Koei Tecmo, the developer and publisher behind acclaimed action series such as Nioh, Dynasty Warriors, and Ninja Gaiden, is working on a new intellectual property codenamed 'Fuji'. The project was recently highlighted by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as part of its IP360 Initiative, a program launched in March to foster Japan's cultural exports, including video games.
The IP360 Initiative specifically aims to encourage the development of new intellectual properties, and 'Fuji' is one of the selected projects with plans for expansion into media beyond gaming. While details remain scarce, the project's name suggests a Japanese setting. Koei Tecmo's description indicates that 'Fuji' will be an action game featuring "oriental-style aesthetics," a theme that aligns with many of the company's existing franchises.
"Leveraging Koei Tecmo Games' expertise in oriental-themed visuals and action games, the company will develop a completely new IP game title, aiming for a worldwide hit and broad IP expansion starting from the game," reads the project's machine-translated description. This ambition mirrors recent Koei Tecmo releases like Rise of the Ronin, Wild Hearts, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, although only Wo Long has a confirmed sequel.
Koei Tecmo's initiative is part of a broader government effort, with other prominent Japanese companies including Konami, Sega, Square Enix, and Arc System Works also receiving grants under the same program. This collaboration underscores a national focus on cultivating and promoting new intellectual properties for international markets.