Diversity in VTuber Fan Activities

‘T-BASE JAPAN,’ operated by Toys King, conducted a survey targeting men and women in their 10s to 30s who watch VTubers at least once a week, focusing on “VTuber fans’ support styles and intention to purchase merchandise.” This survey explores how VTuber fans engage in their activities, uncovering the diversity of support for VTubers and the trends surrounding it.

The Allure That Captivates Fans: Conversational Skills and Voice

According to the survey results, the primary reason fans are drawn to VTubers was the “entertaining conversation (54.9%),” followed by “skills and reactions during gameplay streams (38.0%).” Notably, aspects like “voice (51.0%)” and “manner of speaking and word choice (45.6%)” are highly valued, indicating that the human charm conveyed through audio captivates fans even more than visual appeal. This factor greatly contributes to the popularity of VTubers affiliated with the Nijisanji project and Hololive Production in attracting fans.

Reasons for Changing Favorites and the Role of Merchandise

On the other hand, a common reason for “changing favorites” was identified as “being more attracted to the appearance and character design (20.3%),” reflecting the impact of the continuous emergence of new, captivating VTubers. Furthermore, regarding VTuber-related merchandise, “acrylic stands (47.9%)” emerged as the most popular items, indicating that supporting through merchandise has become ingrained in fan culture. At Toys King’s Nagoya PARCO store, the selection of VTuber merchandise has been enhanced to meet fan demands.

Reflections and Future Prospects

This survey has revealed significant elements in the support mentality of VTuber fans. What fans truly seek is a sense of closeness communicated through the words and voices of VTubers, which often surpasses mere visual appeal. The awareness of fans integrating VTubers into their everyday lives as relatable figures is also reflected in their support activities through merchandise. Moving forward, the VTuber industry is likely to continue growing, leveraging diversity and uniqueness as its strengths.

Source: PR TIMES