Iconic Board Game 'Catan' to Release Popular Expansion Sets!

For the Media

June 29, 2026

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The popular strategy-based expansion "Catan: Cities & Knights" and

the exciting seafaring adventure "Catan: Explorers & Pirates" are finally being relaunched!

Catan: Cities & Knights (Expansion) Catan: Explorers & Pirates (Expansion)

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Toy manufacturer GP Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Hideji Yonekawa) will release two expansion sets of the highly popular board game "Catan" on July 24, 2026.

Catan: Cities & Knights

Price: 5,400 JPY (tax included 5,940 JPY)

Release Date: July 24, 2026 (Fri)

Shipping Date: July 17, 2026 (Fri)

JAN Code: 4543471004550

Number of Players: 3-4

Recommended Age: 12 years and up

Playing Time: 120 minutes or more

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Catan: Explorers & Pirates

Price: 5,800 JPY (tax included 6,380 JPY)

Release Date: July 24, 2026 (Fri)

Shipping Date: July 17, 2026 (Fri)

JAN Code: 4543471004611

Number of Players: 2-4

Recommended Age: 10 years and up

Playing Time: 100 minutes or more

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◆ Product Information

Both "Catan: Cities & Knights" and "Catan: Explorers & Pirates" are major expansion sets designed to be added to the base game "Catan: Standard Edition."

Catan: Cities & Knights A popular expansion that greatly enhances strategic depth, allowing players to develop knights to defend the island from barbarian attacks while advancing in science, politics, and trade to grow their cities. • Knight vs. barbarian battles • Competition in developing science, politics, and trade • Construction of metropolises • Deeper strategic gameplay

Catan: Explorers & Pirates A major expansion full of adventure, where players explore unknown seas, discover new islands, and complete various missions. • Includes 5 scenarios • Explore uncharted waters • Adventures and transportation by ship • Scenarios can be combined

We recommend "Cities & Knights" for players seeking deeper strategic gameplay, and "Explorers & Pirates" for those who enjoy adventure and exploration.

Both products feature completely redesigned tiles and cards, making them easier and more enjoyable to play.

※ Note: The base game "Catan: Standard Edition" is required to play either expansion.

◆ Copyright

©2026 GP Inc. Japan.

◆ About Catan

With over 45 million units sold worldwide, Catan is widely regarded as the game that sparked the modern board game boom (*).

Catan is a settlement-building game set on the uninhabited island of Catan, where players compete for victory points earned by constructing buildings and developing resources. Combining elements of strategic foresight akin to shogi, negotiation, and luck, its highly refined game system has earned popularity among players of all levels—from beginners to experts—and has grown to include Japan's largest board game championship, the "Catan Japan Championship."

In recent years, Catan has also gained traction as an educational tool. It is increasingly used in corporate training to teach negotiation skills and in classrooms as a teaching aid, expanding its role beyond mere entertainment into a tool that connects people, learning, and communities.

* Origin of the boom: First released in Germany in 1995, Catan became a global hit due to its groundbreaking game mechanics and exceptional design. Its success drew worldwide attention to modern board games, earning it recognition as the origin of the current board game boom.

* Sales figure as of December 2025, worldwide cumulative sales. * Catan Japan Championship statistics: Previous edition in 2025; Kanto Regional Tournament attracted around 600 participants, with over 1,300 participants total across all venues.

◆ Contact

GP Inc. Public Relations: Wada, Yonekawa

Website: https://www.gp-inc.jp/

TEL: 03-6273-9245 E-mail: mail@gp-inc.jp