{"rewrite":{"id":"r_2a19c66be0aecb1099a90748","clusterId":"c_b6e08229e12cd2473415631f","slug":"made-in-japan-xr-project-launches-with-student-creator-program","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Made in Japan XR Project Launches With Student Creator Program","summary":"G-SMASH announced the Made in Japan XR Project on July 27, 2026, aiming to create global intellectual property from Japanese XR content. The first initiative is a free XR game development program for student and young creators, with team recruitment opening the same day. Up to eight finalist teams will be selected after a hackathon in August 2026, each receiving development support worth approximately 500,000 yen, including equipment, mentoring, and boot camp fees. The program provides continuous support from planning through store submission and global release, not ending at prototyping or Demo Day. Completed works are scheduled for global release via Meta Horizon Store and PICO Store around January to February 2027. The program collaborates with the creator hub 404 Not Found in Shibuya Sakura Stage, offering a production and presentation base. An application briefing and networking event is set for August 6, 2026, at the same venue. G-SMASH, founded in September 2025 and led by representative director Shun Harashima, brings its experience in event management, community building, and global marketing to the project.","whyItMatters":"The program's structure-supporting teams from hackathon through store release rather than stopping at prototype-addresses a common gap where student projects stall before reaching commercial distribution.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eG-SMASH was founded in September 2025 by representative director Shun Harashima. The company is based in Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, and describes its mission as spreading \u0026#34;surprise and excitement no one has ever experienced through the power of XR.\u0026#34; The Made in Japan XR Project draws on G-SMASH\u0026#39;s experience in event management, community building, collaboration with hardware companies and development firms, and global marketing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe program targets teams of one to five members. Applications can be made by a single person. Up to eight finalist teams will be selected after a three-day hackathon running from August 18 to August 20, 2026. Selected teams receive development support worth approximately 500,000 yen per team, covering development environment, boot camp participation fees, equipment provision, and expert mentoring. The program also provides XR devices, development PCs, trial play displays, and audio equipment as needed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMentors and judges include professionals active in the domestic and international game, XR, and entertainment industries. They offer feedback on game design, user experience, technology, visuals, and business development. The program also produces documentary videos tracking development progress, runs overseas social media posts, collaborates with overseas influencers, and plans store launch strategies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe application briefing and networking event on August 6, 2026, runs from 17:00 to 19:00 at 404 Not Found in Shibuya Sakura Stage. Registration for the briefing is separate from the program application. The document screening deadline is August 10, with results announced August 12. After the hackathon, an intensive development boot camp runs three nights and four days from September 9 to September 12. Demo Day is November 1, and a launch event is planned for December 11 to December 12.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"G-SMASH's Made in Japan XR Project offers student teams up to ¥500k in support and a path from hackathon to global store release on Meta Horizon and PICO stores.","twitterPost":"The Made in Japan XR Project recruits student and young creator teams for XR game development, with continuous support through to global release in early 2027.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"G-SMASH launched the Made in Japan XR Project to create global IP from Japanese XR content. Its first program recruits student and young creator teams for XR game development, providing up to 500,000 yen in support and guiding projects from hackathon to worldwide release on Meta Horizon and PICO stores.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/991/G999101/20260723047/\",\"title\":\"Made in Japan XR Project Launches to Create Global IP from Japanese XR Content; Recruiting Teams for XR Game Development Program\"},{\"source\":\"ASCII.jp\",\"url\":\"https://ascii.jp/elem/000/004/422/4422437/?rss\",\"title\":\"From Japan, the Next Global IP in XR. Made in Japan XR Project Launches to Support Student and Young Creators' Games Up to Worldwide Release\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":11994,"outputTokens":1419,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1785136908,"createdAt":"2026-07-27T07:19:30.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-27T07:20:45.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-27T07:19:30.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_b6e08229e12cd2473415631f","canonicalTitle":"日本発のXRコンテンツから世界的なIPを生み出す「Made in Japan XR Project」始動。XRゲーム開発プログラムの参加チームを募集中","representativeArticleId":"a_d24183e191cf4080d5cc8a20","sourceCount":3,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":1,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Made in Japan XR Project\"],\"studios\":[\"G-SMASH\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-27T04:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-27T09:10:18.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-27T09:22:09.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/991/G999101/20260723047/","title":"日本発のXRコンテンツから世界的なIPを生み出す「Made in Japan XR Project」始動。XRゲーム開発プログラムの参加チームを募集中"},{"source":"ASCII.jp","url":"https://ascii.jp/elem/000/004/422/4422437/?rss","title":"日本発、XRから次の世界的IPを。学生・若手クリエイターのゲームを世界配信まで支援する「Made in Japan XR Project」始動"},{"source":"PANORA","url":"https://panora.tokyo/archives/149969","title":"G-SMASH、学生・若手クリエイターのXRゲームを世界配信まで支援する「Made in Japan XR Project」始動"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Made in Japan XR Project"],"studios":["G-SMASH"],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["G-SMASH announced the Made in Japan XR Project on July 27, 2026, with team recruitment opening the same day.","Up to eight finalist teams will receive development support worth approximately 500,000 yen per team.","Completed works are scheduled for global release via Meta Horizon Store and PICO Store around January to February 2027.","An application briefing and networking event will be held on August 6, 2026, at the 404 Not Found hub in Shibuya Sakura Stage.","The program is free to participate and supports teams from planning through store submission and global release."]}