Gaming giant Koei Tecmo, originally known for its historical simulation series "Nobunaga's Ambition" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" from the Koei era, later launched the popular Warriors series. Following its merger with Tecmo, the company, now Koei Tecmo, boasts a diverse portfolio of game franchises and continues to expand its presence in the gaming industry.
On April 20, Koei Tecmo announced a significant upward revision to its consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026. According to public disclosures, the updated projections show a substantial increase compared to the figures initially released in April 2025. Notably, this boost isn't solely due to strong game sales from its core business; the company also saw a substantial increase in non-operating income through asset management in the financial markets, which "significantly exceeded expectations" this year.
The annual performance revision report indicates a clear upward adjustment from the figures originally published in April 2025. Koei Tecmo's operations are diverse, encompassing its primary game development arm, Koei Tecmo Games, as well as companies managing entertainment facilities, asset management, and other ventures. Its footprint extends beyond Japan to include the United States, Europe, and various locations in Asia.
The substantial upward revision in performance is primarily attributed to two factors:
First, new titles released in the fourth quarter performed beyond expectations. For instance, "Nioh 3," launched in February, and "Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly Remake," released in March, both received strong player reviews on Steam. Additionally, Koei Tecmo co-developed "Pokémon Pokopia" with The Pokémon Company, which sold over 2.2 million units globally within four days of its release, marking an outstanding achievement.
▼ These three titles alone significantly boosted Koei Tecmo's performance earlier this year.
The second key factor is even more intriguing: substantial investment gains. The company stated that its asset management, conducted with close attention to financial markets, resulted in "significantly exceeding expectations" for non-operating income. Numerically, while operating profit grew by approximately 16.1%, ordinary profit surged by 50%, indicating a clear disparity.
This naturally brings to mind Keiko Erikawa, one of Koei's founders, who, along with her husband Yoichi Erikawa, has been instrumental in the company's long-standing success.
Beyond her prowess in company management, her investment acumen has earned her the moniker "The Empress." Under her guidance, Koei Tecmo's investments primarily focus on stocks, particularly in Japanese, U.S., and Hong Kong markets, utilizing various investment instruments including venture capital and real estate. Last year, when Koei Tecmo faced a projected earnings downgrade, it remarkably turned a deficit into a surplus through investments, a feat that drew considerable admiration.
Japanese netizens jokingly remarked that Koei Tecmo earned an additional 5 billion JPY in profit from "Pokémon Pokopia" exceeding expectations, and an extra 18.5 billion JPY through asset management – truly impressive.
Naturally, it's common for listed companies to generate profits through investments. It appears that investment gains might be an even stronger pillar for Koei Tecmo than its core gaming business.
Note: Financial figures and earnings forecasts should be confirmed through the company’s official announcements.
via： automaton-media 光榮特庫摩日本官網