Ketsu Battler: Butt-Controlled Fighting Game Gets Official Tournament in Japan
The game Ketsu Battler, known for being a fighting game where characters use their butts to battle, has just reached an unexpected milestone: the announcement of an official esports tournament in Japan. The news was revealed by Japanese developer KAYAC, which confirmed the title’s inclusion in an event sponsored by Cygames, one of the biggest names in Japan’s competitive gaming scene.
Ketsu Battler: Butt-Controlled Fighting Game Gets Official Tournament in Japan
The tournament will take place as part of the GBVS Cygames Cup 2026, a competition traditionally associated with more conventional fighting games. According to publisher CoroCoro Comic, responsible for promoting the game, this will be the first esports tournament in history where players compete without pressing a single button.
Ketsu Battler is a 2D fighting game originally released in December 2024 for the Nintendo Switch. From the very beginning, the title drew attention on social media for its completely unconventional concept. Instead of traditional controls, players must attach a Joy-Con to their own body and use hip movements to control their character in battle, as shown in the image below.
In the game, characters such as samurai, ninjas, and even gorillas face off in armed duels. The difference is that all battles take place with the fighters positioned back-to-back, literally fighting butt against butt (similar to the anime KEIJO!!!!!!!!). Weapons are wielded and moved based on the intensity and direction of the movements captured by the controller attached to the player’s body.
Despite initially looking like just a visual joke, Ketsu Battler surprised even experienced tournament organizers. According to information shared in an official statement, the team behind Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising was impressed to discover that the game featured deeper mechanics and more intense matches than expected.
巨大化したゴリラ同士が尻で戦うさまを見られるゲームは「ケツバトラー」だけ！！ pic.twitter.com/pC8gg1zvyd
— ケツバトラー【③巻12/26発売!!】 (@KetsuBattler) November 28, 2025
This impression was decisive in the game’s inclusion in the GBVS Cygames Cup 2026. The Ketsu Battler tournament is scheduled for January 18 and will feature up to 128 players. The format will be single elimination, with best-of-three matches, while the semifinals and finals will be played in a best-of-five format.
Currently, Ketsu Battler is available for Nintendo Switch as well as the Switch 2, expanding its reach among players curious about unconventional gaming experiences. The game went viral precisely because it combines humor, motion-control technology, and competition in a way few titles have dared to attempt.