What KLab does

KLab Inc. (TSE Prime: 3656) is a Tokyo-headquartered mobile game developer founded in 2000 that builds, licenses, and operates free-to-play mobile games built primarily on Japanese anime and manga intellectual property. Its core portfolio includes Bleach: Brave Souls (a 3D hack-and-slash action game that surpassed 100 million downloads worldwide and is distributed across mobile, PC via Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox), Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team (a head-to-head football simulation anchored by the DREAM CHAMPIONSHIP global tournament series), My Hero Academia UNITED SURVIVAL (pre-registered 2026, co-developed with gumi Inc.), and DRAGON QUEST SMASH/GROW (a 2026 launch co-developed with SQUARE ENIX). The company maintains a wholly-owned subsidiary in Shanghai (KLab China Inc.) and is establishing a UAE subsidiary as of June 2026.

The company's monetization centers on free-to-play mobile games with in-app purchases for premium currency, character summons, and items. Beyond gaming, KLab has been actively diversifying into AI-adjacent businesses: KLab GPU AI Cloud (sales and operational management of high-performance GPU servers sold direct and through an IFA partner network), YUMEKAIRO Production (an AI VTuber agency selected for METI's IP360 program), KLab AI Entertainment (an AI music label that debuted its first artist SANA in December 2025), AI-powered BTC and Gold market analysis reports, and an AI automatic trading system in development targeting 2027 commercialization. In February 2026 KLab acquired a minority stake in I'mbesideyou Inc., an AI startup with 280+ international patents covering multimodal emotion analysis, to anchor this AI expansion.

Go-to-market combines product-led growth (F2P mobile distribution across global app stores and consoles) with channel partnerships for overseas publishing (e.g., Garena for HAIKYU!! FLY HIGH), co-development with IP holders (SQUARE ENIX, EA Sports FC Tactical), and sales-led enterprise motion for the GPU cloud business. The company employs 287 people (March 2026) and reports capital of 8,932.1 million yen, though reported financials show a steep multi-year revenue decline and sustained operating losses through 2025.

Name

KLab

Legal name

KLab Inc.

Website

https://klab.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

KLab Inc. is a Tokyo-listed mobile game developer that builds and operates free-to-play games based on Japanese anime IPs such as Bleach, Captain Tsubasa, My Hero Academia, and Dragon Quest, distributed globally on mobile, PC, and consoles. It is also expanding into GPU cloud, AI VTuber, and AI trading businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Gaming

NAICS

Software Publishers (51321), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

End-to-End Enterprise AI Platforms (MLOps & Model Lifecycle Management) (HDAEANAA)

Keywords

• Mobile game development
• Anime IP licensing
• Freemium mobile games
• GPU cloud services
• AI entertainment products

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mobile Game Operations: Free-to-play mobile games with in-app purchases for character summons, items, and premium currency; games include Bleach: Brave Souls, Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team, My Hero Academia UNITED SURVIVAL, and DRAGON QUEST SMASH/GROW
2. GPU Cloud Services: Sales and operational management of high-performance GPU servers for AI era applications; sold directly and through partnership channels
3. AI Automated Trading: Proprietary AI trading system for financial products targeting commercialization in 2027; currently in final testing phase with demo trading

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KLab plans, develops, and operates free-to-play mobile games based on licensed Japanese anime and gaming IPs (Bleach, Captain Tsubasa, My Hero Academia, Dragon Quest, HAIKYU!!), distributed globally via app stores, Steam, and console platforms. The company also runs an emerging AI business segment including high-performance GPU cloud infrastructure for enterprise/SME customers and AI entertainment products such as VTuber production and AI-driven market analysis.

Product overview

KLab Inc. is a Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market-listed mobile game developer (TSE: 3656) founded in 2000, operating a portfolio of mobile games alongside expanding AI-related businesses. The core game portfolio includes major anime IP titles: Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team (head-to-head football simulation), Bleach: Brave Souls (3D action RPG available on mobile, PC, and consoles), My Hero Academia UNITED SURVIVAL (hero action roguelite), and DRAGON QUEST SMASH/GROW (roguelite RPG co-developed with SQUARE ENIX). The AI business segment encompasses KLab GPU AI Cloud (high-performance GPU server sales and cloud provision), YUMEKAIRO Production (AI VTuber production), KLab AI Entertainment (AI music label with artist SANA), AI-powered market analysis reports (BTC and Gold reports), and development of AI automatic trading systems for financial products. The company also operates IP-based media projects including Lapis Re:LiGHTs and Magatsu Wahrheit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KLab GPU AI Cloud: GPU server sales, operational management, and cloud provision for the AI era
• YUMEKAIRO Production
• KLab AI Entertainment

