VTubing in 2026: From Live IPs to Industry Consolidation

2025 was one of the most important periods in VTubing’s history not because of any single breakout star or controversy, but because it forced the industry to confront uncomfortable structural truths. Community sentiment, particularly on platforms like X, has increasingly framed VTubing as a space where corporations are losing relevance and indies are “winning.” That narrative is loud, emotionally charged, and largely misleading. Continue reading VTubing in 2026: From Live IPs to Industry Consolidation

The Collapse of VShojo

It’s hard for anyone in the VTubing world to miss the recent collapse of VShojo, arguably the biggest story in the industry’s history. In the span of a single day, an entire agency was effectively wiped out, a fallout so severe it eclipsed even the damage caused by Selen Tatsuki’s termination from Nijisanji.
Of course, this didn’t happen overnight. The cracks have been showing for some time. Allegations have surfaced that prominent talents like Kson and Henya hadn’t been paid in nearly a year, and the company reportedly failed to deliver a promised $500,000 donation to Ironmouse’s iron deficiency charity.
So how did one of the most promising VTuber agencies end up imploding so dramatically? Continue reading The Collapse of VShojo

Saying Goodbye to Gawr Gura – The Face of a Generation

On May 1st, 2025, Gawr Gura will graduate from Hololive, words that have shaken not only the Hololive community, but the wider VTubing world as well.

Since her debut in September 2020, Gura has been the face of VTubing, a symbol of its explosive global rise and mainstream recognition. But now, the time has come for her to leave this chapter behind and, as she herself might put it, return to the ocean. Continue reading Saying Goodbye to Gawr Gura – The Face of a Generation

A farewell to Nanashi Mumei

Nanashi Mumei will graduate from Hololive on April 28th, 2025.
She originally debuted in August 2021 as part of Hololive Council, alongside Tsukumo Sana, Ceres Fauna, Ouro Kronii, and Hakos Baelz—with Sana and now Mumei being the first two members of Council to graduate.

On March 27th, 2025, Mumei announced her upcoming graduation, citing internal misalignments and chronic health issues as the reasons for her departure. Mumei has long battled a chronic cough, which unfortunately has limited her ability to work and stream as much as she may have wished during her time with Hololive.

As she prepares to say farewell, let’s take a moment to look back on Mumei’s time in Hololive and celebrate everything she accomplished. Continue reading A farewell to Nanashi Mumei

A farewell to Murasaki Shion

Murasaki Shion will be graduating on the 26th of April 2025. She’s been a long-standing member of Hololive, debuting back in 2018 and will be the 2nd member of Gen 2 to graduate after Minato Aqua.

Shion has been a part of Hololive for almost 7 full years and she was one of the first members to be scouted by Cover Corp rather than audition a significant milestone for Hololive’s development back in 2018. She’s seen the company grow into what it is today, and she leaves behind a strong legacy. For non-JP fans this will be a short recap of her time in Hololive and what she achieved. Continue reading A farewell to Murasaki Shion

Gawr Gura Graduation Announcement – FAQs and Reflections

On March 19th, I wrote a piece on graduation following Murasaki Shion’s announcement. Since then, two more graduations have been confirmed: Nanashi Mumei and now Gawr Gura from Hololive English.

Rather than repeat the same sentiments from that article, I’ve decided to keep this short and frame it as a FAQ-style reflection, offering some clarity based on what we currently know. Continue reading Gawr Gura Graduation Announcement – FAQs and Reflections

Let’s talk about Graduation

Murasaki Shion’s impending graduation from Hololive marks a notable increase in departures, the fifth since August 2024. This trend reflects various personal reasons, shifting dynamics within Hololive, and the rise of indie VTubers. Despite the emotional impact, graduations allow talents to transition positively, while new generations and affiliations offer a fresh direction for the agency. Continue reading Let’s talk about Graduation