NEWS
2XKO Japan Series, Let's Go!!
2XKO Japan Series Has Been Announced
2026-01-30
PLAYBRAIN Turns 10
On January 15th, 2026, PLAYBRAIN officially turns ten years old.
2026-01-15
FUTAROKU is Coming to Tokyo Game Show 2025
We’re excited to share that PLAYBRAIN’s game culture lifestyle brand, FUTAROKU, will be part of Tokyo Game Show 2025!
2025-09-08
BZ Kukan Feature Article
An interview article with PLAYBRAIN CEO Michael Sheetal is featured in the Autumn issue of BIZ Kukan, a business magazine focused on real estate market trends
2025-09-01
Keio Corporation Joins “LJL presented by PLAYBRAIN” as an Official Sponsor - Official LJL Merchandise to be Sold at New Shinjuku Store
Official LJL merchandise will be sold at **“KEIO eSTATION Shinjuku ”**, scheduled to open on June 20, 2025, in the Keio Mall adjacent to Shinjuku Station.
2025-05-20
GeoGuessr APAC MAJORS to Japan on May 18
We are pleased to announce our partnership as the production partner for the GeoGuessr APAC MAJORS, the Asia-Pacific Regional Finals of the popular geography exploration game "GeoGuessr."
2025-04-25
A little update to our PLAYBRAIN Social Channels♪
As our business has grown, we felt it was time to make an update of our PLAYBRAIN social channels to better share our updates and news as it comes up
2025-04-03
LJL 2025 season and format announced
With an open qualifier, three unique tournaments and a finals series, the 2025 season kicks off its new format in January; The refreshed league launches with the slogan, ‘REFORGE AS ONE’.
2024-11-08
Riot Games and PLAYBRAIN sign agreement for PLAYBRAIN becoming the tournament Operator for LJL and Japanese broadcast partner for International Tournaments
Riot Games, Inc. (Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo; President/CEO Yasushi Fujimoto) and PLAYBRAIN, Inc. (Shinagawa, Tokyo; CEO Michael Sheetal), have announced that Riot Games and PLAYBRAIN have signed agreements for PLAYBRAIN to become the operating partner of the League of Legends Japan League (LJL), the domestic esports competition for the PC online game “League of Legends”, as well as becoming the Japanese broadcast partner for the newly established APAC League, and all international tournaments.
2024-08-29
Our new website. A more playful PLAYBRAIN.com
With the growth and evolution of PLAYBRAIN in 2024, we thought it was about time that the face of our company also received a big update in keeping with our image and culture.
2024-07-31
The Japanese e-sports Tournament Broadcast Viewing Analysis Report is now available! Cumulative viewing time for e-sports tournament broadcasts increased by 15%, surpassing 95 million hours【PLAYDATA】
Surpassing the surge observed during the COVID-19 crisis, online broadcast viewing time has continued to rise, achieving a 15% growth over the past year. Streamers engaging in mirror broadcasting propelled this expansion, with a drastic fourfold increase, from 3.89 million hours to 15.28 million hours for the total view time in this category.
2024-02-05
Japan 2023/Q3 Esports Report; Record 19 billion minutes watched
The total viewing time for domestic e-sports tournaments in Japan reached 19.6 billion minutes, this is the viewing trend for domestic e-sports tournaments from July to September 2023.
2023-10-19
TFT East Asian Finals - Japan Regional Qualifiers, held in partnership with TAIYORO.
Riot Games' "Teamfight Tactics" Asian regional official tournament qualifiers "East Asian Finals Japan Qualifier" will be held in partnership with the esports portal site "TAIYORO."
2023-10-03
Japan 2023/Q2 Esports Report; Mirror streams surpass 500 million minutes watched
The total viewing time for mirror streams by streamers and VTubers, other than the official broadcasts, has exceeded 500 million minutes, accounting for about 30% of the overall viewing ratio. The influence of mirror streams, other than the official broadcasts, is notably demonstrated, such as with the Street Fighter 6 event where the total peak concurrent viewers exceeded 500,000.
