While some industry players are scaling back, the French publisher Don’t Panic Games (known for Final Girl and Fighters of the Pacific) is going on the offensive. Buoyed by the success of its own creations, the studio founded by Cédric Littardi has officially opened a permanent office in California to spearhead its North American expansion.
A “Made in France” Catalog for the U.S. Market
Led by Emma Recher, this new branch aims to directly support the publisher’s original titles. While licensed games (such as Cowboy Bebop) will continue to be managed by Japanime Games, Don’t Panic will now independently push its own gems:
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Spyworld, Luminis, Above, and Maiko are the spearheads of this launch.
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The famous (and quirky) Don’t Drop the Soap! is already announced for the end of 2026.
Proximity and Pragmatism
For American retailers, this office means direct access to the catalog and reinforced on-the-ground marketing support. Despite uncertainties regarding U.S. tariff policies, the publisher remains confident and is betting on flexibility.
Finally, Don’t Panic confirms its role as a “license savior”: after acquiring the IPs for Hel: The Last Saga and Anastyr from CMON, the publisher continues to work on these major projects to provide solutions for original backers.
