BitSummit, Japan’s leading indie game celebration, has revealed its full stage lineup for BitSummit the 13th, taking place in Kyoto from July 19–20, 2025. The event will feature world-first gameplay, major developer talks, musical icons, and surprise appearances from names like Shuhei Yoshida, SWERY65, and legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro.
This year’s edition boasts stage events from top-tier indie creators, behind-the-scenes panels, and gameplay reveals from breakout devs like Pocketpair (Palworld) and Inti Creates (Azure Striker Gunvolt), plus Ratatan’s long-awaited first gameplay spotlight.
Ratatan and Earthion Take Center Stage
Fresh off its massive crowdfunding success, Ratatan will appear live with director Hiroyuki Kotani, who will debut gameplay and talk about the game’s spiritual connection to Patapon. Meanwhile, Shuhei Yoshida and Yuzo Koshiro will show off Earthion, a stylish side-scrolling bullet hell from Koshiro’s studio, Ancient.
Dev Talks with Pocketpair, Inti Creates, and Shueisha Games
- Pocketpair returns to BitSummit with two new games: Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse, a gothic Metroidvania, and Truckful, a mysterious driving adventure with a sinister twist.
- Inti Creates’ director Takuya Aizu will take the stage to reveal what’s next for the studio behind Mega Man Zero and Blaster Master Zero.
- Shueisha Games will spotlight ANTHEM#9, a deckbuilding roguelite, and BAKUDO, a flashy boss-rush action game.
SWERY65 Goes Rogue
Deadly Premonition creator SWERY65 will walk the floor in a live roving segment to visit BitSummit Award nominees. Expect surprise interactions and on-the-spot creator spotlights — anything goes when SWERY’s involved.
PlayStation & Enhance Bring Surprises
PlayStation is bringing Dreams of Another, a collaboration between Baiyon and Q-Games, to the show, alongside a panel by Tetris Effect devs Enhance, who will showcase their latest project: Lumines Arise.
BitSummit will also host a panel on game preservation, led by boutique publisher Lost in Cult, and Kakehashi Games will showcase Hirogami, a new 3D origami puzzler by Bandai Namco Singapore.
Merch, Music, and the Treasure Stamp Rally
If swag’s your thing, merch booths from Brave Wave Productions, iam8bit Japan, and SUPERDELUXE GAMES will be onsite. Plus, attendees can join the BitSummit Treasure Stamp Rally to win prizes including a PlayStation 5 Pro, merch, and a Yokai-themed t-shirt designed by Keigo Inoue.
The rally runs both event days, with the first 300 to complete the stamp quest eligible for a prize lottery. Grab a quest sheet at the “Adventurers’ Tavern” booth on the first floor.
When and Where to Watch
BitSummit the 13th runs July 19–20, 2025, with live broadcasts both days from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM JST on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok in Japanese and English.
More guests, streamers, game demos, and panels will be revealed in the days ahead.