Products and services

• Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team Head-to-head football simulation mobile game featuring characters from the Captain Tsubasa manga series; players build dream teams and compete online against other players globally. Targeted at sports anime fans and competitive mobile gamers.
• Bleach: Brave Souls Full-scale 3D hack-and-slash action game based on the BLEACH anime and manga series, available on smartphones, PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox. Targeted at anime action-RPG fans.
• My Hero Academia UNITED SURVIVAL Hero action rogue-lite game where players build 3-person squads and unleash Quirks in explosive action combat; features roguelite adventure with upgrades and exclusive game-original storylines. Developed in partnership with gumi Inc. under My Hero Academia Production Committee license.
• DRAGON QUEST SMASH/GROW Roguelite RPG for smartphones featuring roguelike gameplay with character growth and strategic combat. Co-developed with SQUARE ENIX. Free-to-play with in-app purchases on iOS and Android.
• HAIKYU!! FLY HIGH Mobile game based on the HAIKYU!! anime featuring team-based RPG mechanics, character collection and training, strategic gameplay, and 3D visuals. Available in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
• KLab GPU AI Cloud GPU cloud service handling sales, operational management, and cloud provision of high-performance GPU servers for AI applications. Targeted at SMEs and enterprises needing GPU computing resources for AI development and machine learning workloads.
• YUMEKAIRO Production AI VTuber production service based on the concept 'AI Idols created together with fans.' Features AI-generated VTubers including Yumemi Nana, Tsukimado Romi, and SANA.
• BLEACH Soul Rising First smartphone 3D MMO action game that faithfully reproduces the images and story of the original anime BLEACH; official title of 'BLEACH Kyo·Kai-Tamashinokakusei: Shinigami' for Japan, with joint publishing partnership for China market.
• Lapis Re:LiGHTs Cross-media project built on central themes of 'magic' and 'pop stars'; a collaborative project with KADOKAWA CORPORATION.
• Magatsu Wahrheit Full-scale dark fantasy story developed by KLabGames as an original IP, including both a game and anime adaptation.
• Alterna Vvelt -Blue Exorcist Another Story- Game released in Japan and North America, distributed by Aniplex Inc.; KLab participated in development.
• KLab AI Entertainment AI music label featuring AI-generated music artists; first artist 'SANA' debuted on December 25, 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 million downloads worldwide for Bleach: Brave Souls
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• North Star Advisory Inc.secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 March 2026Partnership to strengthen GPU cloud sales and implementation support structure. North Star Advisory, an IFA (Independent Financial Advisor), handles information provision and decision support for SME customers considering GPU cloud as business infrastructure. KLab remains primary seller.
• I'mbesideyou Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026KLab acquired a minority stake in AI startup I'mbesideyou Inc. from its president Shozo Kamiya and other shareholders. The transaction involved 900 common shares and 230 Class A1 preferred stock. KLab also entered into a Business Partnership Agreement for technological collaboration in AI development, including automated trading systems and entertainment services.
• SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partnership for DRAGON QUEST SMASH/GROW, a smartphone roguelite RPG officially launched April 21, 2026. KLab developed the game under SQUARE ENIX's Dragon Quest IP.
• gumi Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partnership for My Hero Academia UNITED SURVIVAL game. gumi collaborated with KLab on development under license from My Hero Academia Production Committee.
• BLOCKSMITH&Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLOCKSMITH&Co. leads planning and development of AI automatic trading system, while I'mbesideyou handles technical AI development. KLab is conducting final testing before full-scale operation.
• Prophet GamessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese game developer that created HAIKYU!! FLY HIGH. KLab participated through Overseas Game Development Support Model obtaining licenses from Japanese IP holders.
• GarenasecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher for HAIKYU!! FLY HIGH global version. KLab obtained IP licenses and jointly developed with Prophet Games, with Garena handling publishing in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
• Beijing Kunlun Lexiang Network Technology Co., LimitedsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for BLEACH Soul Rising, the first smartphone 3D MMO action game based on BLEACH IP. Joint development and publishing partnership for China market.
• Electronic ArtssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of EA Sports FC Tactical, a turn-based soccer mobile game. Soft-released in select East/Southeast Asian regions in May 2024; shutdown announced May 7, 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Square Enix Holdings: Major Japanese publisher and IP owner whose Dragon Quest franchise KLab licenses via DRAGON QUEST SMASH/GROW; a partner and a benchmark incumbent in anime/RPG mobile gaming.
• Bandai Namco Holdings: Large Japanese entertainment conglomerate combining game publishing with anime IP ownership (e.g., One Piece, Naruto); directly comparable to the IP licensing model KLab depends on.

Direct peers

• mixi: Operator of Monster Strike, one of Japan's top-grossing mobile games, with a comparable freemium live-service model and reliance on community/IP-driven engagement.
• GREE: Pioneering Japanese social/mobile gaming company with a similar historical arc — early social games to mobile — and overlap with KLab in anime/IP-licensed mobile titles.
• gumi Inc. Tokyo-listed mobile game developer and a direct co-development partner of KLab on My Hero Academia UNITED SURVIVAL; competes in the same anime-IP mobile RPG niche.
• DeNA: Tokyo-listed mobile and online game developer with a strong Japan mobile games business (e.g., Final Fantasy Record Keeper collaborations with Square Enix) and adjacent live-service operations, directly comparable to KLab's mobile-first anime IP strategy.
• Colopl: Japanese mobile game developer (e.g., White Cat Project / Shironeko Project) with a comparable freemium anime-style live-service portfolio.
• HoYoverse (miHoYo): Global mobile developer behind Genshin Impact and Honkai, operating the high-quality 3D anime-style action gacha model that KLab's Bleach: Brave Souls and My Hero Academia UNITED SURVIVAL compete against internationally.
• CyberAgent (Cygames): CyberAgent's Cygames subsidiary operates hit Japanese mobile titles (Granblue Fantasy, Uma Musume) built on anime IP and high-quality 3D graphics, making it the most relevant Japanese mobile gaming peer to KLab's portfolio model.
• Garena (Sea Limited): Garena publishes HAIKYU!! FLY HIGH (the KLab-supported title) across SEA, Latin America, Europe and North America; a direct publisher peer in free-to-play mobile game distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/KLab_EN
• Facebookfacebook.com/KLabInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KLab