Hisato Sato Attends COPA CITY Pre-play Event Ahead of June 17 PS5 Release

Shochiku Games held a pre-play event for the upcoming football event management simulation game 'COPA CITY' (developed by Triple Espresso), featuring former Japan national team player Hisato Sato. The game is scheduled to launch on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, on June 17, 2026. Unlike traditional football games focused on players or managers, 'COPA CITY' focuses on match management. It previously won 1st place in the sports category at the Steam Next Fest in February 2026, and its demo has surpassed 55,000 global downloads. Shochiku Games serves as the publisher for the PS5 version in Japan. At the event, Sato praised the game, comparing it to a football version of 'SimCity.' Players manage entire soccer cities, including placing food trucks and security facilities, managing volunteer staff, controlling traffic flow around stadiums, allocating supporter seating, and setting ticket prices. The game features real clubs and cities. Sato noted its high realism and mentioned it would be highly educational even for soccer professionals.