Japan Launches So-Fu Accelerator Program to Boost Indie Game Development: A Comprehensive Guide

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has unveiled the So-Fu project, an accelerator program designed to support indie game developers. The program aims to provide mentorship, financial support, and business connections to applicants. To be eligible for the So-Fu initiative, applicants must be under 35 years old and have graduated junior high school by April 1, 2024.

Developers who are selected for the program will participate in a four-part game development program that includes attending lectures, developing project production plans, and giving a final presentation around February 2025. At the conclusion of the program, applicants will have the opportunity to present their work to game industry stakeholders. Mentors in the So-Fu program include developers like Flamebair Games’ Tomoko Miya and Room6 Inc.’s representative director, Masashi Kimura.

Takaaki Ichijo, an executive member of the Indie Game Incubator which is collaborating with the So-Fu initiative, noted on social media that this is the first accelerator program from the Japanese government specifically aimed at supporting indie game makers. Indie Japanese game makers have until April 26 to sign up for the program.