Japan’s empty apartments are being turned into gaming spaces aimed at esports players 

A renovation project by a Japanese company is aiming to turn Japan’s empty houses and apartments into high-tech gaming facilities to appeal to esports players and avid gamers- offering them an attractive place in which to hone their skills. The project also strives to raise the profile of esports in Japan and contribute to the revitalization of local areas.

With Japan’s declining population, many houses and apartments are being left vacant- especially in the countryside. With a surplus of housing available, it can be difficult for building owners to attract tenants to older buildings without renovating them at a high cost. As reported by ITMedia, streamer/esports player management company TFOA has come up with one new way to tackle this issue and make such empty residences useful and appealing again.  

At the time of writing, there is a model room for a “Gaming House” located inside an old apartment building in Tokyo. The white, brightly lit interior is modeled on a spaceship, and features a high-performance PC, speakers and other equipment, as well as sound-proofed walls so that your gaming sessions don’t bother any potential neighbors.  

Unlike standard renovations of old apartments, the initial costs for the building owner are zero, making the Gaming House scheme an attractive prospect for landlords struggling to attract new tenants. TFOA have formed an alliance with the Osaka-based property renovator and high-speed internet provider Broad Enterprise to shorten the time it takes to do such renovations to as little as three months. According to ITMedia, the companies have received over 20 orders for such remodeled residences, and the very first Gaming House is scheduled to open in Tokyo in March. 

According to TFOA’s CEO, one of the aims of renovating properties into Gaming Houses is to help boost rural income and populations as such residences would allow pro gamers to live in countryside areas. “In the future, I would like to create a situation similar to soccer’s J-League, where there are Gaming Houses across the country with teams established at each house, which will contribute towards regional development.” It is also hoped that such facilities will help professional gaming to gain more recognition in Japan and boost the earning potential of Japan’s esports players.