Radical Decision from Cover Corp for Holostars Japan: Corporate Support Being Cut
Cover Corp, one of the leading names in the VTuber industry, made a surprising decision for its fans in an official statement on April 3, 2026. The company announced that it would significantly downsize the operations of its male VTuber group, Holostars Japan, and change its management structure. Under this new policy, the group's corporate-level activities will be terminated, with the goal of using resources more efficiently.
With this radical decision, Holostars Japan members will no longer receive company support for new licensed merchandise, original music production, and large-scale event performances. Additionally, the talents' access to the company's high-tech studios will be restricted. Cover Corp stated that this move was made to "optimize the business and ensure sustainability," emphasizing that the focus will shift from group projects to individual streamer activities.
The Holostars journey, which began with the debut of Hanasaki Miyabi in June 2019, had carved out a unique place for itself in the VTuber world for nearly seven years. Growing with names like Kanade Izuru, Arurandeisu, and Rikka, the group had a loyal fan base, even if it remained in the shadow of Hololive's (the female branch) global success. However, the company's recent financial reports and market analyses indicate that the male branch has not been generating enough financial return to cover corporate investments.
Following the news, Holostars members reacted to the situation in different ways. For example, Utsugi Uyu took on the role of a "homeless streamer" by ironically playing "Bum Simulator," while fans on social media criticized the company's decision as "abandoning the talents to their fate." Nevertheless, Cover Corp announced that the talents would remain affiliated with the brand and that the basic support required for their individual streams would continue. Another notable detail is that the Holostars English (Tempus and Armis) branches are currently unaffected by these restrictions.
