What Virtual Cast does

VirtualCast, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operates Virtual Cast (バーチャルキャスト), a VR metaverse communication platform launched in 2017 (founded as an entity in 2018) that enables users to interact via customizable 3D avatars in shared virtual spaces. The platform is distributed through two channels: a Steam-based PCVR version (app ID 947890) requiring high-end GPUs such as RTX2070+, and a standalone Meta Quest version available on the Meta Store, supporting headsets including Meta Quest 2/3, HTC VIVE, Valve Index, and Windows Mixed Reality. The core product architecture consists of two modes: Studio (スタジオ), optimized for live VR broadcasting with native comment display and gift effects integrated with niconico and YouTube, and Room (ルーム), a social VR space system supporting personal "My Rooms" and public user-created rooms — with 1,206 publicly listed rooms indicating active user-generated content. Virtual Cast employs proprietary and standardized formats including VCI (Virtual Cast Item) for 3D objects and environments and VRM for character avatars, with Unity as the development engine for creator-built content.

The company monetizes through a three-pronged model: (1) a User Store marketplace where 3D assets (characters, items, locations) are bought and sold using VCC (VirtualCast Credit) virtual currency, with the platform taking a commission on each transaction; (2) a premium avatar creation subscription via the linked Custom Cast app at ¥550/month on iOS and Android; and (3) indirect revenue from event-driven user acquisition tied to flagship partnerships with Crypton Future Media (Hatsune Miku's MIKU LAND VR theme park) and Hololive Production (VTuber appearances by Houshou Marine, Tokino Sora, and others), with events such as VR Night 2022 attracting approximately 70,000 viewers. Distribution is augmented by a linked-app ecosystem under The Seed Online — including MakeAvatar (free avatar creation), V-DRAW (desktop streaming), ARViewer and Odekake AR (AR photography), V-Tabi (AR travel), and V-Stamp (messaging stickers) — designed to extend avatar and content utility beyond the VR platform.

The company is privately held, has closed a single funding round of approximately $9.28M in October 2019 (investors undisclosed), and operates with a headcount of 11–50 employees. Music licensing is secured through both JASRAC and NexTone for in-platform music usage, and account creation is enabled through Apple, Twitter/X, Facebook, niconico, and ZEN Study logins, lowering onboarding friction. The platform is positioned primarily within the Japanese VTuber and virtual entertainment ecosystem, with global availability through the Steam and Meta Quest storefronts but limited international user traction outside Japan.

Name

Virtual Cast

Legal name

VirtualCast, Inc.

Website

https://virtualcast.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Virtual Cast is a Tokyo-based VR metaverse platform enabling users to interact via 3D avatars in shared virtual rooms, broadcast VR live streams, and trade assets in a creator marketplace, serving Japanese VR users, VTubers, and 3D content creators across Steam and Meta Quest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

VR Metaverse Platform

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Metaverse & Social Virtual Worlds (BPAMAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

VR/AR Gaming Platforms (BPAMAKAG), VR/AR Game Publishing & Distribution (MPAFABAK), Digital Humans, Avatars & Real-Time Character Pipelines (MPAHADAH)

Keywords

• VR metaverse platform
• Social VR software
• 3D avatar marketplace
• VR live streaming
• VTuber broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. User Store / Marketplace (VCC transactions): Virtual Cast operates a marketplace where users buy and sell 3D assets (character avatars, items/props, location/environments) using VCC (VirtualCast Credit). Creators set their own prices; the platform takes a commission on each sale. Sales revenue can be converted to VCC at a 1:1 rate or withdrawn as cash (minus transfer fees). This is the primary revenue-generating ecosystem that incentivizes creator content creation.
2. VR Streaming / Broadcasting Features: Studio mode enables live streaming integration with niconico and other platforms. Revenue is indirectly generated through platform engagement and user acquisition rather than direct fees.
3. Premium Avatar Creation Tools: Custom Cast, a linked character creation app, charges a monthly fee (¥550 including tax) for its avatar creation and VRM export functionality. This is a separate service from Virtual Cast but is integrated into the broader Virtual Cast ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Virtual Cast is a VR metaverse communication platform distributed on Steam (PCVR) and Meta Quest (standalone), offering Studio mode for live broadcasting and Room mode for social VR spaces. The platform supports VRM avatars, VCI (Virtual Cast Item) 3D assets, and integrates with niconico for live streaming. Revenue is generated primarily through a user marketplace (User Store) where creators sell 3D characters, items, and locations using VCC virtual currency, with the platform taking a commission on transactions.

