Metal Slug is one of the game IPs SNK is pushing into a broader licensing business, with its licensing operations now handled directly by parent SNK after subsidiary SNK Entertainment dissolved in August 2026.
SNK is promoting Metal Slug as a licensing property at trade shows. At Licensing Japan 2026, held at Tokyo Big Sight from June 17 to 19, SNK showcased licensing programs for Metal Slug alongside The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, and Samurai Shodown, with displays of domestic and international merchandise and collaboration examples.
The licensing work for Metal Slug previously ran through SNK Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary that handled contract development and licensing for the series. That subsidiary dissolved in August 2026, after its game and digital content operations had transferred to parent SNK in July 2022.
The result is that Metal Slug licensing now sits directly under SNK, which is using the trade show circuit to expand its IP business across apparel, figures, publishing, events, and digital content.
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5m ago
During the Nintendo Direct 2026.9.9 broadcast on September 9, 2026, publisher SNK announced METAL SLUG ULTIMATE COLLECTION, a compilation for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch scheduled for release in 2027. The set commemorates the 30th anniversary of the run-and-gun series and gathers 10 titles in total, from the original METAL SLUG through METAL SLUG 7, plus the Game Boy Advance entry METAL SLUG ADVANCE and a location test version never officially released. The included games span the series' arcade and console history, with original platforms ranging from NEOGEO MVS to PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. The collection adds online co-op play and a gallery mode for viewing illustrations and other content. Physical and download versions are planned. The location test version is described by multiple sources as legendary and rarely shown to the public, revived after 30 years. The announcement was part of a Nintendo Direct presentation streamed on September 9, 2026.
Aug 20
SNK's wholly owned subsidiary SNK Entertainment has dissolved, according to a public notice in the Official Gazette on August 20. The company, which restarted in 2016 after a dormant period, ran contract development and licensing for properties like The King of Fighters and Metal Slug. Its game and digital content operations transferred to parent SNK in July 2022.
Jun 17
SNK is exhibiting at Licensing Japan 2026, a trade show held at Tokyo Big Sight from June 17 to 19. The company is showcasing licensing programs for its game IPs including The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug, with displays of domestic and international merchandise and collaboration examples. SNK aims to build new business partnerships and expand its multi-faceted licensing business across apparel, figures, publishing, events, and digital content.