Ironmouse, a VTuber from Puerto Rico has become the most subscribed creator in Twitch’s history. The female American VTuber, whose screen name is derived from the villain Sailor Iron Mouse from the Sailor Moon series, is a veteran VTuber who won the content creator of the year at the 2023 Game Awards.
However, by becoming the most subscribed channel with over 320,000 paying members she has surpassed the previous record set by Kai Cenat last year. Here we’ll discuss who are VTubers and why are they becoming popular.
What Is a VTuber?
VTubers are virtual YouTubers who use their digital avatar in content instead of using their original face and identity. They create content like interviews, games, and storytelling, using animated avatars that are usually original and personalized. Most VTubers conceal their real identity and are known only by their digital avatar and screen names.
Thanks to the growing adoption of platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok, VTubing is becoming increasingly popular and Ironmouse becoming the most subscribed streamer on Twitch is a testimony to the growing popularity of VTubing.
BREAKING NEWS: ironmouse hits #1 All-Time!
Her 3rd annual subathon has achieved over 306,621 Twitch subscriptions, making this VShojo VTuber the #1 All-Time most subbed Twitch streamer EVER.
50% of proceeds from this subathon will be donated to the Immune Deficiency Foundation. pic.twitter.com/21v9SIpzD7
— FalseEyeD 👾 TVS (@FalseEyeD) September 30, 2024
Ironmouse, who suffers from a chronic illness named common variable immune deficiency, launched a September subathon to raise money for the Immune Deficiency Foundation, promising to donate half of the earnings from the event to the charity.
History of VTubing
The first instance of VTubing was reported in 2011 by a creator called Ami Yamato. However, VTubing only took off with a character named Kizuna AI, created by the Japanese company Activ8 in 2016.
The medium initially became quite popular in Japan and other Asian countries but has been gaining traction in the US and other Western countries too. While VTubing’s penetration in the US is still quite low compared to Japan, it is growing at a fast pace.
How Much Money Do VTubers Earn?
There are many variables that determine how much money VTubers earn on Twitch – their paying subscribers and their location for instance. Notably, there are regional pricing differences in Twitch subscriptions which has a bearing on the earnings of VTubers on the platform.
Also, the platform keeps half of the subscription revenues (after accounting for fees and taxes) in the standard plan. It also has a Partner Plus program where content creators receive 70% of the net subscription revenues for the first year or until they earn $100,000, but these deals are rare.
While we don’t have the exact number of money that Ironmouse might have made by having over 300,000 subscribers as we are not sure of the region they are based in, it would be fair to say that the amount would be hundreds of thousands of dollars (likely ~$750,000+) every month.
While the average VTuber makes a few hundred dollars a month, popular ones are making a killing making over a million dollars annually. According to data compiled by Playboard, Koyori Ch, Vox Akuma, and Chloe are the top three VTubers who make over a million dollars annually.
Should Other Twitch Streamers Also Try VTubing?
Starting VTubing can be a good option for someone who wants to be a content creator but is not comfortable sharing their real identity. This especially holds true in current times where many streamers face backlashes for their content. Many face reprisals – both online and physically – if their content is seen as offensive by some people. With VTubing one can maintain anonymity while creating content.
VTubing is growing at a faster pace than streaming and an August 2023 report found that there were only about 49,500 Vtubers. The competition looks much lower than regular content creation as there are millions of creators on YouTube alone.
Becoming a VTuber is not all that difficult and one does not really need a lot of infrastructure. To begin with, you need to figure out the avatar that you want to use – which is easier said than done – as it should relate to your content as well as your audience.
You can then either create the avatar yourself, purchase a readymade one, or get it done through an artist for a fee. The next step would be to install a motion tracking software and streaming program on your PC which would help you create content using your avatar. Top VTubers like Ironmouse often use specific hardware designed to improve tracking but it isn’t necessary. The below video talks about kickstarting VTubing for free.
Should Twitch Users Try Out VTubers on the Platform?
VTubing can be relatable for many viewers who might find it easier to associate with a digital avatar rather than a real character. However, while watching VTubers one should be considerate about the fact that they are not a substitute for real people. That said, VTubing is expected to grow at a brisk pace in coming years as technologies like metaverse and artificial intelligence (AI) would only help make these digital avatars better and relatable.