Smilegate brings 'Mirae-si' and 'Kazena' to Anime Expo in North American push

Smilegate is bringing two new subculture titles — Chaos Zero Nightmare and Mirae-si: Invisible Future — to North American audiences, anchoring its presence at the region's biggest fan convention with hands-on programming designed to deepen its connection with local players.

The company announced Friday that it has opened dedicated booths for both games at the 2026 Anime Expo, which runs for four days from July 2 (local time) at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Anime Expo is the largest subculture event in North America. The Mirae-si booth, set up in the West Hall, features a playable demo area, a four-sided LED experience zone and a 360-degree photo spot.

A series of stage programs featuring developers and prominent illustrators will run throughout the event. On Saturday morning, Control Nine CEO and creative director Kwon Se-ung, producer Cho Sun-gu and art director Kim Hyeong-seop will take part in a "Dev Talk" session covering the game's production process and development direction.

Drawing shows featuring illustrators Reikyuu, Karori and Luca will run from July 2 through July 4. Reikyuu will also appear at a separate panel session Saturday evening, joining art director Kim Hyeong-seop for a live drawing segment. Booth event participants will receive limited-edition goods, including a Mirae-si-themed "Happi" coat.

The Chaos Zero Nightmare booth is located in the lobby outside the South Hall, recreating the in-game spaces "Nightmare Arc" and the battle stage "Chaos" so visitors can immerse themselves in the game's world.

A card-collecting event tied to the game's core combat mechanic will also be held at the booth, with visitors who gather a complete set entered into a draw for a 24-karat gold card.

This marks Kazena's first offline event in North America. Key developers including producer Kim Hyeong-seok and art director So Su-bin will hold photo sessions and autograph signings with fans on site.

A panel session Friday evening will feature producer Kim Hyeong-seok, art director So Su-bin and art director Ryu Han-gyeong. The three will discuss the current state and future direction of 2D animation games and walk attendees through Kazena's development process.

Details on Smilegate's Anime Expo programs and booth operations are available on the company's official brand website.

Meanwhile, Smilegate opened pre-registration for Mirae-si on June 24. The title is a new release from Control Nine, a studio founded by core developers behind games including Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Seven Knights 2, and is set to launch across PC and mobile platforms. The game draws particular attention for its art director, illustrator Kim Hyeong-seop — known by the handle Hyeolla — who contributed to the development of Goddess of Victory: Nikke and several other subculture titles.