TOUGEN ANKI is a highly popular anime overseas about characters who carry the blood of demons and can manipulate that blood into supernatural weapons, and developer Com2uS has taken on the task of adapting that anime into a game that will eventually launch on PC and mobile devices. When you’ve got a project that already has a fan base, you’d best be prepared to deliver on what those fans want. We recently talked to Crimson Inferno Art Director, Pil-Jong Kim, and Producer, Dong-Won Lee, about just that, as well as the task of introducing a global audience to the TOUGEN ANKI universe. The audience of TOUGEN ANKI was a major contributor to planning for the game’s availability and launch. The developers wanted to make sure that the game was not only as easy to access from a popular platform standpoint (hence planning for PC on Steam from the get-go), but also from a gameplay perspective. The deckbuilding aspect and encounter design allowed the devs to put a focus on letting the characters shine in their combat animations and story highlights. The combat of TOUGEN ANKI is broken up into a color-coded system where attacks have one colored attack or another, and using matching colors powers up abilities when taking your turn. Again, the team felt it was important to create a system that was accessible and intuitive to players, allowing them to easily understand how to get the best out of their characters in any given encounter in both mobile and desktop formats.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146877/tougen-anki-crimson-inferno-developer-interview-tgs-2025
Tag: kim
Skims hits $5 billion valuation after funding round led by Goldman
Kim Kardashian’s Skims brand has raised $225 million in new funding led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, valuing the shapewear and apparel company at $5 billion—up from roughly $4 billion after its 2023 round. The deal comes as Skims nears $1 billion in annual net sales, six years after its 2019 launch, and marks one of the largest private raises for a U.S. consumer brand this year.
BDT & MSD Partners’ affiliated funds also joined the round, Skims said Wednesday. The company plans to use the new capital to accelerate brick-and-mortar and international expansion, as well as product innovation and category diversification.
Skims currently operates 18 stores across the U.S. in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta, along with one store in Mexico. The company has plans to open additional stores overseas in 2026. Skims emphasized that it is laying the groundwork to become a “predominantly physical business” in the coming years, marking a strategic pivot from its origins as a digital-first direct-to-consumer brand.
“This milestone reflects continued confidence in our long-term vision and, coupled with disciplined execution, positions Skims to unlock its next phase of growth,” CEO and co-founder Jens Grede said in a statement.
The new funding round follows the debut of NikeSkims, a partnership with Nike launched earlier this year that sold out within hours. This collaboration signals Skims’ ambitions to expand beyond its core shapewear products into activewear, apparel, and performance categories, pushing the brand further into the mainstream athleticwear market dominated by Lululemon, a handful of upstarts, and Nike itself.
The fresh capital infusion could further delay an initial public offering (IPO) from Skims. The company has been eyeing a public debut since at least 2024, according to statements by Grede. However, the consumer IPO market has remained largely stagnant through 2024 and 2025, with few fashion or beauty brands going public as investors remain cautious about discretionary retail. By raising new private funding, Skims can continue to scale without immediate pressure to list.
“Skims stands as a solutions-driven apparel innovator, pioneering new categories and redefining everyday wear,” said Beat Cabiallavetta, global head of hybrid capital at Goldman Sachs Alternatives. “We look forward to partnering with management to pursue significant opportunities and deliver disruptive, sustained growth.”
Since its launch, Skims has built a cult following with its inclusive sizing, minimalist aesthetic, and high-profile campaigns featuring global athletes and celebrities. Kardashian, who serves as chief creative officer, described the new funding as “an exciting new chapter” for the company.
“We can’t wait to take Skims to the next level as we continue to innovate and set the standard for our industry,” Kardashian said.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/skims-hits-5-billion-valuation-after-funding-round-led-by-goldman/