What Shadowverse: Evolve does

Shadowverse: Evolve is a physical trading card game (TCG) brand co-developed and co-published by Cygames, Inc. (a subsidiary of CyberAgent Inc.) and Bushiroad Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The product launched on April 28, 2022, and targets trading card game enthusiasts, beginner players, and crossover IP collectors in Japan as its primary market. The core product portfolio consists of randomized booster packs (BP01 through BP22+, priced at 440 yen per pack or 5,280 yen per box), pre-constructed starter decks (1,650 yen per deck), premium card sets, and special card selections, alongside official accessories such as sleeves, deck holders, storage boxes, and playmats.

The technology stack centers on a physical card product supported by the Shadowverse EVOLVE Supporter mobile companion app (iOS 16.0+ and Android 12.0+), which provides life/PP counters, leader card synchronization via NFC or camera scanning, multiplayer mode for 3-4 player Gloryfinder battles, and turn management. The app integrates with Firebase (Google) for analytics and crash reporting, Amazon SNS for push notifications, and Google Analytics for web traffic. Distribution is via authorized retail partner stores (hobby shops, game stores, bookstores) across Japan, with the companion app distributed through Apple App Store and Google Play.

The business model is consumer-facing hardware/physical goods sales, supplemented by a digital companion app that enhances in-person play. Go-to-market relies on event-driven community engagement through a tiered tournament circuit (Grand Championship, Grand Prix, Championship Series), guild-based community features, an official X (Twitter) account and YouTube channel, and recurring crossover collaborations with major Japanese IP (Uma Musume Pretty Derby, THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls, Cardfight!! Vanguard, Princess Connect! Re:Dive, Code Geass, Hololive). Collaborative crossovers double as demand-generation leverage, driving both collector purchases and tournament participation. The brand is referenced as part of a broader 'Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond' international franchise, though direct revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Shadowverse: Evolve

Legal name

株式会社Cygames (Cygames, Inc.)

Website

https://shadowverse-evolve.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Shadowverse: Evolve is a physical trading card game co-published by Cygames and Bushiroad, offering booster packs, starter decks, accessories, and crossover collaboration products. It serves TCG enthusiasts, beginners, and IP collectors in Japan through retail partners and a companion mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Booster Packs (ブースターパック): Core revenue stream from periodic booster pack releases. Each pack contains randomized cards. Products include BP21 (Academy Royale), BP22 (Over the Calamity), and previous expansions BP01-BP20.
2. Constructed Starter Decks (構築済みデッキ/スターターデッキ): Pre-built competitive decks targeting beginners and casual players. Decks are class-specific (e.g., Elf, Royal, Witch, Dragon, Nightmare, Bishop).
3. Official Accessories and Merchandise: Official branded accessories including card sleeves (779 yen each), deck holders (847 yen), storage boxes (880 yen), playmats (3,300 yen), and premium card sets.
4. Special Card Selections and Premium Sets: Specialty products such as Special Card Selection Vol.1 (2,500 yen) and Premium Card Set Summer Edition Vol.1 (6,600 yen) targeting collectors.
5. Crossover Collaboration Products: Collaboration products with external IP including Uma Musume Pretty Derby, IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls, Cardfight!! Vanguard, Princess Connect! Re:Dive, Code Geass, and others — sold as dedicated collaboration decks and packs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shadowverse: Evolve is a physical trading card game co-developed and co-published by Cygames, Inc. and Bushiroad Inc., built around class-based booster pack expansions (BP01-BP22+), pre-constructed starter decks, crossover collaboration decks with external IP, and branded accessories. A free mobile companion app called Shadowverse EVOLVE Supporter extends the physical play experience with life/PP counters, NFC and camera leader card scanning, and multiplayer mode support for the 3-4 player Gloryfinder format. The brand is anchored by an organized play ecosystem of Grand Championship, Grand Prix, and Championship Series tournaments held across Japan.

