>>11614511The gap between NijiEN and those startups is closer to each other than the gap between HoloEN and NijiEN. These smaller startups have also tried to innovate with strange but niche stuff, from 4X streams (Lumi), yab discussion topics (Pippa), Tarot and based tastes in songs (Shiki), to vtuber industry meta-discussions (Slugma), etc etc etc at least they try, and maybe one of them will get lucky and succeed in bringing a new audience. Aside from the obvious new market HoloMyth got for debuting, they still consistently bring more people into the hobby by their sheer size, and doing things that aren't exactly common in the western vtubing sphere. Specifically, TTRPGs other than basic bitch shit like DnD, a hyperspecific subgenre of music introduced to the EN market, and games Vtubers don't really play often, such as Rimworld and Frostpunk, and Ame doing Ame things (Mostly old shit she used to do back then.)
I have to praise Petra, Pomu, Selen, and
Nina though. Piano streams are great, Pomu plays around with her assets a lot and it's rather entertaining, Selen does deviate from APEX APEX APEX to try things like Starcraft, and
Nina has mentioned wanting to play autism simulators. But I must agree. HoloCouncil was too safe of a pick for vtubers. Better "entertainers" sure, but not exactly anything transformative. Then again, I have the same complaint with NijiEN and hiring ONLY professional vtubers (sans Petra) instead of diamonds in the rough who may or may not have known vtubers.
