” That wording suggests the studio may work with partners outside Arc System Works, coordinate international creative or production relationships, and help projects reach audiences beyond Japan. The announcement does not specify partner companies, outsourcing arrangements, team size, or how responsibilities will be divided between Takumi and Arc System Works’ other operations.
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Recruitment and founding roles
Arc System Works says it is significantly increasing hiring for creators who will join Takumi as founding members. Because the studio is being established before the first game’s public details are available, early hires may help shape production practices, collaboration workflows, and the project’s creative direction.
Applicants should use the company’s official careers information for current openings, job descriptions, location requirements, and application instructions. The studio announcement does not state how many positions are available, which disciplines are being prioritized, compensation, employment terms, or a closing date for applications.
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- No More Complicated Commands! Simple Inputs Allow for a Variety of Attacks! - While there is only one button assigned for close ranged attacks, combining the button with a directional input (up, down, left, or right), or pressing it during jumps or dashes will allow you to perform a wide variety of attacks that vary in range and direction
- A Game of Reads that Fighting Games Fans Would Love! - In addition to the basic rock paper scissor elements that fighting games employ (in Kill la Kill: IF’s case – consisting of Attack, Guard, and Break Attack), the game also incorporates two additional elements: Evasion and Evasion Catch Attack. Players can expect to experience a simple yet engaging gameplay loop that encourages deep and intricate interactions in the midst of combat
- The Mechanic That Will Bring Back The Spirit of the Animated Series!! Introducing the “Ketsui Testament.” - The “Ketsui Testament” recreates iconic scenes from the original animated series, where characters engage in a heated exchange of words during battle. By pressing L1+R1 during battle and hitting the opponent with the Ketsui Burst, you enter into the Ketsui Testament. Once activated, each player will choose one from the three rock paper scissors choice of phrases to use as their testament.
What remains unknown
- The fighting game’s title and intellectual property.
- Target platforms and technical specifications.
- Release timing, regional launch plans, and business model.
- Gameplay design, competitive features, online services, and accessibility options.
- Project leadership, staff roster, collaborators, and development budget.
- Whether Takumi will produce additional games or other forms of content beyond the first project.
These omissions are normal for a studio-opening announcement. The confirmed information establishes the location, opening date, strategic remit, first project category, and recruitment push; it does not support predictions about the game itself.
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For players, the immediate news is the creation of a Tokyo-based team with an international brief and a publicly supported fighting-game project. The first meaningful updates will likely be the project’s identity, staff, platforms, and release plans, but Arc System Works has not given dates for any of those disclosures.
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Until then, the most reliable description is narrow: Takumi is a new Arc System Works studio in Shinjuku, opening November 2, 2026, beginning work on an unnamed METI IP360-selected fighting game, and recruiting its founding creative team.
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