Special Feature - Konami

Duels on the world stage

Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. tells Toy World how the return of the prestigious Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship is emblematic of the continued growth of the card game.

The festivities for the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game’s upcoming 25th anniversary continue in earnest. Special Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG products commemorating the milestone are flying off the shelves and the excitement continues to build with further 25th anniversary products on the way.

There is another major milestone that the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game is celebrating: the long-awaited return of the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship (WCS). Like so many things, in-person competitive events were not possible during the worldwide pandemic. The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG returned to tournament halls across the United Kingdom and Europe in 2022 and last month, the Yu-Gi-Oh! WCS, the most prestigious event in the Dueling calendar, made a very welcome return, taking place for the first time in four years.

Competitors from across the globe came together to prove their prowess in the Tokyo Big Sight, one of the largest international exhibition centres in Japan. Fans watched on international livestreams as the world’s top Duelists competed across a tense, exciting weekend. The WCS was the culmination of an incredible season for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG’s competitive scene. In May and June, 20 National Championships took place across Europe where nearly 10,000 Duelists took part, shattering previous attendance records by a considerable margin.

If there was any concern about the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG’s competitive scene following recent lockdown measures, those doubts have been blown out of the water. That was evident just being at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham back in late May for the UK National Championship. Over a thousand Duelists attended, many bearing t-shirts, hats and other paraphernalia adorned with Yu-Gi-Oh! monsters and characters. During Duels they quietly battled, facing off against one another in rows upon rows spanning the exhibition

hall. Their concentration was evident, and certainly warranted, given qualification for the European World Championship Qualifier was up for grabs. Between Duels, however, there was an opportunity to mingle, connect and reconnect with others, everyone united by a love of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, whether in recent months or over decades. It was clear how tight knit the community is; even in a hall of a thousand players from across the country, so many of them knew each other and were excited to talk strategies, the latest sets and to share their collections with one another.

Duelists taking part in official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG events can also take the opportunity to bolster their collections. At the UK National Championship, there were a few retailers present which were kept very busy. Between Duels, dozens of attendees visited the retailer stands, leaving with their hands full of Portfolios, Structure Decks, Game Mats and Booster Packs. At London’s 250th Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series in April, there were eight different retailers in attendance from all over Europe. Even with those many options, by the end, all the retailers’ stocks were near-depleted.

The consistent growth of the European competitive scene is reflected in a consistent uptick in sales for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG across the continent. Of course, after the boom during lockdown, that growth has settled, but demand continues unabated. The success of the European competitive scene isn’t the only driver of sales growth; it’s only a part of the story and a reflection of increased engagement across the different Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG audiences. With an increasingly diverse range of highquality products, and brand penetration across different media, there are simply more and more Duelists out there, whether they be newer players, returning players, those who like to play competitively or those who like to collect. The 25th anniversary celebrations have shown how much crossover there is between those groups. At

the UK National Championship, it was clear how many competitive players were attracted to the different anniversary products. In turn, as the brand continues to grow, there’s more and more engagement with the competitive scene across social media, livestreams and videos.

In the space of just three weeks in October and November, there are three upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG products that will appeal to all of those audiences – and in plenty of time for the holiday season. Whether brand-new to the game, looking for the latest competitive cards or something collectible – or maybe all three – Konami has Duelists covered. On 19th October, the Age of Overlord Booster Pack will introduce brand-new themes to the game and offer support for older ones. It also features Quarter Century Secret Rares, the attractive, highly collectible card rarity which is only available during the 25th anniversary celebrations. Currently scheduled for release the following week, on 26th October, the Yu-GiOh! TCG two-Player Starter Set is ideal for newcomers. This product features two different Decks that can be used to Duel straight out of the box and includes a unique 64-page comic book which teaches Duelists the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG basics. On 2nd November, the 25th Anniversary Rarity Collection is launched; a set befitting the important milestone. This spectacular all-foil collection not only features Quarter Century Secret Rares, but also introduces two brand-new rarities that were previously only available overseas. The new Prismatic style Collector’s Rare will make Decks literally sparkle, while the new Prismatic style Ultimate Rares feature a stunning raised 3D varnish effect.

With a range of exciting new products, the successful return of the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship and the 25th anniversary itself still to come early next year, it’s a very exciting time to Duel.