Linked Brain
Linked Brain is a Japan-based game services company providing outsourced development, 2D/3D creative production, and HR placement for game studios, with a growing gamification and XR practice serving enterprise and government clients across Japan and Taiwan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersOsaka, Japan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Linked Brain does
Linked Brain Inc. is a Tokyo-based, privately-held Japanese game industry services company founded in February 2012 with registered capital of 44,000,000 JPY and operations across Tokyo (Bunkyo-ku headquarters), Fukuoka (LBFC creative center), and Taipei (APAC office). The company operates three integrated service pillars: (1) Game Solution services delivering outsourced planning, development, operation, scenario, art, sound, and programming support for smartphone, PC, and console game publishers; (2) Enterprise / XResearch services applying game-derived techniques to VR/AR/MR content, metaverse development, CG production, HMI design, and gamification for non-game enterprise, healthcare, education, and government clients; and (3) Game Industry HR Services operated through the G-JOB platform (acquired from CarisBrain in October 2019) for specialized permanent, contract, and freelance placement. Underlying production technology spans Unity, Unreal Engine, Cocos Creator, WebGL (Three.js, Babylon.js), and 2D/3D pipelines using Live2D, Spain, AnimateCC, and glTF/GLB formats.
The company's revenue model is entirely professional services / project-based contracting with quote-driven pricing; the only disclosed price anchor is the Gamification Design Service starting from 500,000 JPY. Customer engagement is direct B2B field sales with formal estimation and contracting, supplemented by the GAME CREATORS media platform and event-driven acquisition (CEDEC, BitSummit, Taipei Game Show, e-ZUKA). Notable customers span video-game publishers and studios (Level-5, PlatinumGames, Media Vision, Aniplex/Too Kyo Games, Drecom, Wright Flyer Studios, Applibot, Kamitsubaki Studio), digital content/metaverse (Fujifilm), and government/industry bodies in Taiwan (III, DEIPO, CTESA). Production work on NINJA GAIDEN 4 (October 2025), Digimon Story Time Stranger (October 2025), Fantasy Life i, Wizardry Variants Daphne, and CIEL Virtual mini Live demonstrates sustained franchise-grade capability.
Recent strategic positioning centers on applying gamification expertise to enterprise clients, anchored by a July 2025 strategic partnership with Causal Foundry that combines Linked Brain's proprietary 5-step gamification methodology with Causal Foundry's adaptive personalization AI. The company maintains roughly 30–250 staff (firmographic range vs. internal signals conflict), is led by President Koichi Shimizu (appointed October 2018) with Iwamoto Shingo as Chairman, and operates three wholly-owned subsidiaries: LogicBox Pictures (3D animation/VTuber), CarisBrain (now G-JOB), and the Taiwan APAC entity. No external funding rounds have been disclosed across the company's history.
Linked Brain firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Linked Brain
- Legal name
- 株式会社リンクトブレイン
- Website
- https://linkedbrain.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Linked Brain is a Japan-based game services company providing outsourced development, 2D/3D creative production, and HR placement for game studios, with a growing gamification and XR practice serving enterprise and government clients across Japan and Taiwan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Linked Brain industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Game Development Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- XR/AR/VR/MR Development Frameworks & Toolchains (MPAFAFAF)
Keywords
Where Linked Brain is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Osaka
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Linked Brain business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Game Development & Operation Outsourcing: Contracted game development and operation services for clients including planning, development, scenario, art, sound, and program development support across smartphone, PC, and gaming console platforms.
- Creative Production (2D/3D): 2D illustration, animation (Live2D, Spain, AnimateCC), and 3D modeling/animation production services. Character models, background models, rigging, setup, and cinematic animation.
- Game Industry HR Services (G-JOB): Career consulting and talent matching services specialized for the IT and game industry. Includes placement, dispatch, and freelance matching. Operates through G-JOB Agent and G-JOB Tensyoku platforms.
- Gamification Design Service: User behavior design consulting for non-game applications. 5-step methodology delivered as professional service engagements. Targets enterprise, education, government, and healthcare sectors.
- Enterprise XR Solutions: VR/AR/MR and metaverse development services for enterprise clients including virtual showrooms, virtual offices, training simulations, and visualization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Gamification Design Service - starts from 500,000 JPY |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Linked Brain product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Linked Brain provides outsourced game development, creative production (2D/3D art, animation, illustration), enterprise XR/AI development, and game industry HR services through the G-JOB platform. Its three core service pillars are Game Solution (planning, development, art, sound, scenario, and operation support for game titles), Enterprise/XResearch (AI, VR/AR/MR content, metaverse development for non-game sectors), and Game Industry HR Services (recruitment, dispatch, and freelance matching via G-JOB Agent).
