Tokyo Game Show 2026, one of Asia’s biggest game expos, closed after four days from September 17 to 20, 2026 at Makuhari Messe in Japan. This year’s show drew 257,642 in-person attendees, slightly down from 263,101 last year but still showing the event’s pull.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, launches October 2, 2026
Bandai Namco made a splash by announcing Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, playable throughout the event, with an official release date of October 2, 2026: just after TGS closed.
SEGA shows Crazy Taxi: World Tour and Gachiakuta: Breakout
SEGA brought two notable announcements. Crazy Taxi: World Tour revives the classic arcade brand with an open Japan map, due in 2027 on current platforms. Gachiakuta: Breakout turns the hit anime about trash and hidden value into an action RPG with survival elements, also due in 2027.
STRANGER THAN HEAVEN set for January 15, 2027
SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (the team behind Like a Dragon/Yakuza) announced the release date for STRANGER THAN HEAVEN: January 15, 2027. The game had a playable demo, stage presentations and a dedicated content area throughout the show.
- Dates: September 17–20, 2026
- Venue: Makuhari Messe, Japan
- Attendance: 257,642 (last year: 263,101)
- Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve: launches October 2, 2026
- Crazy Taxi: World Tour & Gachiakuta: Breakout: due 2027
- STRANGER THAN HEAVEN: launches January 15, 2027
Fifth day canceled by a typhoon
TGS 2026 was originally scheduled to run five days for the first time, but the fifth day (September 21) was canceled due to Typhoon No. 25. The 257,642 figure is the total for the four days from September 17–20.
Playable games and showcases
- Playable: Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Marvel’s Wolverine and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
- GTA VI: not playable, but PlayStation dedicated a theater to extended presentations of the game
- Koei Tecmo: made Attack on Titan 3 its centerpiece, due December 10, 2026 on PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC
TGS 2026 by the Numbers
According to organizer CESA, TGS 2026 was meant to be the first five-day edition, timed to the show's 30th anniversary. Before opening, CESA announced 1,138 exhibitors (540 from Japan and 598 from overseas) from 53 countries and regions, across 3,999 booths. Inven Global and Stevivor both describe these as the highest totals the show has recorded for exhibitors and for participating countries.
Per Final Weapon, the 257,642 attendees broke down as 53,630 on September 17 and 52,545 on September 18 (the two business days), then 78,678 on September 19 and 72,789 on September 20 (the public days). September 19 was the busiest day.
As for the fifth day, CESA said strong winds and heavy rain were forecast from the afternoon of September 21 and public transport might be affected, so it canceled the whole day for safety. GamesBeat reports that six exhibitors were relieved to get a day off after a crowded show, although some regretted losing another day to put their products in front of players. Per Final Weapon, the next TGS is scheduled for September 16 to 20, 2027.
Sources: Anime News Network, GameDaily, Shacknews, Nikkei.
