Mawari, which delivers real-time AI-driven immersive 3D experiences, has launched vTubeXR, an extended reality (XR) fan engagement platform enabling immersive 3D VTuber-fan interactions.
The vTubeXR platform adds personalization to the way fans interact with their favorite VTubers (which are animated creators on platforms like YouTube) by providing a fully immersive 3D meet and greet experience.
Powered by Mawari’s proprietary 3D streaming technology and immersive compute network, vTubeXR offers a sense of immersion by rendering and streaming high-quality 3D avatars with low latency to any device. The result is an immersive and flexible fan experience.
“With vTubeXR, we’re creating a new era where fans can truly meet and connect with virtual creators in ways that were never before possible. It bridges the gap between virtual performance and real-world intimacy through real-time, interactive 3D technology,” said Luis Oscar Ramirez Solorzano, CEO of Mawari, in a statement.
vTubeXR eliminates the need for specialized studio setups, enabling flexible and global deployment far beyond conventional local systems. It represents a major leap forward in the virtual entertainment landscape, redefining the digital meet-and-greet experience for Gen-Z and Gen Alpha. Further, it’s compatible with major XR devices (e.g., Meta Quest, AR glasses) and mobile apps, making the experience accessible to a wider audience.
Mawari has partnered with two of Japan’s biggest VTuber agencies – Brave group and Virtual Avex. As part of Mawari’s Early Access program, both Brave group and Virtual Avex will showcase vTubeXR’s immersive VTuber meet-and-greet experiences at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. The early-access program runs from June 01 to August 31, 2025.
The invite-only Early Access Program presents an opportunity for VTubers to leverage the immersive XR technology and co-create the future of 3D fan engagement. The Early Access partners will get priority access to new features, dedicated onboarding support, and customizable monetization opportunities, including ticketing, digital goods, and VIP experiences to maximize their IP’s value.
Global visitors at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will get to experience the immersive one-on-one and one-on-small-group interactions between VTubers and their fans. Visitors can step into the XR world for virtual handshake events, memorable celebrations, or exclusive time-limited appearances that replicate the intimacy of physical events.
Following this debut, Mawari along with Brave group and Virtual Avex, will continue to explore the global potential of XR entertainment to deliver innovative, borderless fan experiences.
Virtual Avex: It plans to launch regular weekend events using vTubeXR starting June 2025, allowing fans to interact with their favorite VTubers repeatedly. These events will foster ongoing fan engagement through direct, interactive communication.
Brave group: They will launch new initiatives such as XR live performances, interactive storytelling events, and fan engagement experiences within virtual spaces. These efforts will extend the worldviews of Brave group’s IPs and introduce high-value digital content to global audiences. Brave group is a leader in entertainment IP development across VTubers, esports, and the gaming industry.
VTuber phenomenon gets catalyst in XR
VTubers (virtual YouTubers) that create content using unique digital avatars have become a wildly popular phenomenon in Japan, with the domestic market estimated to be $1.5 billion in value by 2026. Thousands of VTubers regularly engage fans through livestreams, music releases, and collaborations with anime, gaming, and other media.
A pre-launch user survey by Mawari revealed that a staggering 76% of the respondents have a strong desire for more immersive, personalized experiences. Further, 86% of participants indicated they would be willing to pay for real-time, spatial interactions.
With the market shifting rapidly from passive video content to interactive, immersive formats, vTubeXR will continue to evolve beyond virtual conversations to become an infrastructure for monetizable, immersive, and scalable digital fan engagement, not just in Japan but around the world.
In the near future, vTubeXR will introduce monetization features, including ticketed events, digital goods sales, VIP-level experiences, and superchat-style real-time payments. These functions will empower IP holders to fully leverage their 3D avatar assets and build sustainable and diversified monetization models.
The vTubeXR launch will boost Mawari’s network usage and revenue, especially considering the company’s recently announced Decentralized Infrastructure Offering (DIO) aimed at expanding its distributed network globally. vTubeXR also unlocks novel use cases such as real-time language learning using AI avatar instructors, multilingual 3D avatar guides, real-time information for tourists, and much more.
Committed to creating new forms of XR-driven experiences, Mawari plans to further expand vTubeXR to a broader range of VTuber production companies and IP holders, supporting the evolution of both user experience and business models in the 3D avatar space.
The post Mawari aims to transform VTuber fan engagement with 3D vTubeXR appeared first on Venture Beat.