Product overview

VirtualCast is a metaverse communication platform consisting of a core VR application with two main modes (Studio for broadcasting and Room for social VR), a User Store marketplace for 3D assets, linked character creation apps (MakeAvatar, Custom Cast), AR photography apps (ARViewer, Odekake AR), and a drawing/streaming app (V-DRAW). The platform supports both SteamVR (PC) and standalone Meta Quest versions, enabling users to interact using customizable 3D avatars, participate in events, create and trade assets using VCC virtual currency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VirtualCast (Core Platform)
• Studio Mode
• Room System
• User Store (Marketplace)
• SteamVR Version
• Meta Quest Version
• MakeAvatar
• Custom Cast
• THE SEED ONLINE ARViewer
• V-DRAW
• Odekake AR

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Twitter / XminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTwitter/X account login integration and social sharing integration. Users can log in via Twitter and share VR experiences, events, and content to Twitter.
• DWANGO (niconico)coreTechnology or IntegrationDeep integration with niconico for VR live streaming. Virtual Cast's Studio mode integrates with niconico for real-time comment display, gift effects, and live broadcasting. Users can log in using niconico accounts. Niconico is the primary streaming partner for Virtual Cast events and the platform's native streaming infrastructure.
• NexTonecoreOthersMusic licensing partnership with NexTone covering music usage within Virtual Cast's VR environments. NexTone permit IDs: ID000006710, ID000006711, ID000006712, ID000006713, ID000006835.
• JASRACcoreOthersMusic licensing partnership with JASRAC covering music usage within Virtual Cast. JASRAC permit numbers: 第9026852001Y45040号, 第9026852002Y45037号, 第9026852003Y31015号.
• Vocaloid / Crypton Future Media (初音ミク)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIKU LAND — official Hatsune Miku VR theme park operated in Virtual Cast. Annual flagship VR event featuring fashion shows, virtual attractions, and fan markets. This is the platform's marquee branded content partnership, driving significant user acquisition and brand recognition. Multiple years of events (2022, 2023, 2024).
• Hololive ProductionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHololive VTuber talents (宝鐘マリン, ときのそら, ミライアカリ, 東雲めぐ) have hosted VR mini-lives, greeting sessions, and fan events on Virtual Cast. These events are featured on the platform's event page and serve as major user acquisition drivers.
• Gugenka (MakeAvatar)coreTechnology or IntegrationFree avatar creation app (iOS/Android) that integrates with Virtual Cast. Users create 3D avatars in MakeAvatar and upload directly to their Virtual Cast inventory via account linking. Free to use. One of the primary avatar creation pathways for new users.
• Custom Cast (Dwango)coreTechnology or IntegrationPremium avatar creation app (iOS/Android, ¥550/month) that enables character creation and VRM export to Virtual Cast. Integrated with niconico accounts. Provides a paid tier of avatar creation with more features beyond the free MakeAvatar alternative.
• Booth (pixiv)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBooth is referenced as a keyword/search tag on the user store, indicating content creators commonly distribute their VR assets through Booth in addition to or alongside the Virtual Cast user store.
• UnitycoreTechnology or IntegrationVirtual Cast uses Unity as the development engine for VCI (Virtual Cast Item) creation. Creators develop 3D items and locations using Unity and the VCI SDK, which is documented on Virtual Cast's developer portal (developer.virtualcast.jp/vci-docs/).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cluster: Cluster is the most direct Japanese competitor — a social VR/metaverse platform supporting VRM avatars, user-created worlds, and live events on Meta Quest and PCVR. It targets the same Japanese VTuber and creator communities as Virtual Cast, with comparable event-hosting capabilities.
• VRChat: VRChat is the global leader in social VR with avatar customization, user-created worlds, and large event hosting on Steam and Quest. Directly comparable product offering with the same VRM-based avatar ecosystem and creator marketplace dynamics.
• Rec Room: Rec Room is a cross-platform social VR platform with user-generated rooms, avatar customization, and live events. Competes for the same casual social VR user base, though with a stronger Western and gaming-oriented user mix.

Broad incumbents

• Meta Horizon Worlds: Meta's first-party social VR/metaverse platform distributed exclusively on Meta Quest hardware. Operates broadly in the same social VR space with significant capital backing, posing competitive and platform-priority risks for Virtual Cast's Quest distribution.
• Roblox: Roblox is a large user-generated metaverse platform with avatar customization, social spaces, and live events. Not VR-native but competes for the same creator-economy and social-event use cases across demographics.
• Decentraland: Decentraland is a blockchain-based virtual world supporting avatar-based social experiences and live events. Operates in the broader metaverse space with overlapping user-generated content and event hosting.
• The Sandbox: The Sandbox is a blockchain-based user-generated gaming/metaverse platform with avatar experiences and creator marketplace. Broad incumbent in metaverse space with overlapping creator-economy model.

Emerging players

• LIV: LIV provides VR and avatar-based streaming/broadcasting tools for VTubers and live streamers. Overlaps with Virtual Cast's Studio mode capabilities and serves a similar creator audience, though as a tooling layer rather than a destination platform.
• Mozilla Hubs: Mozilla Hubs (now part of Hubs Cloud/Tephra) is a browser-based social VR platform supporting avatar-based rooms and events. Comparable social VR product targeting casual users with simpler onboarding than PCVR-tethered platforms.

Others

• VRM Consortium / VTube Studio: VTube Studio (by Denchi) is the dominant Western VTuber streaming application with VRM avatar support. While not a direct platform competitor, it shares the VRM avatar ecosystem and serves overlapping VTuber creators who may distribute content on competing social VR venues.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/virtual_cast
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/virtualcast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virtual Cast