How Are Japan's Game CPE Campaigns Built? October 2026, Week 3

How are Japan’s game CPE campaigns built right now? According to Rocket Ads’ own count of 42 game CPE campaigns listed on Japanese reward media (October 14, 2026), 69% use a tiered reward structure. 4X strategy games were the most common genre with 12 campaigns, and they also had the highest median top payout at about $158. Here is how the October market breaks down by genre.

Methodology: Compiled by Rocket Ads by aix Inc. on October 14, 2026, from 42 game and app CPE campaigns listed on major Japanese reward media. Payouts are the highest listed amount per campaign across media (the sum of all tiers for tiered campaigns), converted at $1 = ¥158.4. Media names are shown as Media A, B and C.

What do Japan’s game CPE campaigns look like in October 2026?

Seven in ten game CPE campaigns in Japan are tiered (Rocket Ads, Oct 14, 2026).

A tiered campaign splits the reward across milestones, such as level 10, level 15 and level 20.

Some tiers include an in-app purchase condition. Most campaigns still let users skip a purchase tier and earn the next milestone.

How much do CPE campaigns pay by genre?

By Rocket Ads' count (Oct 14, 2026), the median top payout was about $158 for 4X strategy, $100 for management sims and $93 for idle RPGs.

4X strategy: the largest genre by campaign count and by payout. Most campaigns attach high payouts to deep milestones such as building level targets.

Idle RPG: a light daily play load over three weeks or more. These campaigns treat long-term retention as the conversion event.

Live streaming apps: four non-game campaigns were listed. Conditions such as finishing the tutorial complete in two to three days, so the conversion event is the first-use experience.

Login-based RPG: about $2 for light conditions such as logging in three days in a row. These are built for install volume.

Which campaigns are getting attention this week?

Selection criteria (Rocket Ads, Oct 14, 2026): campaigns completable within four days, and the five campaigns with the highest top payout.

Quick-start campaigns (completable within 4 days)

Kingshot set a short 10-day deadline and made the first milestone reachable in four days. A short deadline paired with an early first reward gives users a reason to start right away.

Highest-reward campaigns (top 5 by top payout)

Completion days reflect the milestone most participants treat as a realistic target.

What does a large headline payout do?

Some campaigns raise user attention by displaying a large top payout.

Tenchi Eiyuden (天地英雄伝) had the highest top payout of the 42 campaigns at about $2,387 (Rocket Ads, Oct 14, 2026).

That figure is the total for completing every tier up to the highest one.

Among participants, reaching chapter 3 is commonly cited as the realistic target.

The headline amount draws the first click, and each tier's reward keeps users moving forward.

Three factors to review when designing a tiered campaign:

First, reward allocation: how much of the reward sits on the milestones users most often target.

Second, milestone spacing: how long it takes to reach the next tier.

Third, purchase tiers: whether users can skip a purchase tier and continue to the next milestone.

How do iOS and Android payouts differ?

Of the 42 campaigns (Rocket Ads, Oct 14, 2026), several set different payouts by OS or ran on only one OS.

Coin Master: top payout of $144 on iOS versus $38 on Android, about 3.8 times higher.

4X strategy and idle RPG: two campaigns with an OS payout gap of 25% or more.

Single-OS campaigns: three (one iOS-only, two Android-only).

These campaigns split payouts to match each OS's spending patterns and acquisition costs.

Which media show the highest payouts?

Across the 42 campaigns (Rocket Ads, Oct 14, 2026), Media B listed the highest payout for 19 campaigns and Media A for 17.

Campaigns where the top iOS and Android media differ are counted for both.

The same campaign shows a different amount to users on each media, because each media has its own fee structure and user base. Users typically compare two or three media before choosing where to participate.

How can you improve CPE tracking accuracy?

Japanese reward media list the following tracking conditions. Stating them in your campaign notes up front improves tracking accuracy and reduces user inquiries.

First, enter through a default browser (Safari or Chrome). Browsers with ad blocking can break tracking.

Second, state the new-install condition. Users with a previous install are often excluded.

Third, check the iOS "Allow Apps to Request to Track" setting. Tracking depends on the ATT setting.

Fourth, launch the app within one hour of install. Some media set a first-launch time limit.

Fifth, avoid installing on public Wi-Fi. Some network environments can cause missed conversions.

Summary

69% of Japan's game CPE campaigns in October 2026 are tiered (Rocket Ads, 42 campaigns, Oct 14, 2026).

4X strategy leads both in campaign count (12) and median top payout (about $158).

Quick four-day campaigns and campaigns with large headline payouts run side by side, and the design approach splits clearly by genre and goal.

Rocket Ads by aix Inc. publishes Japanese local reward media data every Thursday. If you are preparing a CPE campaign in Japan, we can help you design payouts and milestones that fit your genre and goals.

For more data and insights, explore our articles on rocket-a.com or follow our LinkedIn page.

If you're planning UA in Japan or want to consult on your current campaign strategy, reach out anytime.

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This report is compiled by Rocket Ads from campaign information publicly listed on major Japanese reward media. Listed payouts change frequently.