Thursday, 8 October 2026
Anime, manga, and games, with a take · A Yukimedia publication
← all stories gamesevent 6 sources · 1h ago ·

WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027 Sets Makuhari Messe Debut In April 2027

WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027 brings a Chinese indie-focused event brand and its CiGA production know-how into Japan's domestic game festival calendar, with a business day built in from the first outing.

Key Facts

  • WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027 will be held at Makuhari Messe Halls 5 and 6 in Chiba from April 2 to April 4, 2027.
  • April 2, 2027 is a business day with no general admission; April 3 and April 4 are public days.
  • Tickets for WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027 will be paid, with general and business tickets planned and prices to be announced later.
  • The WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027 executive committee is formed by IID, Inc. and San-Ei Co., Ltd., with CiGA as licensor and producer.
  • WePlay Expo began in Shanghai in 2017, and its 2025 edition gathered about 500 titles from 13 countries and regions.

Reporting from 6 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Automaton, GameBusiness.jp, and 2 more.

WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027 Sets Makuhari Messe Debut In April 2027

IID, Inc. and San-Ei Co., Ltd. announced on October 8, 2026 that WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027 will be held over three days at Makuhari Messe Halls 5 and 6 from April 2 to April 4, 2027. The first day is a business day with no general admission, and April 3 and 4 are public days. Paid general and business tickets are planned for both, with opening hours, prices, and the sales start date to be announced later. The executive committee of the two companies is organizing the event, with CiGA (China indie Game Alliance), one of the organizing bodies of WePlay Expo, as licensor and producer. The event is the Japanese edition of WePlay Expo, the game culture event that started in Shanghai in 2017. Planned content covers trial play of PC, console, and mobile titles from AAA to indie games, an organizer-run play area, gaming devices, merchandise sales at exhibitor booths, stage events, and business networking.

The event is produced by CiGA, the China indie Game Alliance, which also organizes the Shanghai original. That original started in Shanghai in 2017 and drew about 500 titles from 13 countries and regions at its 2025 edition, with national pavilions from Poland, Canada, and New Zealand. In 2026 the main event is scheduled to move to the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

The two organizing companies have separate backgrounds. San-Ei marks its 80th anniversary in 2027, runs the Tokyo Auto Salon (now in its 45th edition), publishes the car magazine Motor Fan, and once published the game D no Shokutaku. IID runs the media outlets Game*Spark and GameBusiness.jp.

Planned content is grouped into four blocks, with CiGA describing the vision as letting visitors "properly play" the games that catch their eye rather than only encountering many titles. An organizer-run trial play area is planned alongside exhibitor booths.

  • GAMES & PLAY: trial play of PC, console, and mobile titles from AAA to indie, plus the organizer trial play area.
  • DEVICES: gaming PCs, monitors, and peripherals.
  • GOODS & CULTURE: merchandise sales at exhibitor booths, themed exhibitions, and meetings with creators.
  • STAGE & COMMUNITY: new title and update announcements, demos, RTA, tournaments, participatory projects, developer and creator talks, award projects, and community projects, all still under consideration.

Exhibition and sponsorship inquiries opened the same day through IID's Media Business Division.

Synthesized by Yomimono from the 6 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.

WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027 IID San'ei

More on this

Sources