Idea Factory International announcedNeptunia Virtual Starsin the west, launching in physical and digital in 2021 on PS4.Neptunia Virtual Starsis the officially localized name ofVVVtune, announced back in November 2019 in Japan. It’s a rhythm-based action RPG, with different characters, each using short-range or long-ranged weapons. Most of the playable characters use guns, giving the game a TPS-like gameplay.Neptunia Virtual Starsis also a crossover game, featuring the main girls from theNeptuniafranchise: Neptune, Noire, Blanc, Vert, and dozens of guest Virtual YouTubers. Examples include Sifir Esirer, VTubers from the Asano Sister Project, Horror Academians, Wactor, Holo Live, orReVdol!.
Neptunia Virtual Starshas over 60 guest VTubers in total. Obviously, they’re not all playable, but randomly appear in battle to help. Heart fromHokuto no Kenis included as well,seeing he debuted in 2018 as a official VTuberfor the 35th anniversary of the manga.
Jin/Shizen no Teki-P, known for his Vocaloid songs called theKagerou Project, is handling the OST ofNeptunia Virtual Stars.
Neptunia Virtual Starswill not be dubbed in English and only include the original Japanese voiceovers.
Neptunia Virtual Starsofficial story pitch and key features:
In a dimension called Virtualand, the virtual planets that exist within it contain an extraordinary ability to produce a commodity known as content. Of these celestial bodies is a tranquil planet known as EMO. This was the latest target of a nefarious group whose sole purpose is to destroy content created by virtual planets… Anti. Their decimation of EMO has left its citizens hopeless.
Just then, VTubers, popular live-streamers from Earth, were suddenly transported to Virtualand. Because VTubers possess an affinity for creating good content, they were obvious targets for Anti, who quickly captured them and turned them into data pockets known as V Cubes.
Fair, the Virtual Goddess and leader of Planet EMO, sent out a distress signal to multiple dimensions in the hopes of a miracle. Two groups received the signal -the rising VTuberstars, Mi and Yu, members of MEWTRAL, as well as the Goddesses of Gamindustri: Neptune, Noire, Blanc, and Vert. Both parties, now entering unfamiliar terrain, decide to team up to duke it out against Anti! Can they band together and save planet EMO from complete destruction?
Switch On-The-Fly âSeamlessly switch perspectives between melee and ranged shooter characters in fast-paced hack ‘n’ slash battles. Get the right combos for more bonuses and greater damage!
Feel the BeatTik Rhythm âTeam up with real-life Virtual YouTubers and get fans riled up in BeatTik rhythm game performances to save the planet!
BGM got me going! âBackground music can help or hurt you in special boss battles, changing battle conditions and even unlocking coordinated finishing moves.
Cheer up with VTubers âVTubers can randomly join you during battle to help! With their support, they can cheer you on during play and even provide you with a special prize if you make their dreams come true!
Note that “Anti” is how we call “haters” on Japanese internet. This is the typical meta plot ofNeptuniaif you’re used to the series.
Neptunia Virtual StarsOpening Movie
Neptunia Virtual Starsgameplay
Neptunia Virtual StarsScreenshots, logo and artwork (Japanese version)
Neptunia Virtual Starsis one of the projects celebrating the 10th anniversary of Compile Heart and Idea Factory’sNeptuniafranchise.Neptunia Virtual Stars, known asVVVtunein Japan, was supposed to launch there on PS4 on July 2. However,VVVtunewasrecently delayedto July 02, 2025.Mary Skelter Finale, another Compile Heart game coming to PS4 and Switch, was similarly delayed from August 27 to July 25, 2025.
In Japan, the release ofNeptunia Virtual Starswill be bundled with this free DLC costume to make up for the delay. It’ll probably be revealed later in the western version along with more DLC costumes.
Personally speaking, as I mentioned in the past, while I love Japanese-stylized games in general, I’ve never been interested in theNeptuniafranchise. Though I enjoy writing about it, as I’ll always be amazed theNeptuniaseries actually managed to survive its very rough start. I’m not hugely into VTubers either, so I highly doubt I’ll be grabbing this game. With that said, I’m happy those who enjoy the Nep or VTubers will be able to enjoy the game in English. 2021 is a pretty long wait though compared to the August 2020 Japanese release.
We coveredVVVtunein past articleshereandhere.And remember that as aFifa-only writer TM, I sure did enjoyEA doing something for Black Lives Matter.Jokes asides, shout out to Idea Factory International for standing with Black Lives Matter.
