VTuber agency PANDORA announced on March 16 that it has registered the trademark XTuber, inciting equal parts wonder and criticism in the Japanese VTuber community. Pronounced “cross-tuber,” this term refers to a new, “next-generation” style of VTuber that transcends the boundaries of the virtual and physical worlds (source: Otaku Soken).
In other words, PANDORA is looking to popularize creators who will be active both through a virtual (VTuber) persona, and in real life. The goal is to maintain the freedom of VTuber culture while breaking away from the assumption that fans will never get to see or meet the flesh-and-blood person behind the avatar. This move comes in response to the maturation of the VTuber market, with PANDORA hoping to proliferate XTubers as the “next evolutional step” in the genre.
On the other hand, the announcement has been met with mixed reception, ranging from jabs at the word’s similarity to a certain naughty website, to criticism of the trademark itself. Many have pointed out that YouTube’s creator guidelines do not allow the word “Tuber” to be used in official names, with trademarks specifically listed as a no-no, which could imply potential legal troubles down the road. (To begin with, the term “VTuber” itself is used only as a general term and is not a registered trademark of any specific entity.) Additionally, some users were not pleased to see PANDORA treat the concept of hybrid virtual/real-life streamers as its own, arguing that it has already been a thing for some time.
Setting reception aside, PANDORA is getting ready to produce new XTubers, and it has launched an initiative aimed at encouraging even newbies without the experience, resources or working environment typically required to join the field. Titled Project YOHANE, the audition program is open to all applicants of age and is accepting submissions as of February 2026. Although the XTuber concept involves both virtual and real-life activities, it seems applicants aren’t required to show their faces at the selection stage.
