An IRL experiment

PlayLobby

Gamers don't have to play alone at home. We're testing a live game night in Los Angeles: real people in one room, a host running the show, a few hours of games and good company.

Waitlist open

Free to join. No date set yet.

First night
Lobby

Valorant Night

Date TBA A few hours Los Angeles

16–20 players • live host • mixed teams

Lobby

CS2 Night

Maybe later. Tell us in the form if you'd come.

Lobby

League Night

Maybe later. Tell us in the form if you'd come.

Not just another match

Online you queue with strangers and never hear from them again. Here you meet the people you play with.

Real people

Same room, same screens, same trash talk, said to someone's face with a grin.

A live host

Someone runs the night, sets up teams, keeps it moving and makes sure nobody sits in a corner.

Everyone plays

No single-elimination bracket where half the room goes home early. Teams get mixed so you play all night.

The night

A rough plan for a few hours. The host adjusts it to the room.

  1. 1

    Check-in and meet

    Grab a seat, get set up and meet the lobby.

  2. 2

    Team draft

    The host mixes players into teams, so you play with people you don't know yet.

  3. 3

    Match rounds

    Games in rotation. Teams reshuffle between rounds, so everyone stays in.

  4. 4

    Break and hang out

    Stretch, talk, compare ranks and settle arguments about agents.

  5. 5

    Final showdown

    One last match to close out the night, then stick around if you want.

This is a draft program. The final plan goes out with the reservation email and may change.

How it works

Nothing gets booked until enough players are in.

  1. Join the waitlist

    Tell us what you play and your in-game name. Free, about a minute.

  2. Reserve your spot

    If enough people sign up, we email a proposed date and a link to reserve a spot for $30.

  3. We book the night

    Once enough reservations are paid, we book the venue and send the final details.

  4. Show up and play

    Meet the lobby, play, hang out.

This is an experiment. Joining the waitlist doesn't reserve a spot and doesn't guarantee an event will take place. Game, date, venue and program are announced only if the night goes ahead, and may change.

Join the lobby

Free, no commitment. We'll email you if the lobby fills.

Only if you'd like to keep in touch with other players after the night.

What do you play?

Free to join, no payment now. We only email you about PlayLobby events.

Questions

When and where is it?

No date or venue yet. If enough players join the waitlist, we'll email a proposed date and a location in Los Angeles together with the reservation link.

Which game?

The first night will most likely be Valorant. CS2 and League of Legends nights depend on how many people ask for them in the form.

Is it a tournament?

Not a strict bracket. It's a hosted game night: the host mixes teams and runs rounds so everyone keeps playing, with breaks to hang out in between.

How much does it cost?

The waitlist is free. If the lobby fills, a spot costs $30, paid through the reservation link in our email. Nothing is charged when you join the list.

What if not enough people reserve?

Then we don't book the night, and your $30 reservation is refunded in full.

Do I have to be good?

No. Any rank is welcome. Tell us your rank in the form so the host can balance teams.

Is this a sure thing?

No. PlayLobby is an experiment to find out whether enough local players want in-person game nights. It happens only if enough people reserve.

Follow for upcoming events

Waitlist open