Product overview

Shadowverse: Evolve is a trading card game developed jointly by Cygames and Bushiroad, featuring a physical TCG product line and a companion mobile app called 'Shadowverse EVOLVE Supporter' (or 'Sidekick' internationally). The core product consists of booster packs (BP01-BP22+) and starter decks across multiple expansions. The portfolio includes crossover collaboration products with franchises such as Code Geass, Uma Musume Pretty Derby, THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls, Princess Connect! Re:Dive, and Cardfight!! Vanguard. Accessories include official sleeves, deck holders, storage boxes, and playmats. The Supporter app provides life counter functionality, leader card scanning via NFC/camera, and multiplayer battle mode support for the Gloryfinder format.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shadowverse EVOLVE Trading Card Game A trading card game co-developed by Cygames and Bushiroad featuring class-based deck building (Elf, Royal, Witch, Dragon, Nightmare, Bishop, Neutral), evolution and super-evolution mechanics, leader cards, and competitive tournament play, aimed at hobby and competitive TCG players.
• Shadowverse EVOLVE Supporter App Free mobile companion app (iOS 16.0+, Android 12.0+) that provides life/PP counters, leader card synchronization via NFC and camera scanning, turn management, and multiplayer mode for 3-4 player Gloryfinder battles, supporting the physical TCG play experience.
• Booster Packs Randomized card expansion packs (BP01 through BP22+) containing new cards for deck building, priced at 440 yen per pack or 5,280 yen per box of 12 packs, sold to TCG players and collectors.
• Starter Decks Pre-constructed 40-card main deck plus 10 evolve deck cards, 1 leader card, 10 token cards, 3 EP cards, playmat, rule sheet, life counter, and paper counters; priced at 1,650 yen per deck and targeted at new and beginner TCG players.
• Crossover Collaboration Decks and Packs Limited-edition collaboration decks and packs featuring characters from partner IP franchises such as Uma Musume Pretty Derby, THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls, Cardfight!! Vanguard, Princess Connect! Re:Dive, Code Geass, and Hololive, targeting collectors and fans of those franchises.
• Official Accessories (Sleeves, Deck Holders, Storage Boxes, Playmats) Branded TCG accessories including card sleeves (979 yen per pack of 75), deck holders (847 yen), storage boxes (880 yen), and playmats (3,300 yen) featuring Shadowverse EVOLVE character artwork, sold to players and collectors.
• Special Card Selection Vol.1 Premium specialty card set priced at 2,500 yen targeting collectors seeking curated, non-randomized card products.
• Premium Card Set Summer Edition Vol.1 High-end premium card set priced at 6,600 yen targeting collectors and enthusiast players seeking exclusive cards outside the randomized booster pack format.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Cygames / Bushiroad x Hololive Production (博衣こより，沙花叉クロヱ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2026Collaboration products featuring Hololive VTuber IP — specifically Hoshimachi Suisei and Sakamata Chloe. These collaborations appear in the digital content submission guidelines as approved IP for fan content creation.
• Cygames / Bushiroad x Princess Connect! Re:DivemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026Collaboration products featuring Princess Connect! Re:Dive IP. Includes collaboration pack CP04 and premium card set PCS01 (Princess Connect! Re:Dive). Cygames is also the developer of the Princess Connect! Re:Dive game, creating synergy.
• Cygames / Bushiroad x Bushiroad Cardfight!! VanguardmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2024Collaboration crossover products between Shadowverse EVOLVE and Bushiroad's Cardfight!! Vanguard TCG. Includes collaboration pack CP03. The collaboration leverages shared Bushiroad IP portfolio and cross-promotes both TCGs.
• Cygames / Bushiroad x THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella GirlsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2023Collaboration crossover products featuring THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls IP. Includes Cute/Cool/Passion collaboration starter decks, collaboration packs CP02 and ECP02. The collaboration also features in the digital content submission guidelines as an approved IP for fan content.
• Cygames / Bushiroad x Uma Musume Project (ウマ娘 プリティーダジー)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Collaboration crossover products featuring Uma Musume Pretty Derby IP. Includes collaboration starter deck '出走！ウマ娘！', collaboration packs CP01 and ECP01, and related merchandise. Leverages the popular Uma Musume franchise for customer acquisition.
• Cygames / Bushiroad x Code Geass (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Collaboration products featuring Code Geass IP. Included in the digital content submission guidelines as an approved IP for fan content creation.
• Cygames, Inc. (株式会社Cygames)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2022Cygames is the co-developer and co-publisher of Shadowverse EVOLVE. Cygames handles the digital companion app (Shadowverse EVOLVE Supporter), card design, and game mechanics. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and holds joint copyright with Bushiroad. Cygames provides ongoing app updates, privacy policy, terms of service, and customer support for the digital companion app.
• Bushiroad Inc. (株式会社ブシロード)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2022Bushiroad is the co-developer and co-publisher of Shadowverse EVOLVE. Bushiroad handles physical product distribution, event organization (TCG Fes, GCS, GP tournaments), and retail partner management. The company holds joint copyright with Cygames. Bushiroad organizes the annual Bushiroad TCG Strategy Presentation events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Magic: The Gathering: Wizards of the Coast's flagship TCG with frequent booster releases, multiple product tiers, and a deep global organized play system. Comparable product/market structure and competition for the same competitive and casual player segments.
• One Piece Card Game: Bandai's IP-driven physical TCG with rapid recent growth, regular expansion cadence, and crossover-style appeal leveraging a flagship anime franchise. Highly comparable as a Japanese-launched TCG competing for similar player demographics.
• Cardfight!! Vanguard: Bushiroad's flagship TCG brand and sister product co-owned by the same parent companies behind Shadowverse EVOLVE. Both are physical TCGs with booster packs, starter decks, accessories, and tiered national tournament infrastructure in Japan.
• Pokémon TCG: The market-leading physical TCG with booster packs, starter decks, premium products, accessories, and a multi-tiered global organized play system. Directly comparable product structure and competitive head-to-head at Japanese hobby retail.
• Disney Lorcana: Ravensburger's newer physical TCG with regular expansion cadence, organized play, and crossover-style IP leverage. Comparable as a recent market entrant expanding the TCG category and competing for hobby retail and player mindshare.
• Wixoss: Takara Tomy's Japanese-originated TCG with booster packs, starter decks, and crossover anime tie-ins. Closely comparable as a domestic Japanese TCG competing for the same hobby shop distribution and younger anime-fan player base.
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game: Konami's long-running physical TCG with booster packs, structured tournament play (YCS, WCQ), and an established competitive ecosystem. Direct competitor for hobby retail shelf space and tournament attendance in Japan and globally.
• Battle Spirits: Bandai's Japanese-originated physical TCG with booster sets, crossover IP products, and a national Japanese tournament circuit. Closely comparable in distribution channels, target demographic, and Japan-retail-first positioning.

Emerging players

• Flesh and Blood: Legend Story Studios' physical TCG focused on competitive play with booster-style products and a growing tournament ecosystem. Comparable as a category challenger targeting competitive TCG players.
• Star Wars: Unlimited: Fantasy Flight Games/Asmodee's physical TCG leveraging a major IP with regular set releases and organized play. Comparable as an IP-driven TCG launching into a category dominated by longer-established peers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/svevolve_en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpQCRNTE8oGFUZskdty5nLQ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shadowverse: Evolve