2023-07-27
PLAYDATA launched! - Performance reporting for esports and game streaming
PLAYBRAIN launches new service, PLAYDATA, to help companies and esports operators measure performance of game streams.
2023-06-16
Japan 2022/Q1 Esports Report; Viewed hours for domestic esports tournaments increased 56% YoY
Major professional leagues in Japan recorded significant growth from the previous year with 56% YoY viewership growth and more than 250 topurnament dates broadcast.
2022-04-27
LJL 2022 Spring Split Expands to 108 matches under the new format.
New initiatives, including the introduction of a new schedule format that includes weekday events and a spectator watch party, set a season record for viewership. Total viewing time for the season grows to 2.3 times that of previous year
2022-04-22
The first overnight streaming room in Japan where you can experience the Voicemod PRO!
The first overnight streaming room in Japan where you can experience the Voicemod PRO!
2022-04-19
TAIYORO releases Bot capable of linking domestic esports tournament schedules with Discord
TAIYORO releases domestic esports tournament schedule Discord Bot
2022-02-10
LJL 2022 Spring Split Schedule and LJL Aftershow announced
LJL 2022 Spring Split Schedule and LJL Aftershow announced
2022-02-04
League of Legends Japan League increases games, changes format and starts on February 11th.
PlayBrain Inc, together with Riot Games, Inc., the maker of online PC game, League of Legends, announced the League of Legends Japan League 2022 Spring Split will start on the 11th February, 2022.
2022-01-24
Esports calendar site TAIYORO launches and announces 2021 trends independently compiled throughout the year.
Esports calendar site TAIYORO launches and announces 2021 trends independently compiled throughout the year.
2021-12-27
PlayBrain launches official goods store for Riot Games in Japan!
Riot Games Japan and PlayBrain are pleased to announce the opening of "Riot Store Japan" from November 7, 2021 (Sunday), where official goods can be purchased from within Japan.
2021-11-05
DEVA LOKA apparel collection by Yoshitaka Amano to be launched on FUTAROKU
Playbrain's online select store "FUTAROKU" will start pre-orders from August 21 at 9:00 a.m. for the first phase of "N2", a project launched by global e-sports apparel company "We Are Nations", in collaboration with Yoshitaka Amano, a world-famous Japanese artist.
2021-08-10
Voicemod introduces new EDM soundboard set that makes anyone feel like a DJ!
No sound mixer needed! New soundboard effect sets added to Windows PC voice changer app "Voicemod".
2021-06-23
Online store, Futaroku, launches a range of original products
Futaroku online store was launched in 2019 by PlayBrain, a Tokyo based Game Marketing and Esports producer.
2020-11-06
PlayBrain launches Voicemod voice filter application in Japan.
Easy to use free voice filter software Voicemod launches in Japan with PlayBrain as official publisher for the Japanese market.
2020-10-13
PlayBrain Closes $6M Series A Round to Further Advance Japan’s Esports Industry
PlayBrain serves as a catalyst for brands, leagues, and publishers entering and engaging with Japan’s fast-growing gaming community through large-scale event production and content creation.
2020-06-30
PlayBrain announced as organizing partner for ePARA, an esports event for players with disabilities
PlayBrain announced as organizing partner for ePARA, an esports event for players with disabilities
2020-03-31
PlayBrain Secures $1.9 Million Investment from BITKRAFT Esports Ventures to Advance the Esports Industry in Japan
PlayBrain will use the new funding to scale the team, accelerate growth, and support costs to lead the creative direction, operation and commercialization of League of Legends Japan League (“LJL”).
2019-02-27
PlayBrain, Riot Games and Yoshimoto partner for League of Legends Pro League in Japan
In the multi year, three company partnership, PlayBrain will take the lead in directing the operation and creative direction of the LJL and broadcast of League of Legends international events.
2018-12-26