Benelic Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. has announced that “The 2nd VPL × Soranoue Shopping Mall Cup,” a yearlong tentpole event in collaboration with VTuber Mahjong Pro League “VPL (V-pro League),” will be held inside the metaverse commercial facility “Soranoue Shopping Mall.” Stage 1 kicks off on Sunday, May 24, 2026 with the tournament starting at 19:00 and the broadcast going live at 21:00.

Second tournament confirmed as VPL’s yearlong tentpole

“Soranoue Shopping Mall Cup,” well-received by VTuber and mahjong fans in its first edition, is back as a second tournament. The event is held as a yearlong initiative of VTuber Mahjong Pro League “VPL,” and players who advance through four qualifying stages compete for the annual title in the final showdown — the Grand Championship.

The yearly schedule lines up as follows: Stage 1 on Sunday, May 24, 2026; Stage 2 on Sunday, July 12; Stage 3 on Sunday, September 13; Stage 4 on Sunday, November 29; and the Grand Championship — which decides the annual champion — currently scheduled for Sunday, February 28, 2027. The series stretches across approximately 9 months.

New “Pair Team Battle” rule and fan voting slot

The second tournament introduces a new competitive format: “Pair Team Battle.” Player chemistry, strategy, and teamwork all factor into the outcome, which is expected to lead to more dramatic tournament storylines than before.

The event also debuts a fan-participation feature: the “Fan Voting Slot.” The pair that receives the most votes in the fan poll run during each stage is awarded a Grand Championship slot alongside the first- and second-place pairs. By letting fan support directly influence the tournament outcome, the format blends competitive play with “oshi katsu” — fan support culture — into a new kind of tournament experience.

A metaverse-only viewing experience and the “VPL Soranoue Cup Special Arena”

To coincide with the tournament, a “VPL Soranoue Cup Special Arena” opens inside “Soranoue Shopping Mall.” On top of big-screen tournament viewing, attendees can join in with cheer comments, heart-shower effects, photo spots, and other interactive features. The arena is also planned to serve as an information hub for VPL-related content going forward, including archive broadcasts and clipped highlights.

The “VPL Metaverse Player Almanac Exhibition 2026–2027,” introducing officially sanctioned VPL players, is running concurrently. With a newly added seventh generation, the player almanac area covering generations 1 through 7 has been fully refreshed. The exhibition area lets fans encounter and support their “oshi player” through full-body panels, profile introductions, and PR videos.

Upcoming developments and related pages

The lineup of pairs for Stage 1, based on information as of May 20, 2026, is available on the tournament outline page. Yayoi Sho serves as play-by-play and Hino Hako as color commentator, with the tournament delivered on stream. Stage 2 lineups and updates throughout the four-stage annual run will be announced via the official Soranoue Shopping Mall site, each stage’s outline page, and the official VPL site.

Impressions and outlook

The combination of VTubers and competitive mahjong has taken root over the past few years, but pairing a yearlong schedule of four stages plus a Grand Championship with both a Pair Team Battle format and a Fan Voting Slot reflects a strong intent to balance competitive integrity with “oshi katsu” engagement. Wrapping up viewing, cheering, and player exhibition inside a metaverse special arena is a move worth watching as a new experience design that sits between live broadcasts and physical events. The opening day’s viewer count and fan vote response will be key indicators of whether this tournament can carry the momentum of the first edition forward.

Source: PR TIMES