TGS-limited playable demos open at Makuhari Messe from September 17 (Thu) to 21 (Mon/Holiday)
A luxurious special stage event featuring popular streamers and voice actors will be held during the three public days
LIONA Inc. announces that "DARK MACHINE," a cross-media project centered on games and anime, will exhibit at "Tokyo Game Show 2026 (TGS2026)," held at Makuhari Messe from September 17 (Thu) to September 21 (Mon/Holiday), 2026.
The booth will feature a TGS-limited playable demo of "DARK MACHINE THE GAME," a mech action shooter supporting up to 7v7 matches. Additionally, special stage events featuring professional esports teams, voice actors, and the development team will be held during the three public days. Booth-exclusive bonuses and an X follow campaign will also be available, offering content that allows visitors not only to "watch" but also to personally "experience" the game.
Exhibition Overview
● Event Name: Tokyo Game Show 2026
● Event Period: September 17 (Thu), 18 (Fri), 2026 = Business Days / September 19 (Sat), 20 (Sun), 21 (Mon/Holiday) = Public Days
● Venue: Makuhari Messe
● Booth: Hall 5, Booth Number 05-C09
● Featured Title: DARK MACHINE THE GAME
*The actual setup may differ from the concept art. Thank you for your understanding.
"DARK MACHINE Special PRESS Event" held during business days
On the second business day, September 18 (Fri) from 11:30, the "DARK MACHINE Special PRESS Event" will be held for media personnel. Kanta Hongo, a special guest for "DARK MACHINE" at TGS2026, will appear on stage. Specific announcements will be revealed at the event.
Time: September 18 (Fri), 2026, 11:30–
Venue: Stage within the DARK MACHINE booth at Makuhari Messe
Special Guests for "DARK MACHINE" at TGS2026:
・Kanta Hongo
Attendees:
● Creative Producer Goro Taniguchi
● Mech Designer Hideki Amagami
● Fuji Television Network, Inc. Animation Producer Yoshinori Takeeda
● Production +h. Inc. Animation Director Kazuo Terada
● LIONA Inc. Game Producer Akinori Ikeda
Host:
・Miku Ito
Interview inquiries: tgs2026-contact@liona.co.jp (Contact: Shirata)
Panel Discussion: "DARK MACHINE Giant Mechs Come to Life – Behind the Scenes of Pneumatic Robots"
This panel discussion will introduce how the mech designs from the game are realized as "moving" pneumatic robots in reality, showcasing the complete production process. Using actual production footage and materials, we will share behind-the-scenes stories from the perspectives of design, sculpting, and control, and explore further possibilities in the entertainment field.
Time: September 17 (Thu), 2026, 12:30–
Attendees:
● HELIOSLIVE Representative/Mech Designer Hideki Amagami
● Pia21 Inc. Representative Director Yuya Hosoe
● Asratec Inc. Chief Robot Creator/V-Sido Developer Wataru Yoshizaki
● LIONA Inc. Producer Akinori Ikeda
Host:
・Miku Ito
Panel Discussion: "From IP Creation to Global Figure Release"
Centered around the articulated figures currently in production, led by mech designer Hideki Amagami and sculptor Akira Tani, this special panel discussion will bring together representatives from planning, sculpting, and production.
Time: September 18 (Fri), 2026, 14:00–
Host: Neki Matsuzawa
Attendees:
● Mech Designer Hideki Amagami
● Figure Planning Lead Masaru Ozawa, Representative of OZ Inc.
● Sculpting Lead Akira Tani, OZ Inc.
● Sculpting/Articulation Design Tomohiko Sato, OZ Inc.
● Production Lead Naoki Nakagome, Representative Director of Wing Fat International Creative Limited
● LIONA Inc. Producer Akinori Ikeda
Special stage events will be held during the three public days
A TGS-limited special stage event bringing together anime, games, creators, and popular streamers will be held on-site. Through exhibition matches featuring professional esports teams and the voice cast, we will fully showcase the appeal of "DARK MACHINE THE GAME" to the audience.
Commentators:
・Shinichiro (Appearing all 3 days)
【DAY 1】September 19 (Sat) 13:00– Exhibition Match × ZETA DIVISION
Members of ZETA DIVISION, led by Noriaki Suzuki, will take the stage to deliver intense battles by popular streamers for the audience.
Guests: Noriaki Suzuki / Clutch_Fi / MeLton / JapaneseKoreanUG / Sudetaki / aco / takera
【DAY 2】September 20 (Sun) 15:00– Exhibition Match × ZETA DIVISION
Just like DAY 1, Noriaki Suzuki and members of ZETA DIVISION will return.
