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In recent years, Vtubers, or Virtual YouTubers, have become one of the most popular ways for people to consume content. Unlike regular streamers, VTubers employ the use of a virtual avatar and motion capture technology to stream online.
That streaming and presence could soon extend beyond the world of YouTube or Twitch. After the inclusion of VTuber Usada Pekora in the recently released Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, the CEO of one of the biggest VTuber agencies says that the personas could soon be in more and more video games.
There Is An Untapped Audience Of Potential Fans Who’ve Yet To Experience VTubing
In a new interview with PC Gamer, Motoaki Tanigo, who is the CEO of Cover, a larger company that owns Hololive, a massive VTuber agency, said that the goal right now is to introduce gamers to the genre, specifically those in the U.S. who may not be aware of some already existing collaborations.
For instance, a collab between Inugami Korone and Sonic Frontiers, which saw the release of some themed DLC and merch, was only available in Japan. Using Death Stranding 2 as an example, Tanigo said that the collaborations can “reach a wider audience of people who wouldn’t come across VTubers.”
Beyond collaborating with existing games, Tanigo also outlined a strategy that will see existing VTuber personalities shift towards streaming on Twitch, where there’s more of a domestic audience. Additionally, those streams will “look toward having more talent that can play games that are popular in the US,” including first-person shooters or other competitive games that have become super popular.
Given the recent release of Death Stranding 2, it’ll be interesting to see what the next big crossover between gaming and VTubers is, and whether it’ll lead to that expansion in audience that Tanigo is hoping for.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Systems
4.5/5
- Released
- June 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
- Decima
- Franchise
- Death Stranding
- Number of Players
- Single-player
