Ketsu Battler, a Nintendo Switch party fighter that turns butt motion into gameplay by having players grip a Joy-Con to their rear, has now become an esports game. They have gone competitive, and the game will run its first official tournament on January 18, 2026. It will be a part of the Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Cygames Cup event in Tokyo.
Fighting game with butt-shaking gets an official esports tournament
The esports game tournament will be an open single-elimination event. It will have best-of-three matches through most rounds and best-of-five for the final rounds. The organizers say the contest will crown the first Ketsu Battler champion and accept up to 128 entrants.
Entry opens December 12, 2025. The competition is open to players from elementary school age and up (younger entrants must be accompanied by a parent). Winners will receive special prizes tied to the property, including autographed illustration cards by the manga creator Takade Naotaka. As the developer put it, “The ass butler finally takes to the stage at an esports tournament” (via Kayac Co., Ltd. press release).
Ketsu Battler replaces traditional controller input with body motion. Players fix a Joy-Con to the back of their pants. The hip swings translate into attacks, blocks, and movement in the game. There are no button presses. Every action is driven by how hard and how precisely players move. The unusual control scheme helped the title gain viral attention after its release and sparked wider discussion about motion control and party games.
Bringing Ketsu Battler to an established esports game tournament shows how varied competitive gaming formats have become. Tournament organisers say they were drawn in by the game’s surprising depth and competitive potential despite its novelty.
To support the competitive push, the publisher has planned related promotions around the event, including a temporary sale on the game and free access to the manga adaptation so new players can try it and follow the story.
Originally reported by Preksha Sharma on Mandatory.
