Japan's largest fighting game festival, EVO Japan 2026 presented by Leverages (hereinafter referred to as EVO Japan 2026), has concluded.
The numerous device manufacturer booths that support player performance every year were alive and well at EVO Japan 2026!
This time, we are featuring and introducing the SANWA DENSHI, Aoikobo, and Akko booths from among them!
The Holy Land of Arcade Stick Players! SANWA DENSHI Booth
When you think of something inseparable from fighting games, it is the arcade stick.
And when you think of arcade sticks, you think of SANWA DENSHI!
At the SANWA DENSHI booth, just like in previous years, a massive number of levers and buttons for arcade sticks were on sale at special EVO prices.
Purchases of 1,000 yen or more in total came with exclusive stickers.
The author also found themselves buying additional spare arcade stick buttons.
The sight of so many buttons lined up is always spectacular, no matter how many times you see it.
This year, collaboration buttons with GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- (GGST) were also on sale.
For GGST players, changing buttons to match their main character would be part of the fun.
SANWA DENSHI is also currently accepting orders for creating exclusive design buttons and other items.
Maybe the author should request one too.
Furthermore, this year, the new arcade stick Flexi, scheduled for release this spring, was also on display as a reference exhibit.
It is said to allow for highly flexible customization, such as changing the top plate design.
We can't wait for its release!
To our surprise, buttons developed by Nippon Aleph, which has an established reputation for automotive parts and more, were also on display.
Expectations are high for automotive-grade durability that can withstand long hours of intense play.
When trying them out with a light touch, we could feel a solid pressing sensation.
Exhibiting Again This Year! Aoikobo Booth!
Aoikobo, which manufactures and sells devices aimed at Street Fighter 6, has returned to exhibit again following last year!
The JumpHack X2, a leverless controller whose top-plate-less appearance blows people away, was on display.
Surprisingly, you can freely move the button layout.
Since they can be secured with powerful magnets, you can freely customize them as many times as you like.
This is a wonderful idea...!
The high-response, low-stroke buttons “option” were also on sale.
These days, the choices for custom arcade stick parts are increasing day by day.
Just looking at them never gets old.
First Time Exhibiting This Year! Akko Booth!
The keyboard brand Akko made a surprising appearance at the fighting game festival!
Saiga NAK
Of course, their exhibition contents did not end with just keyboards.
The leverless arcade stick FUNBOX was revealed for the very first time in Japan!
It is a masterpiece that the keyboard manufacturer made with all their might.
There were also terms not often heard in descriptions of devices for fighting games, such as equipped with Rapid Trigger.
The keyboard manufacturer's know-how, which theoretically enables the fastest input, is fully utilized.
When actually touching it, the pressing sensation was completely different from arcade stick buttons.
When FPS players play fighting games, there seem to be many cases where this one feels more right.
In addition, numerous companies exhibited with just arcade stick parts alone!
We were able to go around the venue feeling as if we were touring an electric town.
