Made in Japan XR Project Launches With Student Creator Program
The program's structure-supporting teams from hackathon through store release rather than stopping at prototype-addresses a common gap where student projects stall before reaching commercial distribution.
Key Facts
- G-SMASH announced the Made in Japan XR Project on July 27, 2026, with team recruitment opening the same day.
- Up to eight finalist teams will receive development support worth approximately 500,000 yen per team.
- Completed works are scheduled for global release via Meta Horizon Store and PICO Store around January to February 2027.
- An application briefing and networking event will be held on August 6, 2026, at the 404 Not Found hub in Shibuya Sakura Stage.
- The program is free to participate and supports teams from planning through store submission and global release.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, ASCII.jp, PANORA.
G-SMASH announced the Made in Japan XR Project on July 27, 2026, aiming to create global intellectual property from Japanese XR content. The first initiative is a free XR game development program for student and young creators, with team recruitment opening the same day. Up to eight finalist teams will be selected after a hackathon in August 2026, each receiving development support worth approximately 500,000 yen, including equipment, mentoring, and boot camp fees. The program provides continuous support from planning through store submission and global release, not ending at prototyping or Demo Day. Completed works are scheduled for global release via Meta Horizon Store and PICO Store around January to February 2027. The program collaborates with the creator hub 404 Not Found in Shibuya Sakura Stage, offering a production and presentation base. An application briefing and networking event is set for August 6, 2026, at the same venue. G-SMASH, founded in September 2025 and led by representative director Shun Harashima, brings its experience in event management, community building, and global marketing to the project.
G-SMASH was founded in September 2025 by representative director Shun Harashima. The company is based in Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, and describes its mission as spreading "surprise and excitement no one has ever experienced through the power of XR." The Made in Japan XR Project draws on G-SMASH's experience in event management, community building, collaboration with hardware companies and development firms, and global marketing.
The program targets teams of one to five members. Applications can be made by a single person. Up to eight finalist teams will be selected after a three-day hackathon running from August 18 to August 20, 2026. Selected teams receive development support worth approximately 500,000 yen per team, covering development environment, boot camp participation fees, equipment provision, and expert mentoring. The program also provides XR devices, development PCs, trial play displays, and audio equipment as needed.
Mentors and judges include professionals active in the domestic and international game, XR, and entertainment industries. They offer feedback on game design, user experience, technology, visuals, and business development. The program also produces documentary videos tracking development progress, runs overseas social media posts, collaborates with overseas influencers, and plans store launch strategies.
The application briefing and networking event on August 6, 2026, runs from 17:00 to 19:00 at 404 Not Found in Shibuya Sakura Stage. Registration for the briefing is separate from the program application. The document screening deadline is August 10, with results announced August 12. After the hackathon, an intensive development boot camp runs three nights and four days from September 9 to September 12. Demo Day is November 1, and a launch event is planned for December 11 to December 12.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.