Welcoming Remi Driancourt as New Country Manager (Create) for Japan
We’re excited to share that Remi Driancourt is joining Keywords Studios as Country Manager (Create) for Japan. With a deep-rooted passion for Japan’s video games industry and a global perspective shaped by years of experience, his primary mission will be to build strong, long-term relationships. Find out more in his Q&A.
Q: What makes you most excited about joining Keywords Studios in Japan?
A: What excites me most is the chance to continue serving the Japanese game industry while bringing Keywords Studios’ global strengths into the mix. My career in Japan - from leading R&D and tech support at Square Enix to supporting Genvid projects - has always been guided by a simple belief: true success comes from supporting others.
Joining Keywords Studios gives me the opportunity to build on that path. The team here already has a strong track record of supporting developers and publishers with dedication and excellence. My role is to help strengthen those efforts further - making Keywords’ creativity, innovation, and global capabilities even more accessible to projects in Japan, and standing as a reliable partner in our clients’ growth.
Q: How big is the team you’re joining at Keywords Studios in Japan?
A: Keywords Studios already has a solid presence in Japan, with talented teams in art and engineering working on a variety of projects. While I won’t go into exact numbers, it’s a capable and growing group. What makes it especially powerful is how seamlessly they can tap into Keywords’ worldwide network of over 12,000 colleagues - giving our clients here both strong local support and access to global reach and expertise whenever they need it.
Q: What’s your vision for your first year at Keywords Studios in Japan?
A: My first priority is to listen closely to our clients and teams, and to make sure we understand their goals and challenges in detail. Building strong, long-term relationships is at the heart of how we work, and I want to deepen that foundation here in Japan.
At the same time, I believe there are many more projects in Japan that could benefit from what Keywords Studios has to offer. Our aim is to ensure that more companies take advantage of our local talent and our global scale - whether it’s solving complex development challenges, expanding art production, or supporting ambitious new ideas.
Ultimately, my vision is for Keywords Studios Japan to stand as a trusted partner: a team that not only delivers high-quality solutions, but also helps more Japanese companies grow, innovate, and succeed.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge you think Japanese developers are facing right now?
A: Like the rest of the industry, Japanese developers are navigating a rapidly changing landscape. New platforms and technologies continue to emerge, while a few global ecosystems are attracting massive user bases and keeping them deeply engaged through strong network effects. The competition for player attention has never been stronger, and studios are expected to deliver a steady stream of high-quality content to keep audiences engaged.
In Japan, this challenge is heightened by the very high standards of craftsmanship and polish that teams set for themselves. It’s one of the great strengths of Japanese game development, but it can also create extra pressure when budgets and schedules are tight.
This is where Keywords Studios can help - not only by providing additional capacity, specialized expertise, and scalable solutions, but also by drawing on our global network to help Japanese studios navigate the intricacies of different languages, cultures, and player expectations. That way, developers can focus on creating unforgettable experiences, while we help ensure those experiences resonate with audiences both in Japan and around the world.
Q: What industry trends will you be watching at the Tokyo Game Show, and how will our Japan studio respond?
A: Tokyo Game Show is always a unique window into the future of our industry. This year, I’ll be watching how studios are adapting to new hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2, and how they are meeting the growing demand for steady content cadence in live-service games. Both trends underscore the importance of scalability and reliable production support.
I’m also personally curious about the advances in AI on display. AI has the potential not only to change the way games are played, but also to transform how we develop them - streamlining workflows, automating repetitive tasks, and freeing creative teams to focus where it matters most. Keywords Studios is already active in this space, and we aim to be a trusted partner for companies who see the value of AI but may not yet have the expertise or resources to put it into practice.
For Keywords Studios Japan, our mission is clear: to stand alongside our partners, providing the capacity and expertise they need to adapt to these shifts and deliver games that stand out in an evolving market.
Q: Where can our Japan studio move the needle for global clients?
A: Our first priority is to support our partners here in Japan, where game development is renowned for its creativity, craftsmanship, and meticulous attention to detail. These qualities are deeply valued by Japanese developers and publishers - and they are equally powerful when applied to projects worldwide. By tapping into this combination of high quality and efficient scalability, our Japan studio can deliver strong value and return on investment for global clients. Combined with Keywords Studios’ worldwide network, this means we can support ambitious projects that demand both excellence and care, while maintaining efficiency.
Q: Out of curiosity, why Japan? How long have you been here?
A: I first came to Japan in 1997, and I quickly fell in love with the country. Since then, I’ve spent more than half my life here. Over that time, Japan has become home - not only where I’ve built my career, but also where I’ve built lasting friendships.
What continues to inspire me is the Japanese work ethic and the long-term approach to relationships, both personal and professional. In this industry, trust and continuity matter so much, and Japan has taught me the value of building partnerships that last. Being able to support that spirit through Keywords Studios, while connecting it with global opportunities, is both an honor and a personal passion.
Please join us in welcoming Remi and feel free to connect with him during Tokyo Game Show.
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