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STRANGER THAN HEAVEN has been shown to the public and to the press at a run of events ahead of its January 15, 2027 release. Combat has been the focus of every playable build so far, and the showings have grown from a press-only session into a full public demo. This page collects what has been published about each appearance.

Summer Game Fest Media Hands-On

The first time the game was played outside the studio was a media session held in Los Angeles in June 2026. It was open to press rather than to the public. Outlets were given hands-on time with the combat system, and the impressions that followed in June 2026 covered the controls, the weapons and the feel of fighting. The publisher gathered those first impressions in a storefront post on June 23, 2026 and released a video of player reactions at the start of July.

Most of what is known about the finer points of combat, beyond the published descriptions, traces back to this session.

gamescom 2026

The game is exhibiting at gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, running August 26 to 30, 2026, at the publisher's booth in Hall 07.1, stand A041 to B040. This is where the first public hands-on demo is being shown.

PAX West

On August 12, 2026 the publisher announced that it was bringing STRANGER THAN HEAVEN to PAX West alongside one other upcoming title, with hands-on play, a developer panel and an autograph session.

Tokyo Game Show 2026

The largest showing announced so far runs at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to 21, 2026, with the public days falling on September 19, 20 and 21. The game occupies part of the publisher's booth in Hall 4, stand N01, and its presence there is built out of four separate attractions plus a five-day stage programme.

Playable Demo

The demo shown at the event is an adjusted and updated version of the build the studio had previously presented on its own broadcast programme.

Theater

A theater screening shows music footage from the game, including tracks that have not been released. Viewers choose between three programmes, each built around different cast members.

Most screenings are ticketed by advance application. Entries were taken from August 17 to August 28, 2026, with results notified in early September. Applications are limited to residents of Japan, one entry per person, and a public-day event ticket is required to attend.

Walk-Through Museum

An exhibit zone is built around the five eras the story travels through. No reservation is needed to walk through it.

Stage Programme

Stages run on all five days of the show and are streamed on the studio's official video channel. The published schedule names the following guests. Times and stream links were still to be announced when the schedule was published, and the line-up is noted as subject to change.

The final-day stage brings together the two performers behind Makoto Daito and Yu Shinjo.

Giveaways and Merchandise

Several items are being handed out at the booth while stocks last.

New merchandise going on sale at the show includes a key visual T-shirt, a logo pin badge, a key visual clear file, a record-shaped coaster and a clear resin ring, sold at the publisher's merchandise counter in Hall 11.

What Has Been Playable

Every build shown to date has been a combat demo. Nothing from the show business side of the game has been made playable in public, and no release-window demo has been announced for any storefront. Footage published so far carries a note from the publisher that it comes from an early, in-development version and that some specifications may differ from the finished game.

Dated milestones for these appearances are also listed under Development.