Pixiv Invests in VRChat Inc. in Capital and Business Alliance
The alliance formalizes a relationship that already runs through commerce: BOOTH has become the largest domestic marketplace for VRChat-related items, and the deal moves Pixiv from creation and distribution into the experience layer inside VRChat itself.
Key Facts
- Pixiv Inc. announced on September 9, 2026 that it invested in VRChat Inc. and formed a capital and business alliance; the investment amount and stake were not disclosed.
- The first initiative is Pixiv supporting VRChat's booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17-21 at Makuhari Messe, including a guest session.
- The second initiative is a new VRChat world, 'Avatar x Dress-up Tutorial' (working title), developed by Pixiv with VRChat's promotional support, planned for release this fall.
- BOOTH's 3D model category reached about 10.4 billion yen in 2025 annual transaction value, up about 179 percent from about 5.8 billion yen the prior year.
- VRChat reports more than 250,000 active communities, with average daily concurrent connections of 100,000 and a peak of 160,000.
Reporting from 5 sources: Denfaminicogamer, KAI-YOU, Inside, GameBusiness.jp, and 1 more.
Pixiv Inc. announced on September 9 that it has invested in VRChat Inc., the San Francisco-based operator of the social VR platform VRChat, and formed a capital and business alliance. The two companies plan to collaborate over several years to develop the creator ecosystem around 3D avatar culture, with joint promotions, events, and gradual technical integration between their platforms. The first initiative is Pixiv supporting VRChat's booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17-21 at Makuhari Messe, including a guest session. The second is a new VRChat world, 'Avatar x Dress-up Tutorial' (working title), developed by Pixiv with full promotional support from VRChat, aimed at beginners and planned for release this fall. The alliance builds on existing ties: BOOTH's 3D model category reached about 10.4 billion yen in 2025 annual transaction value, up about 179 percent from the prior year, and VRChat reports more than 250,000 active communities with average daily concurrent connections of 100,000. The investment amount and stake were not disclosed.
Pixiv CEO Yasuhiro Niwa said the company started the VRoid project in 2017 with the goal of a world where everyone can own a 3D avatar, and that BOOTH's 3D model category has grown to exceed 10 billion yen in annual transaction value. He framed the alliance as extending the company's work in creation and distribution into the experience domain. VRChat Inc. CEO Graham Gaylor said the company's role is to support creators and help avatar production become paid work, and that he looks forward to exploring what the two companies can build together.
VRChat runs on Steam, Meta Quest Store, PICO, iOS, and Android, and is free to use. The new world's title is a working name; the final name will be decided later. GameBusiness.jp reported the 2025 BOOTH 3D model category value at about 10.4 billion yen, up from about 5.8 billion yen the year before, a rise of about 179 percent. KAI-YOU noted VRChat's booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026 is its first at the event.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 5 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Denfaminicogamer 「ピクシブ」が「VRChat」運営元と資本業務提携。3Dアバター文化のさらなる発展を目指し、共同でVRChatの新ワールドを今秋リリース
- KAI-YOU ピクシブ、VRChatと資本業務提携を発表 TGS出展支援、新ワールドの共同リリースも
- Inside ピクシブがVRChat Inc.と資本業務提携―VRChat初心者向け「アバター×着せ替えチュートリアル」ワールドを共同リリース予定
- GameBusiness.jp VRChat Inc.がピクシブからの出資受け入れを発表 ―BOOTHの3Dモデル流通総額100億円超でエコシステム連携へ
- PANORA ピクシブがVRChat社と資本業務提携 共同プロモーションやイベント実施、VRChat内の新ワールド共同リリースも