MIXI CEO Traces 27-Year Path from SNS to Games to Sports Betting
At GAME FUTURE SUMMIT 2026, MIXI CEO Hiroki Kimura recounted his 27-year career, from launching Monster Strike to pivoting to sports betting. He detailed how the game's viral 4-player co-op model, inspired by Monster Hunter, was adapted to the social referral structure of MIXI. He also discussed failed US and China expansions and the current India strategy using anime IP and the absence of Chinese competitors. Kimura described the move to sports betting as a response to F2P market saturation, with the TIPSTAR app replicating gacha's festival-like excitement.