Last week, Cover announced that it would be ceasing company-led activities for its all-male VTuber group HOLOSTARS from the current fiscal year onward. While the twelve members will continue with independent activities under the brand, Cover has decided to relocate its resources elsewhere, meaning company support for HOLOSTARS members will be limited or cease entirely (this also means no merch production nor song releases). While fans were devastated by the decision and criticized Cover for effectively abandoning its male streamers, HOLOSTARS members themselves seem to have taken the news in stride, and they’re definitely taking full advantage of their new-found freedom.
The very next day, VTuber Utsugi Uyu did a meaningful livestream of Bum Simulator, during which he roleplayed as a homeless streamer and begged pedestrians for Super Chats while yelling “I’m Holostars, please.” Among other ironic jabs at his own situation and company, he visited an in-game building which he described as his “previous workplace, where he recorded all kinds of videos and streams.” He reminisced about how nostalgic it was to be standing there again before proceeding to pee at the entrance and all over the “employee” who came to chase him away. Needless to say, the stream has garnered an overwhelmingly positive response, with much praise to Utsugi Uyu for continuing to entertain his fans despite the difficult situation.
In a similarly cynical fashion, Yatogami Fuma dedicated a stream to playing Game Dev Story, a simulator title in which you create and manage a game company. In his video titled “Now’s the time to learn how to run a company,” Yatogami established the familiarly named company “POLOSTARS” and swore “not to resort to downsizing or layoffs no matter what.” When his run inevitably ends with him having to downsize after all, he mock-cries through an apology saying, “I couldn’t become a good manager… POLOSTARS didn’t sell.” But in between of provocative jokes about how “everyone knows companies nosedive when they go public,” Yatogami also addressed the matter genuinely, expressing gratitude to Cover for the support so far, and letting fans know that he hasn’t lost his motivation as a creator.
Going for a more slapstick approach, VTuber Kageyama Shien abruptly started a “bare ass” Ketsu Battler playthrough on April 5 (source: Inside Games). Ketsu Battler, which translates literally to “Butt Battler,” is a viral Japanese 2D fighting game for the Nintendo Switch which is played by affixing a Joy-Con to your butt and essentially twerking like mad (which translates into swings of your character’s weapon). While you don’t have to be naked to play Ketsu Battler (or rather, you’re not supposed to), Kageyama Shien decided he had to be. As he’s a VTuber, there’s no actual nudity in the video, but he started the stream off by narrating his stripping of each article of clothing (while moaning for some reason) and letting viewers listen to the sound of his butt cheeks clapping. Apparently, streaming Ketsu Battler was something he’s always wanted to do, so he took his opportunity.
It’s possible that with the recent change in Cover’s management structure, HOLOSTARS members have gained (or feel they have gained) more freedom in expressing themselves, so there could be even more unhinged content waiting ahead.
