Feels like every week there’s a new VTuber hitting the scene, and honestly? Some of them are crushing it right from the start. Whether they’re indie or part of a big agency, I’m curious - who’s debut caught your eye in 2025 so far?

Drop names, debut clips, or ones to watch—I am always looking for fresh content to follow.

If you have been streaming for a while or just got started too, I would love to hear what overlays and BGM you swear by! Feel free to drop links or screenshots of your setup. Always here to learn and improve.

Hey everyone!

I am new to Vtubersnest and really excited to finally be part of a community where VTuber fans can chat, share, and geek out together.

I have been following V-Tubers for a while now — from the Hololive girls and indie gems to rising ENVtubers — and I love how creative and passionate this whole space is. I am especially into the behind-the-scenes of content creation, model design, and community building. Lately, I have also started exploring the tech and workflows that go into V-Tubing, like avatar tools and live streaming setups.

Outside of V-Tubing, I enjoy anime, digital art, and jumping into random fandom rabbit holes.

Looking forward to meeting some of you, discovering new creators, and being part of discussions here. If you’ve got tips for getting started on this forum or any threads I shouldn’t miss, let me know!

@Harry said in How important is emotional expression in your VTuber model?:

I have been noticing a lot of VTubers upgrading their models with super detailed facial tracking—like subtle eyebrow movements, blinking patterns, even micro-expressions.
Do you think having a wide range of emotions actually helps build a better connection with viewers? Or is it more about voice/personality than the visuals?
Would love to hear what you all prioritize in your models—expression, design, or something else entirely?

Expressions definitely help, especially with subtle stuff like eye squints or smirks - it makes reactions feel real. But honestly? Personality and voice are still 80% of the connection.

@NightSky Hey! So, I am still kinda new to all this, but what got me into VTubing was honestly just falling down a YouTube rabbit hole one night.

I stumbled across some clips of Hololive girls being absolutely chaotic and hilarious, and I was like, “Wait… people do this as anime avatars?!” I have always loved anime and gaming, so seeing people mix both while also building a community seemed really cool.

What really pulled me in was how creative everyone is like, you don’t just stream, you build a whole character, a vibe, sometimes even a little lore. It’s kind of a perfect outlet if you are shy but still want to express yourself.

I am still figuring things out like how to set up my model and not totally mess up my mic but what keeps me going is how supportive the community is and how fun it is to just be a little more "you," but with cat ears lol.

Would love to hear everyone else’s origin stories too!

@NightSky Oh man, I am totally here for this trend! surprise swaps are such a mood lifter like a little jolt of “wait, what?!” that keeps things fresh. Sometimes it’s planned, sometimes it’s pure chaos, but either way it feels like you are getting to see the creator’s whole personality, not just the “main” avatar.

My favorite moments are definitely the lore-based power-ups there’s something hype about watching a character evolve right in front of you. But honestly, even the goofy hotdog or gremlin forms crack me up and make the stream way more memorable.

As for tips, I would say keep your swaps easy to trigger and have a quick reset ready, so you don’t get stuck in cursed mode longer than intended. And if you’re just vibing it, don’t overthink it—sometimes the best chaos is the unplanned kind.

viewers, do you find these swaps fun or nah? i’m curious if anyone gets too distracted!

@speedybee Honestly, that sounds like a lot of trouble for not much payoff. Hybrid rigs break easy and look messy if things lag. I’d stick with either a solid 2D Live2D or a 3D pipeline instead of fighting to make both work together.

@MochiMode__ Haunted doll vibes scream ‘mystery and lore,’ while the bunny girl says ‘party and charm.’ Both could work depending on what kind of energy your friend wants to bring. Honestly, I would check out whichever one has the better introduction stream.

@MysticTrail said in Anyone else finding it harder to stay “in character” during streams lately?:

@Harry Honestly? I kinda gave up on it. Staying in character all the time feels more like a performance than a hangout, and that pressure kills the fun. I get that it’s part of the VTuber thing, but if I can’t be myself at least a little, it starts feeling fake.

Totally get that. I have felt that pressure too. It can feel like you are forcing a script when all you really want is to vibe with chat and have fun. I still try to keep some character elements, but more like seasoning, not the whole dish. A little lore, a lot of real me. I think people connect more when it’s not 100% performance all the time.

@NeonVortex said in Is staying “in character” during streams getting harder… or is it just me?:

I am kind of the opposite. I love when someone commits fully to their character, even when things break. It’s not that I don’t like the real personality, but there’s something impressive about someone rolling with the chaos in character. Feels like improv theatre but with more memes. Total respect when people can keep that act going

That’s fair honestly, I get why that’s fun to watch. Feels kinda pro when someone can keep the act going no matter what. For me though, I think I like the cracks more because it reminds me they’re human under all the lore. It’s like watching a serious movie and someone breaks character and laughs. It just hits different. Both vibes are good, depends on the mood I am in.

@GlitchBloom For me, it’s kinda like life you can build a whole character, a whole story, but the real moments are when things don’t go to plan. That’s where the personality actually shows. I don’t mind the breaks. It reminds me that behind the model is just a person trying to have fun, same as the rest of us. Feels more honest that way, even if it’s messy. Perfect is boring anyway.

@speedybee said in Model lagging on high Virtual Desktop settings: tracking issue?:

I tried doing a stream with Virtual Desktop and adjusted the resolution way too high. My model started lagging while the real me was moving fine. I’m guessing it’s a tracking or sync issue from pushing the settings? Also, what’s the best way to prevent lighting from messing with IR-based trackers? I’ve got a ring light that might be throwing everything off.

I have done the exact same thing. I pushed the resolution way too high once and my model was moving like a slideshow. Dropping it back down fixed it for me. And yeah, ring lights mess with tracking. I just pointed mine at the wall and it helped a lot.

@Virtual-Roost said in VTuber fails & meme moments, share yours.:

LOL that is peak streamer moment, accidental mukbang unlocked. Glad chat got the bonus content.

LMAO right?? Totally unplanned DLC. One minute I am gaming, next minute I am crunching snacks like it’s a cooking stream. Honestly… might start charging for the ASMR next time.

One time I went live for like 15 minutes with my model frozen mid-blink… looked like I was judging everyone silently. Didn’t notice until someone in chat was like ‘yo you good??Beautiful Chaos.

@speedybee Yeah I totally get that! I kinda bounce between cozy setups and more chaotic, neon-heavy stuff depending on the vibe. Planning? Sometimes. But honestly, half the fun is just experimenting and seeing what sticks.

Retro arcade sounds sick though. I love that you went all-in with the chiptune and pixel art. Those little touches make streams feel alive.

I have been watching a few streamers who mix cottagecore with sci-fi, and it’s weirdly working for me lately.