>>106101758Here is a summary and explanation of the video "The Current State of Vtubing: A Retrospective" from the channel DuwiEXE.
The Current State of Vtubing: A Retrospective
This video is a presentation by the indie VTuber DuwiEXE, who offers their thoughts on the state of independent VTubing from the perspective of someone who has been streaming for about a year [00:00]. The entire discussion is framed as a response to a viral, pessimistic tweet from an ex-corporate VTuber, Nemo Nevermore [00:11].
### The Catalyst: A Pessimistic Take
The video begins by analyzing Nemo's tweet, which described the indie VTubing scene as "soul-crushing" [01:02]. Nemo's core argument was that success is nearly impossible for indies. They claimed that after streaming for two years with low viewership, the only reason they gained any recognition was by joining a VTuber corporation ("corpo") [00:46].
Nemo's post suggested that the only "real" paths to success are:
* Getting a random viral clip on Twitter or YouTube.
* Being shouted out by a much bigger creator.
* Doing something controversial.
* Joining a corpo for a "free friend group" and social circle [01:49].
Nemo concluded that the common advice to "grind harder" is a lie and that success as a streamer is "99% luck" [02:44].
### Duwi's Counter-Argument: It's Not Just Luck
While DuwiEXE acknowledges that their own growth was fast (from an average of 9 viewers to 55 in one year [04:01]) and that luck is a factor [04:10], their main argument is that it is "not just luck" [04:19]. Duwi believes this "doom and gloom" perspective is harmful [17:42] and that there are tangible, actionable steps indies can take to succeed.
Duwi outlines several key pillars for growth:
1. **Powerful Branding:** This is Duwi's most important point [04:30]. Branding is not just a character model; it's the *entire package*. This includes consistent themes across social media posts, Discord servers, merchandise, stream overlays, and banners [04:51]. Duwi uses themself as an example: they aren't just a "ghost virus VTuber" but are specifically known as the "pixel model Windows 98 VTuber," a unique and recognizable niche [05:51]. They advise finding a specific angle, even within a popular archetype, like being a "Sakura Kitsune who specifically loves to cook" [06:26].
2. **Community Engagement:** Success requires "giving your community a reason to keep coming back" [07:48]. This goes beyond just streaming. Duwi shows examples of creating free content for their community, such as papercraft puppets and desktop wallpapers [08:27]. They argue that you don't need to be a big VTuber to have "merch" and that these free items build strong community appreciation [09:27].
3. **Using Your Skills:** Duwi emphasizes playing to your personal strengths [10:12]. As an artist, Duwi can create their own models and art for the community [10:26]. An artistically-challenged streamer who is a great video editor, for example, should build their brand around well-edited YouTube content [10:58]. Using your inherent skills makes your content unique and can save you money [11:14].
4. **Strategic Collaboration:** Duwi directly refutes Nemo's claim that collaborating with other small streamers is useless [13:17]. They argue that any new exposure is critical when you're small [13:37]. However, for *strategic growth*, collabs should be with creators in a similar niche. This ensures the new audience is likely to enjoy your content and stick around [14:14].
5. **Passion is Essential:** Above all, Duwi states that you *must* love what you're doing [11:28]. If you find yourself burning out or not enjoying it, you need to stop and reassess [11:36]. Duwi streams art and chatting because that's what they genuinely enjoy, not because they feel forced to play popular games [12:15].
### Conclusion
Duwi concedes that joining a corporation will get you more attention, but it is not a requirement and comes with its own risks, especially with recent predatory practices [15:51]. The video's final message is one of realistic optimism. While success is hard work and involves some luck, it is not impossible. Duwi argues against the purely pessimistic outlook, believing that through strong branding, genuine community engagement, and passion, indies can find their own success [17:48].
