KONAMI's game project " WaiWai World Craft," announced in September 2025
Although it had been on the back burner for quite some time, it was officially announced at "KONAMI PRESS START 2026.09.04" on Friday, September 4, 2026 (Japan Time).
Since a demo station was set up at the “Tokyo Game Show 2026 ” (hereinafter “TGS2026”), I went right over to try it out.
What I Tried Making in "WaiWai World Craft"
The “WaiWai World Craft” area was set up in a corner of the Konami Digital Entertainment booth.
It marked the world’s first playable demo of the game, and the area was bustling with visitors.
Amidst the buzz, we had the special opportunity to experience “creating” and “playing” while receiving an explanation from Executive Director Hiroshi Tanibuchi, who also appeared on “ KONAMI PRESS START 2026.09.04.”
“WaiWai World Craft” is a UGC platform that integrates “creating,” “playing,” and “connecting.”
Players can create and play their own original games.
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There are two main ways to create a game.
The options are “Create from an Official Game” and “Create from Magic Pot.” This time, we chose “Create from Magic Pot,” which allows for a more intuitive game-building process.
Once you’ve chosen the underlying game system, you can select the design and stage layout.
Even the BGM and difficulty level are designed automatically just by making simple selections.
The game title is also determined automatically.
Of course, you can change it later, but this is a thoughtful design choice to prevent you from getting bogged down in indecision at this stage.
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Here is the game (stage) that was created.
I’ll start by testing the stage and checking how everything works.
The game I’ve created this time features a maze-like stage where the goal is to reach the finish line.
Enemies are also placed along the path, and if you’re attacked, your health decreases.
Then, I’ll incorporate the insights gained from playtesting into the levels.
I’m even changing the original conditions for clearing the level.
To make the most of the enemies I’ve already placed, I’ll try adding some actions.
Enabling jumping and attacking instantly makes the game feel more like a game.
Changing the block theme completely transforms the atmosphere.
Saiga NAK
Here’s a roundup of all the game components we’ve confirmed so far.
The variety is vast, ranging from magma that deals damage and slippery ice to keys that open doors and treasure chests, enemies programmed with various behaviors, and mechanics that enable teleportation and checkpoints.
It’s also possible to display messages, play sounds, or summon bosses.
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You can also change the state of blocks, which suddenly created a scene that felt very much like *Castlevania*.
I gave "WaiWai World Craft" a try
Next, I tried out the “Play” mode.
At TGS 2026, I was able to try out the following three titles:
- Parkour: Pyo Pyo Kero’s Great Escape! (3D Action)
- Battle Jumbo (Multiplayer Battle Royale)
- Castlevania: The Night of Beginnings (Side-Scrolling Action)
Each character (actor) you control has unique special abilities.
This time, of course, I chose Simon Belmont.
The game was indeed created using “WaiWai World Craft,” but the controls and gameplay mechanics are pure Castlevania.
It’s amazing that you can create something like this without any serious programming.
Axes and crosses were hidden inside the walls.
In this game, it’s definitely possible—at the very least—to create your very own Castlevania.
As you progress through the stages, a boss appears.
Apparently, when “creating” the game, you can turn any enemy into a boss.
After a fierce battle, the boss is defeated.
The difficulty level here really puts the creator’s skills to the test.
If you play "WaiWai World Craft" at the Konami Digital Entertainment booth, you’ll receive a "WaiWai World Craft Original T-shirt" as a promotional item.
The wait time at the time of our visit was about 60 minutes, so be sure to consider stopping by the booth.
Building a Bridge Between Players and Creators
After trying out “WaiWai World Craft,” I asked Executive Director Tanibuchi a few questions that had been on my mind.
First, in this title—which is being developed as a UGC (User-Generated Content) platform—there’s a feature called “Oshi-Dori” designed to connect players and creators.
Players can earn “Oshi-Dori” based on the amount of time they spend playing the game, and they can gift them to their favorite creators.
If a creator who receives “Oshi-Dori” goes on to succeed, the player who gifted them can also earn in-game currency— a system that rewards foresight.
Furthermore, driven by the desire to “ensure that many creators are supported, ” there is reportedly a cap on the number of “Oshi-Dori” each creator can receive.
These features offer a glimpse into the unique perspective of KONAMI, a company that truly understands the mindset of game creators.
This is because KONAMI itself—including Executive Director Tanibuchi—is on the “creator side,” having released numerous games over the years.
Furthermore, while the appearance of characters from classic titles such as “Castlevania” and “Contra” has already been confirmed, the company intends to further expand the scope of its internal collaborations in the future.
Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing characters from “Metal Gear” and “Powerful Pro Baseball” make an appearance.
“WaiWai World Craft” is scheduled for release on iOS, Android, and Steam.
Please check the official “WaiWai World Craft” website for details and updates.
| Title Overview | |
|---|---|
| Title | WaiWai World Craft |
| Genre | Social Game Creation Network |
| Supported Devices | iOS, Android, Steam |
| Number of Players | 1–6 players |
| Release Date | To be announced |
| Price | Free-to-play (with in-app purchases and subscriptions) |
Sorry, this article is only available in Japanese and 繁體中文. at the moment.
