YOAKE entertainment has closed a $3.2 million (500 million JPY) funding round led exclusively by the Sony Innovation Fund. The investment is set to scale Record Protocol, a verified fandom infrastructure on Soneium, with a focus on music, gaming, film, and anime. The partnership also strengthens collaboration with Sony Block Solutions Labs, positioning Record as a foundational tool to track and reward fan engagement across entertainment IPs.
For gamers, this means new opportunities to engage with favorite franchises and content creators in a measurable way. Record Protocol transforms fan contributions into onchain records, allowing players to earn recognition and access through their interactions with games and community activities. This approach emphasizes genuine fan engagement rather than speculative financial rewards.
Measuring Gamer Engagement Through Blockchain
Record Protocol introduces a concept called IPFi powered by fandom, which quantifies fan involvement and converts it into verifiable data on the blockchain. In traditional gaming and entertainment, fan activity such as social sharing, event participation, and content creation often goes unrecognized. Record aims to capture this activity and reward it with tangible benefits, such as exclusive experiences, in-game items, or early access content.
YOAKE’s IRC APP demonstrates this system in practice. Originally developed for Japan’s largest idol and fashion festival, the app tracks fandom activity using Generative AI and verifies participation onchain. For gamers, similar systems could be applied to esports tournaments, online communities, and fan-driven content for popular game franchises. By rewarding engagement instead of monetary speculation, the protocol builds sustainable and passionate communities.
Expanding Gaming Ecosystems on Soneium
The collaboration with Sony is intended to scale Record as a universal protocol across gaming, music, anime, and film. For game developers and publishers, this infrastructure offers a way to integrate verified fandom metrics directly into their ecosystems. This could allow communities to earn rewards for streaming, sharing content, attending virtual events, or supporting official releases, all while providing a reliable data layer for IP owners.
By connecting Soneium’s blockchain infrastructure with global IPs, Record aims to make fan contributions measurable and recognized across multiple entertainment verticals. Gamers may benefit from a more interactive relationship with the franchises they love, while studios can better understand and reward fan engagement.
Leadership Perspective on Gaming Fandom
Sota Moriyama, CEO of YOAKE entertainment, emphasized the importance of fandom in entertainment ecosystems. He explained that their goal is not to disrupt content but to update the systems that track and reward participation. Moriyama noted that passion drives value in entertainment, and integrating blockchain technologies like Record allows for deeper recognition of fan activity. This approach could expand from idol and music events to gaming communities, esports, and online fanbases.
About Record and YOAKE Entertainment
Record is a neutral protocol designed to make fan contributions measurable, verifiable, and valuable. It is currently in private R&D but aims to become an open-source framework supporting all forms of IP and fan activity. YOAKE entertainment, a joint venture backed by Sony Group, ASOBISYSTEM, TWIN PLANET, W TOKYO, and Y&N Brothers, develops IRC APP to demonstrate real-world applications of Record Protocol.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Record Protocol in gaming?
Record Protocol is a blockchain-based system that tracks and verifies fan engagement with IPs, including games, allowing fans to earn recognition or rewards through their participation.
How does YOAKE’s funding affect gamers?
The $3.2 million investment from Sony Innovation Fund enables Record to scale, providing tools for gamers to interact with official IPs, participate in community events, and earn verified rewards.
Can this system be used for esports?
Yes. Record Protocol could track fan participation in tournaments, streaming, and fan-driven content, providing verified rewards without relying on monetary speculation.
What types of rewards can fans earn?
Rewards may include exclusive experiences, early access to content, limited digital items, or recognition within fan communities.
How is this different from “play-to-earn” models?
Unlike play-to-earn, Record focuses on verified participation and genuine fandom engagement, rather than offering speculative financial incentives.
Is Record open to all game developers?
The protocol is currently in private R&D but aims to become fully open-source, allowing developers and IP owners to integrate it into gaming and entertainment ecosystems.
