Japanese retail company Parco reveals the launch of its indie game publishing division

Japanese retail giant Parco has introduced Parco Games, its new label for publishing indie games.

According to VGC, Parco is recognized for its shopping centers across Japan, particularly its Shibuya, Tokyo branch, which hosts official outlets for Sony, Nintendo, and Capcom. The company is also known for organizing various pop-up events, including the Death Stranding 2 Japan tour this year.

The new label, Parco Games, intends to use its network of 15 department stores to market indie games, starting with a presence at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show. Their initial lineup includes three titles: Nova Antarctica, an atmospheric adventure, Constance, a 2D Metroidvania, and The Berlin Apartment, a first-person walking simulator, all set for a winter 2025 release.

On its official website (translated via Google Translate), Parco described its evolution with "diverse cultures and neighborhoods," emphasizing the importance of fashion, film, music, literature, and community spaces. They view games as a crucial part of Japanese culture and are exploring ways to contribute to this sector.

The website further elaborates, "In collaboration with gaming enthusiasts, we are exploring the potential of games and aiming to expand their future. We are continually embracing new challenges."

This year has seen the emergence of several new indie game publishers, including Lyrical Games, Six One Indie Publishing, The CoLab, and Three Friends, alongside Parco Games.