Gamers! was one of the anime that enlivened the summer of 2017 in the romantic comedy genre. Based on a light novel by Sekina Aoi, the story was adapted into an anime by the Pine Jam studio. A relatively new studio at the time, Pine Jam quickly gained recognition with anime such as Just Because! and Gleipnir, and it seems that we will continue to see more of their works in the future.
Funimation licensed Gamers! for streaming, and the series originally aired on local Japanese TV channels from July 13, 2017, to September 28, 2017. The series consists of only 12 episodes and a single season. The story of Keita, a passionate gamer, was warmly received by anime fans, and now, they are eagerly anticipating the possibility of a second season even after almost 8 years. We have seen many animes return to screens years after. But will Gamers! ever get a second season?
What is the plotline of the anime?
The main character, Amano Keita, is a sophomore high school student who loves playing video games. Keita plays games across all platforms, from mobile games to consoles and PC, with a particular affinity for RPGs and romantic-themed visual novels. The leading lady in the series is Tendo Karen, the most popular girl in school, admired for her elite demeanor and high grades. However, Karen’s greatest passion is also gaming, and she even managed to revive the school’s gaming club, growing it into a group of three, including herself.
One day, Karen approaches Keita, which surprises everyone as she’s the school’s most admired student, and Keita, known for his nerdy persona, is the last person one might expect her to talk to. Karen invites Keita to join the game club, which he is excited about at first. However, upon seeing the competitive nature of the club and how the members clash with each other instead of simply enjoying games together, Keita decides not to join. This confuses Karen, who might have been rejected for the first time. This marks the beginning of an interesting and engaging story, filled with character-driven moments as the game club’s activities and the relationships between the members evolve. The story is further enriched with the addition of three more characters, making it an enjoyable ride for fans of comedy and romance alike.
Will there be a second season of Gamers!?
Gamers! was released as a single season in the summer of 2017. As of January 9, 2025, there has been no official confirmation regarding a second season. The animation studio, Pine Jam, or any related company with “Gamers!” has not yet renewed the anime for another season. It is not unusual for anime to return for a new season after several years, and while no official announcement has been made, we can look at several important factors that could help us predict whether or not a second season is in the future.
Light Novel (Source Material) Status for Season 2
The anime is based on a light novel series written by Sekina Aoi and illustrated by Saboten. The series, published by Fujimi Shobo, began in 2015 and concluded with 12 volumes in October 2019. While the series has finished its run, there is still enough source material for a potential second season. The first season of the anime adapted the first five volumes of the light novel, leaving sufficient content for at least one more season. The anime’s unresolved storylines, especially Chiaki’s realization arc, left fans with a sense of a ‘cliffhanger,’ further fueling interest in a potential continuation. While this is a good contributor for a second season possibility, the fans who lost their hopes completely or who can’t wait for a possible second season can continue the story by picking up the 6th volume of the light novel and enjoy the rest of the story in another format.
Disc sales in terms of a 2nd Season
Blu-ray and DVD sales are often key indicators of an anime’s success and its potential for a follow-up season. In the case of Gamers!, the sales figures have been somewhat disappointing. The first season only sold 1,514 units, bringing in ¥34,580,000 in revenue. This is significantly below the industry threshold of 4,000 units typically expected for studios to greenlight a new season. While the low sales figures make a second season seem unlikely, they don’t entirely rule it out, as the disc sales are not as valuable as it was and factors like social media presence, streaming viewership, and fan demand can still influence decision-makers.
Other Factors That Could Influence a New Season
Although Gamers! may not have been Pine Jam’s most commercially successful anime, it still has a dedicated fanbase. For context, Pine Jam’s previous original production, Just Because!, sold only 1,700 discs, showing that the studio’s other series haven’t been breakout hits either. Gamers! ranks 325th in popularity on MyAnimeList, which is fairly respectable, but not enough to push it to the top-tier status that guarantees a sequel. The anime also has a strong presence on social media, with its official X account boasting over 33K followers. Despite these positive signs, however, none of the seven anime series produced by Pine Jam since its founding in 2015 have received a second season, which suggests the studio may be hesitant to invest in sequels at this time.
On the other hand, the anime’s X account broke its silence after four years with a tweet in August 2024. Although the post does not point to a second season, it did spark the possibility of a second season in the minds of fans. While it’s not enough of a reason to speculate, an unexpected post after years of silence is far from ordinary.
Gamers! Season 2 Release Date: What to Expect
As of November 2024, Gamers! has not yet been renewed for a second season, but the light novel still has sufficient content for further adaptation. The first season is popular among fans, particularly on streaming platforms and social media, but its Blu-ray sales fell short of expectations. While the anime has a solid fan base, Gamers! remains relatively low on the priority list for Pine Jam, making the chances of a second season less likely. However, we believe there is still a 25% chance that a second season could be produced, given the anime’s continuing popularity and available source material.
Typically, anime seasons take about one year to produce. If Pine Jam decides to move forward with a second season soon, it could potentially be released in late 2025 or early 2026. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor any developments and update you with the latest news as soon as it becomes available.