Canary Islands Target Japan to Build Global Video Game Hub

The Canary Islands government has launched a high-level business mission to Japan to position the region as an international center for video game development. Starting September 14, a delegation of 12 companies and entities began visiting Tokyo and Kyoto to establish the region as a competitive global hub under the "Canary Island Games" banner.

Led by Alfonso Cabello, Vice-Counsellor of the Presidency and head of Proexca, the mission includes participation in the Spain Game Matsuri on September 16 and the Tokyo Game Show. The initiative is organized by Proexca in collaboration with the Canary Association of Video Game Developers (ACADEVI) and the Regional Association for the Advancement of eSports and Video Games (ARCADEV). Participating entities include Drakhar Studio, Rising Pixel, and the CD Tenerife Foundation.

A Rapidly Expanding Ecosystem

This diplomatic push follows aggressive growth within the region's domestic industry. According to mission organizers, the number of registered game studios in the Canary Islands has surged from two to 44. This expansion is underpinned by a growing educational infrastructure, with 17 specialized training centers now supporting the local talent pipeline.

This mission marks the third consecutive year the Canary Islands have participated in the Tokyo Game Show. The recurring presence in Japan is part of a broader, long-term internationalization strategy designed to diversify the regional economy by leveraging the audiovisual sector and attracting foreign investment.

Strategic Industry Implications

By targeting Japan—one of the world's most influential gaming markets—the Canary Islands are attempting to transition from a regional player to a global destination for developers and publishers. The strategy focuses on creating direct links between local studios and international powerhouses to foster knowledge exchange and capital inflow.

Alfonso Cabello emphasized the necessity of this direct engagement, stating that "being present where the industry operates creates real opportunities for businesses." The move suggests a calculated effort to integrate the region's existing strengths in audiovisual production with the high-tech requirements of the interactive media sector.

Future Outlook

As the delegation concludes its visits to technological centers and industry references in Kyoto and Tokyo, the success of the mission will be measured by the number of formal partnerships and investment commitments secured. While the region has successfully scaled its internal studio count, the next phase of growth depends on its ability to convert this visibility into sustainable international collaborations. By embedding itself in the Japanese ecosystem, the Canary Islands aim to bridge the gap between local creative talent and the global commercial scale of the gaming industry.