Japanese esports organisation REJECT is opening up a new revenue stream with the launch of a paid official fan club on October 3, 2026.
Membership will cost 6,050 yen per year (approximately US$40) or 550 yen per month (approximately US$3.60), with both prices including tax. In exchange, members will receive several types of content and perks, including fan club-exclusive posts several times a month, such as behind-the-scenes photos from events and organisation news.
Members will also be able to select one REJECT talent to send them a digital birthday message, though this particular benefit is not scheduled to begin until January 2027. In addition, all members will receive a digital membership card showing one of four ranks, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum, based on factors such as how long someone has been a member, along with a record of their support history.
The membership programme will also offer priority access to ticket sales for selected events and other exclusive benefits. At launch, priority ticket sales will apply to events featuring VTubers signed to REJECT. The organisation says it plans to gradually expand this to cover other communities it is involved in, including fighting games, first-person shooters, mobile games, and individual streamers.
The new fan club will operate alongside two existing REJECT services rather than replacing them: YouTube Membership will continue to offer its existing content, including material specific to individual channels and content featuring multiple talents together, though priority ticket sales for REJECT-related events will now run through the new fan club instead.
REJECT will also continue to run its Supporter Programme, which is not designed for fans but instead focuses on corporates and brands. The programme allows companies to support the team at a low entry cost in exchange for corporate branding.
The move by Japanese esports teams to explore revenue streams beyond traditional sponsorships is not a new trend. Some organisations, such as Crazy Raccoon, have taken this strategy much further, with the club recently announcing that it is now sponsor-free and able to run its operations independently without money from brand deals.
REJECT, however, is not following the same path and has instead been actively developing and renewing its partnerships with corporate sponsors. Last month, the organisation revealed that Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) provided limited-time sponsorship support to REJECT’s Pokémon UNITE roster for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. Around the same time, REJECT also announced a partnership with AnyMind Group Inc., a Japan-based technology company. A few months before that, REJECT renewed its existing partnership agreement with Rohto Pharmaceutical, the company best known for its eye care products.