Product overview
Linked Brain Inc. operates as a comprehensive creative services company with three core business pillars: (1) Game Solution services encompassing planning, development, operation support, art, and scenario production for game titles; (2) Enterprise/XResearch services providing AI development, VR/AR/MR content, CG production, and metaverse development leveraging game technology for non-game sectors; and (3) Game Industry Human Resources services via G-JOB agent for recruitment and career matching. Additional services include Gamification Design Service applying game UX techniques to business apps, G-Link5 for HTML5/multi-platform development, 2D/3D production through the Fukuoka Creative Center, and QA services. The company also produces original content including the BETZ card game and co-produces the anime 'Hakata Mentai Pirikarako-chan', with subsidiary LogicBox Pictures handling VTuber and animation production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- G-JOB: Game industry specialized job change and recruitment platform offering job placement services for game professionals.
- XResearch
- G-Link5
- GAME CREATORS
Products and services
- Game Solution (ゲームソリューション) End-to-end game development outsourcing service providing dedicated teams for planning, development, scenario, art, sound, and operation support across smartphone, PC, and console platforms. Targets game publishers and studios requiring specialized talent or capacity scaling.
- Enterprise / XResearch Enterprise development division providing AI development, VR/AR/MR content, CG production, metaverse development, virtual showrooms, virtual offices, training simulations, and HMI design by leveraging game development technology. Targets enterprise clients in automotive, manufacturing, architecture, healthcare, and government.
- Game Industry HR Services (G-JOB) Career consulting and talent matching service specialized for the IT and game industry. Includes G-JOB Agent for managed recruitment, G-JOB Tensyoku for job seekers, placement, dispatch, and freelance matching services.
- Gamification Design Service (ゲーミフィケーション設計サービス) Applies game-derived user behavior design techniques to non-game applications (enterprise apps, healthcare, education, government, e-commerce) to improve user engagement and retention. Uses a proprietary five-step methodology delivered as professional service engagements.
- G-Link5 HTML5 development support and migration service for the game industry, including multi-platform porting and HTML5 font solutions for game titles.
- 2D/3D Production (2D/3D制作) Character models, background models, rigging, animation, art direction, illustration, 2D animation (Live2D, Spine, AnimateCC), and scenario/content creation services delivered through the Fukuoka Creative Center.
- QA Service (QAサービス) Quality assurance testing service for game and app development projects, providing bug detection and quality validation.
- LogicBox Pictures (ロジックボックスピクチャーズ) Subsidiary specializing in 3D animation production, VTuber services including VLM Studio (Virtual Live Master) virtual live performance platform on Microsoft Azure, and content planning.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully delivered 50+ major game title contributions across smartphone, console, and PC platforms
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Linked Brain
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Linked Brain technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Linked Brain partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Causal Foundry (コーザル・ファウンドリ合同会社)coreStrategic partnership combining Linked Brain's gamification design expertise with Causal Foundry's adaptive personalization AI technology. Joint development of solutions for user experience optimization and behavior change design in games and enterprise applications. Causal Foundry's self-evolving AI learns user behavior patterns and provides personalized experiences, integrated with Linked Brain's gamification methodology for enhanced engagement.
- BAP (Block Applied Platform)minorBusiness partnership for entertainment content development through specialized team building. Addresses IT talent shortages and supports global business expansion.
- GLOBAL POER TECHNOLOGIES (台湾)minorMOU for XR field service integration, sales coordination, and collaborative business development between Japan and Taiwan in the XR/immersive content space.
- CTESA (Chinese Taipei Esports Association, 中華民國電子競技運動協會)minorMOU for Japan-Taiwan esports industry mutual activation. Covers esports athlete training, talent exchange, technical cooperation, school partnerships, and business matching between Japanese and Taiwanese esports organizations.
- G-JOB (via subsidiary acquisition)coreAcquired G-JOB job placement platform from subsidiary CharisBrain. Game industry-focused recruitment platform offering permanent, contract, and freelance placement. Continued operation as Linked Brain's core HR service platform.
- GranDen (台湾)minorPartnership for Japanese expansion of GranDen's O2O platform AliGala, which combines location-based gaming, AR camera features, hologram devices, and VTuber interaction. Linked Brain and LogicBox Pictures support content localization and partnership development with IP holders and VTuber companies.
- Taiwan VTuber Association (台灣虛擬網紅協會)minorMOU for VTuber market activation through bilateral exchange between Japan and Taiwan. Covers industry events, technology sharing, and business matching for VTuber-related businesses.
- DEIPO (Digital Economy Industry Promotion Office, Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs)coreJoint VTuber international forums, game creator exchange programs, and business matchmaking between Japan and Taiwan digital content industries. Organized multiple forums in Taiwan connecting Japanese and Taiwanese companies in VTuber, game development, and digital content.
- Fukuoka eSports Association (FeA, 福岡eスポーツ協会)minorCooperation in Fukuoka esports community building and event organization. Linked Brain CEO Shimizu serves as FeA board member. Organized e-Sports meetup events and business networking sessions in Fukuoka.
