FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KYOTO, Japan – July 8th, 2025 – BitSummit, Japan’s leading indie game festival, is proud to unveil the full stage schedule for BitSummit the 13th, set for July 19 and 20 in Kyoto. This year’s lineup features world-first gameplay of Ratatan, onstage conversations with Shuhei Yoshida and Yuzo Koshiro, new reveals and showcases from Inti Creates, Pocketpair, Shueisha Games and more.
BitSummit welcomes the highly anticipated title Ratatan [spiritual successor to the Patapon series] to this year’s stage, with creator Hiroyuki Kotani offering a rare inside look at the game. Indie evangelist Shuhei Yoshida joins composer Yuzo Koshiro (Dragon Slayer, Streets of Rage) to present the upcoming bullet-hell side-scroller Earthion. Meanwhile, SWERY65 (Deadly Premonition, The Missing) will roam the venue in a special walkaround segment, engaging directly with BitSummit 2025 Award nominees and spotlighting standout creators across the floor.
Also taking the BitSummit stage are Inti Creates’ producer and director Takuya Aizu (Azure Striker Gunvolt, Mega Man Zero, Blaster Master Zero), to discuss the latest news from the studio. Pocketpair, the developer behind the breakout hit Palworld, returns to BitSummit to showcase two new upcoming titles, the 2D atmospheric Metroidvania Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse, and a not-so-wholesome driving mystery adventure Truckful. Longtime indie game supporter, Happinet Corporation, will present the latest in their Happinet Indie Collection series.
Shueisha Games joins BitSummit to showcase two exciting titles, the deck-building roguelite ANTHEM#9, and hyperball boss battler BAKUDO. PlayStation brings the latest update on Dreams of Another, the latest work by Baiyon and Q-Games.
In a special PlayStation segment, Tokyo-based studio Enhance (Tetris Effect, Humanity) bring their latest game, Lumines Arise, to the BitSummit stage, while boutique publisher Lost in Cult will do a panel on game preservation in the digital age, continuing its mission to elevate games as cultural artifacts. Kakehashi Games will present Hirogami, the origami-themed 3D puzzle platformer by Bandai Namco Studios Singapore.
This year’s merch vendors include Brave Wave Productions, a Tokyo-based label focused on game soundtracks and artist-driven releases; iam8bit Japan & Asia, specializing in collector-grade vinyl, physical editions and design-forward game merchandise; and SUPERDELUXE GAMES, known for curating premium indie game packages and limited-run soundtracks.
Attendees can participate in the BitSummit Treasure stamp rally, running Saturday and Sunday, July 19th and 20th. Prizes include a PlayStation® 5 Pro, a Keigo Inoue-designed T-shirt, official BitSummit merchandise, stickers, coupons and game tokens.. The first 300 attendees to complete the rally will qualify for the prize lottery. To join, pick up a quest sheet at the “Adventurers’ Tavern” booth on the first floor and hunt down four hidden Yokai-themed stamps across the venue.
For more information concerning business tickets and regular visitor passes, please visit the BitSummit Official website.
BitSummit The 13th takes place from Friday, July 18th to Sunday, July 20th 2025. All three days' operation hours are from 10:00 AM JST until 05:00 PM JST. BitSummit The 13th will broadcast from the main stage on both days, live on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok in Japanese and English.
Additional information regarding participating titles, special guest speakers, streaming booths, influencers, and sponsors will be unveiled in the coming weeks. For more information, please visit the BitSummit Official website or follow BitSummit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Press and influencers registrations are now open here until June 30th, 2025.
About BitSummit
BitSummit is an annual festival based in Kyoto, celebrating independent game developers and
development in Japan. Founded in late 2012 to support, unify, and evangelize the vibrant and
innovative Japanese independent game development scene to the world at large, BitSummit
has established itself as Japan's premier independent gaming event, attracting thousands of
visitors annually, as well as a notable, international media presence. BitSummit has been
covered by every leading gaming website worldwide and featured in print publications such as
Weekly Famitsu, Dengeki PlayStation, GamesTM, EDGE, and more. BitSummit has also been
the focus of panel discussions at the Game Developers Conference, IndieCade, IndieCade
East, and CEDEC. BitSummit continues to grow alongside the burgeoning Japanese
independent development scene in its tenth year running.
BitSummit is organized by the Japan Independent Games Aggregate (JIGA): Q-Games Ltd, Skeleton Crew Studios, Pygmy Studio Co. Ltd., and BlackSheep.