Guests: Noriaki Suzuki / Clutch_Fi / Killin9Hit / JapaneseKoreanUG / Sudetaki / aco / takera
【DAY 3】September 21 (Mon/Holiday) 11:30– Anime × Game Crossover Panel Battle
The voice cast and animation production team of the TV anime "DARK MACHINE THE ANIMATION" will take the stage, presenting a crossover stage connecting the anime and game through a special battle format.
Guests:
● TV Anime "DARK MACHINE THE ANIMATION": Riho Sugiyama (as Blanc) / Nonoka Ohbuchi (as Denebola) / Rei Nakajima (as Spica) / Animation Director Kazuo Terada / Production +h. TEAM (Animation Production Team)
● Game "DARK MACHINE THE GAME": Anna Kitamoto (as Bidaya) / Emika Iida (as Noema) / Yuya Obata (as Zip)
TGS-limited playable demos will be available daily throughout the event period
During the event, the playable demo area for "DARK MACHINE THE GAME" will be open daily, allowing players to experience the game firsthand. Engage in asymmetric battles by skillfully utilizing mechs of three different sizes, and experience large-scale destructive actions that directly alter the battlefield environment. We invite you to experience the unique charm of this title in the TGS-limited demo environment.
● Open Dates: September 17 (Thu) – September 21 (Mon/Holiday), 2026 *Open throughout the entire event period
● Demo Content: Playable experience of the mech action shooter supporting up to 7v7 matches
● How to Participate: Entry tickets will be distributed at the booth
Abundant on-site bonuses prepared for attending visitors
■ Bonus for all attending visitors *Limited quantity
Staff will distribute the following bonuses to visitors at the booth:
● Special Rubber Mouse Pad
● Extra-large shopping bag with LOGO
■ Bonuses for participating in activities
Participate in any one of the following activities: playable demo, panel discussion, or exhibition match, to receive the following bonus:
● LED wristband with LOGO
Participate in the X Follow Campaign
■ On-site pickup: DARK MACHINE LOGO Keychain
Show the staff at the booth that you are following the official X account to receive a "DARK MACHINE LOGO Keychain".
■ Quote Retweet Campaign
Quote Retweet the pinned promotional post on the official X account to enter. Including either a photo/video of the pneumatic robot (balloon) taken at the TGS booth or a screenshot showing the game added to your Steam Wishlist will increase your chances of winning.
● Steam ¥5,000 Gift Card: 10 winners
● Special Sports Towel: 30 winners
● Entry Period: September 15 (Tue), 2026, 12:00 – September 23 (Wed), 2026, 23:59
● Winner Notification: Winners will be contacted via DM only
■ Limited merchandise gifts for creators/influencers
Guests entering with a Creator Pass will receive a limited merchandise set consisting of a "DARK MACHINE Special Sports Towel," an "Extra-large shopping bag with LOGO," a "Special Rubber Mouse Pad," an "LED wristband with LOGO," and a "DARK MACHINE LOGO Keychain." Priority demo opportunities will also be provided, so please visit the booth.
About the "DARK MACHINE" Project
"DARK MACHINE" is a cross-media content project centered on games and anime. Bringing together top creators in Japan, the project has officially launched with the goal of challenging the global market.
"DARK MACHINE THE GAME"
"DARK MACHINE THE GAME" is a mech action shooter supporting up to 7v7 matches. The story is set in the alternate dimension "The DARK." In an energy war sparked by the unknown resource "Palma Energy," distinctive mechs developed by companies worldwide will clash on the battlefield. Players must strategically utilize mechs of three different sizes for asymmetric combat and experience unprecedented dynamic strategic gameplay through large-scale destructive actions that transform the battlefield environment.
Product Information
● Game Title: DARK MACHINE THE GAME
● Genre: Mech Action Shooter
● Platform: PC (Steam)
● Supported Languages: Japanese (Subtitles/Voice) / English (Subtitles/Voice)
● Business Model: Free-to-play *Includes in-game purchases
● Planned release: 2027
Program Information
Title:
Original TV Anime "DARK MACHINE THE ANIMATION"
Broadcast Information:
Broadcasting on Fuji TV and other channels starting October 2026
● Fuji TV: Starting October 13, every Tuesday at 25:45–
● Kansai TV: Starting October 15, every Thursday at 26:45–
● BS Fuji: Starting October 20, every Tuesday at 24:30–
*Broadcast times are subject to change.
©Project Carbuncle / ©DARK MACHINE Committee