- StarVR CorporationcoreBusiness partnership for enterprise VR content development using StarVR One head-mounted display. Linked Brain develops VR content for professional use in automotive, architecture, manufacturing, and logistics industries, leveraging StarVR's ultra-wide 210-degree horizontal FOV display and eye-tracking technology.
- Nora Ren (野良連合)minorPartnership with professional esports team Nora Ren for pro gamer career support, second career transition to game development, product/game review reports, and streaming/SNS marketing support. Approximately 60 professional gamers and streamers in the team.
- Institute for Information Industry (III, 財團法人資訊工業策進會)coreMOU with Taiwan government-backed III for bilateral game industry talent cultivation, creator exchange, and business support between Japan and Taiwan. Includes cooperation on Japan-Taiwan game industry events, creator exchange programs, and business matching for Japanese and Taiwanese game companies.
- Daiki Sound (ダイキサウンド)minorJoint operation of MusicJob.Anysee music industry job site. Combines Linked Brain's entertainment HR expertise with Daiki Sound's music industry network. Jointly provides job placement and career support services for music industry professionals.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Linked Brain competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Aiming: Listed Japanese mobile and online game developer with broader in-house game development operations than Linked Brain. Comparable as a peer in the Japanese game development services market, though larger and more vertically integrated.
Direct peers
- Geekly: Listed Japanese recruitment firm specialized in the game and digital entertainment industries. Most direct comparable to Linked Brain's G-JOB game industry HR services, with placement, dispatch, and freelance matching offerings targeted at the same talent pools.
- Cluster: Japanese metaverse platform enabling user-created virtual worlds, live events, and enterprise activations. Operates in the same VR/XR/metaverse content space as Linked Brain's XResearch, with overlapping enterprise and creator-economy focus.
- Polygon Pictures: Established Japanese 3D CG animation studio producing game cinematics, film, and TV content (Knights of Sidonia, Godzilla trilogy). Closely comparable to Linked Brain's Fukuoka Creative Center for 3D modeling, animation, and game asset production services for major Japanese IP holders.
- Marza Animation Planet: Japanese CG animation studio (SEGA subsidiary) producing 3D animated content for games, film, and short-form media. Comparable to Linked Brain's 3D production capabilities and serves a similar client base of major Japanese entertainment companies.
- HIKKY: Japanese VR/XR content developer behind the Vket (Virtual Market) platform for large-scale virtual events. Directly comparable to Linked Brain's XResearch division, which similarly develops enterprise VR/AR/MR content and metaverse experiences for major Japanese brands.
- Psychic VR Lab: Japanese VR/AR platform company behind STYLY, providing tools and content services for immersive experiences. Comparable to Linked Brain's XResearch for VR/AR content development and enterprise solutions in the Japanese market.
- Standout: Japanese recruitment and human resources firm focused on game, IT, and digital content industries. Closely comparable to G-JOB's talent matching services for game developers, artists, and engineers across permanent, contract, and freelance arrangements.
- Asobism: Japanese mobile and social game developer with a similar mid-sized operating profile to Linked Brain. Comparable as a Japanese game development services and product company in the same domestic mobile/social game ecosystem.
- Koto Laboratory: Japanese 3DCG production company specialized in game and anime visual content. Direct competitor to Linked Brain's 3D production services, offering character models, backgrounds, and animation for major publishers with a similar studio-based operating model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Linked Brain social profiles
Digital presenceLinked Brain financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Linked Brain leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Linked Brain subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Linked Brain funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Linked Brain M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Linked Brain
What does Linked Brain do?
Linked Brain provides outsourced game development, creative production (2D/3D art, animation, illustration), enterprise XR/AI development, and game industry HR services through the G-JOB platform. Its three core service pillars are Game Solution (planning, development, art, sound, scenario, and operation support for game titles), Enterprise/XResearch (AI, VR/AR/MR content, metaverse development for non-game sectors), and Game Industry HR Services (recruitment, dispatch, and freelance matching via G-JOB Agent).
Is Linked Brain a public or private company?
Linked Brain is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Linked Brain founded?
Linked Brain was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Linked Brain based?
Linked Brain is headquartered in Osaka, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Linked Brain make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Game Development & Operation Outsourcing is the primary driver. The others are creative Production (2D/3D), game Industry HR Services (G-JOB), gamification Design Service and enterprise XR Solutions.
Who are Linked Brain's main competitors?
Aiming is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Geekly, Cluster, Polygon Pictures, Marza Animation Planet, HIKKY, Psychic VR Lab, Standout, Asobism and Koto Laboratory.
Does Linked Brain have an API?
No public API is recorded for Linked Brain.
What industry is Linked Brain in?
Linked Brain's product category is Game Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAFAF, XR/AR/VR/MR Development Frameworks & Toolchains. Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7371.