Game
Business

IP Accelerates Growth in the Game Business

Profile

プロフィール

Koki Ukita

Senior Managing Executive Officer, CyberAgent, Inc.
President and Representative Director, Applibot, Inc.

Building Teams to Maximize IP Value

From the beginning, we recognized a powerful synergy between the clear user base and the defined product vision inherent in an IP, aligned perfectly with our characteristic attitude of sincere craftsmanship.

The biggest reason SGE is entrusted with the development of popular IP games is our large-scale development structure—one of the largest in Japan. Generally, other companies often see development capabilities concentrated in specific good lines, or elite teams, creating disparities. However, SGE possesses multiple robust development teams, and we have established a system where talent with expertise in each field is optimally assigned to achieve maximum performance. This track record and trust have created a chain reaction, allowing us to continuously partner with powerful IPs in recent years.

One vital factor in the successful execution of our often long-term game development is the deeply embedded commitment to prioritize project success above individual roles or positions. We relentlessly pursue what it takes to make a blockbuster, striving not merely to utilize an IP, but to maximize its inherent value creation and expand its global fan base through the quality of our products.

Japanese IPs commanding a Global Presence

To accelerate global expansion, we are currently adopting an Overseas First approach in product development, fundamentally shaping development based on research targeting overseas users and consciously prioritizing the global market from the core. We also emphasize global market appeal when selecting new IPs.

This strategy is underpinned by our conviction in the overwhelming strength of Japanese-origin IPs. Japanese IPs are often highly original, lacking the sense of something seen before. This is because they possess the power to captivate hundreds of millions of people globally—fervent fans who deeply resonate with the content. We aim to maximize these uniquely appealing Japanese IPs to create titles beloved throughout the world.

Competitive Advantage through Group Synergy

When launching a new IP project, SGE forms teams primarily composed of employees who are deep fans of the IP, ensuring the original work's appeal and world view are maximized in the game. Furthermore, we promote flexible collaboration across subsidiaries, with cases where about 30% of a team consists of members from other subsidiaries. We are proud that this structure, which allows us to allocate the optimal human capital to each project, is a major strength brought by the depth and diversity of SGE's talent pool.

Synergy within the CyberAgent Group is also a unique competitive advantage. We learn a lot from Cygames, Inc.'s uncompromising attitude toward craftsmanship and frequently work with them.

Furthermore, upon the release of new titles, we implement initiatives such as opening dedicated channels on ABEMA to allow eager users to immerse more deeply in the IP's world. This approach ensures maximal fan engagement and generates powerful mutual connections across the group.

Our Culture of Investing in People's Motivation

In the context of the long game development phase, we position maintaining organizational motivation and retaining outstanding human capital as crucial management priorities. SGE is rooted in the culture; a quality team is indispensable for creating a quality product. Many members act proactively, offering opinions across team boundaries and volunteering to support other development projects.

In the development of new titles, we set clear milestones and closely link product strategy with organizational strategy, implementing creative measures to maintain high motivation even in long-term projects. Furthermore, in post-release operation, we foster self-driven teams by encouraging proactive ideas and improvement proposals from members rather than relying on top-down direction.

The corporate culture rooted in CyberAgent—Freedom and Self-Responsibility and Investing in People's Motivation—is also highly valued at SGE. We believe that fostering individual drive leads to unexpectedly significant achievements. I personally prioritize opportunities to speak directly with employees, focusing on creating an environment that fully supports their challenges.

Going forward, we aim to create global hits and deliver new value, powered by our greatest competitive strength: our human capital.