TV Tokyo confirmed new games from an unannounced partner and video projects for the Naruto anime's 25th anniversary in 2027 during its May 2026 earnings briefing.
TV Tokyo confirmed during its fiscal-year 2026 earnings briefing on May 19 that the Naruto franchise will receive new video projects and at least one new game developed with a previously unannounced partner, all timed to the anime's 25th anniversary in 2027.
The confirmation came via a Q&A document released alongside the broadcaster's latest financial results. TV Tokyo framed the anniversary milestone as a turning point for one of its most valuable properties, stating that it sees "the 25th anniversary as the beginning of a new stage" with "several projects planned to capture that." The briefing materials specified that "new projects, including videos and games developed with new partners, are planned for 2027 and beyond."
The mention of a new game partner is notable because the Naruto gaming catalogue has been dominated by Bandai Namco for well over a decade, spanning the Ninja Storm series, the Shinobi Striker online arena title, and various mobile entries. TV Tokyo's phrasing suggests at least one additional studio will join the development roster, though the partner's identity was not disclosed in the briefing.
The anniversary push arrives on the back of strong financial performance. TV Tokyo's anime licensing division covering distribution, games, and merchandise grew 17.8 percent year-over-year to a record 27.22 billion yen (roughly $171 million) in fiscal-year 2026 sales. Within that segment, Naruto secured first place in net sales, outperforming stablemates such as Black Clover, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh.
TV Tokyo CEO and president Hiroshi Yoshitsugu highlighted global momentum building toward the 2027 milestone, pointing to the franchise's sustained commercial dominance across territories. The earnings presentation also referenced the expected impact of a 1.5-hectare Naruto theme park scheduled to open in 2026, which the company views as a further catalyst for the anniversary year.
The briefing's language left room for interpretation. "Videos" in TV Tokyo's investor communications typically covers television anime, OVA releases, and theatrical films. Fans have long speculated about additional animated content set in the Naruto universe beyond the existing Boruto sequel series, and the 25th anniversary window would be a commercially logical launchpad for such projects.
It is worth noting that the Naruto anime originally premiered on TV Tokyo on October 3, 2002, making October 2027 the precise 25th anniversary date. The "2027 and beyond" language suggests a multi-year rollout rather than a single commemorative release.
No individual project names, formats, or development partners were identified in the May 19 briefing. Further details are expected over the coming months as the anniversary window approaches. For now, the confirmation establishes that TV Tokyo is treating Naruto's 25th year as a major strategic initiative backed by new gaming and video content across what remains the broadcaster's highest-grossing anime property.
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