WePlay Expo, China's representative indie game event, will be held in Japan for the first time in 2027.
On the 8th, it was announced that 'WePlay Expo JAPAN 2027' will take place from April 2 to 4, 2027, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The event will be hosted by the WePlay Expo Japan Executive Committee, with CiGA (China indie Game Alliance)—one of the co-organizers of China's WePlay Expo—participating as licensor and producer.
WePlay Expo Japan is an event where visitors can directly experience games across various platforms, including PC, console, and mobile, ranging from AAA titles to indie games. Alongside exhibitor demo booths, a separate demo zone operated by the organizer will be set up, with plans to feature gaming hardware, merchandise, developer and creator talks, game announcements, and competitions. However, specific program details are currently in the planning stage and subject to change.
The first day of the event, April 2, will operate as a Business Day targeting industry professionals such as developers, publishers, investors, and media. On April 3 and 4, the event will open to the general public, with ticket prices and sales schedules to be announced later.
WePlay Expo is a gaming culture event that began in Shanghai, China, in 2017. As China's largest indie game exhibition, it presents indie games alongside AAA titles, overseas games, board games, merchandise, and various cultural content. Chinese indie game organization CiGA participates in the event, which also hosts the 'indiePlay' awards ceremony targeting Chinese and international indie games.
Participation from South Korea has also been notable. In 2025, Neowiz showcased titles such as 'SANABI: A Haunted Day', 'Goodbye Seoul: Itaewon', and 'Kill The Shadow' at a dedicated booth, while Smilegate set up a joint booth with Chinese publisher Thermite Games to introduce indie games published on STOVE. BIC also supported Korean indie games' participation in WePlay Expo in 2024 and 2025.
Meanwhile, approximately 500 games from 13 countries and regions participated in WePlay Expo 2025. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the 2026 event will expand in scale and is scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, from November 21 to 22.
