'V Project', the immersive 3D idol mobile game unveiled by Elementa on January 29, has taken its first major steps forward today with the release of its official PV and a rebranding to 'StarToU'. With this reveal, players can directly experience an idol game that elevates immersion to another level through 'Cel-Shaded Plus' technology, which maximizes character expressiveness alongside near-realistic background rendering and dynamic lighting.

When only a few images and the project name were initially revealed, it seemed like nothing more than an existing idol game format with upgraded graphics and slightly more detailed depictions of daily life. However, through the two newly released PVs, 'StarToU' has gradually shown its ambition to take a distinctly different direction from existing idol games.

No More Gentle-Only Idols: A More Rebellious, Free-Spirited Idol Group

When thinking of Elementa, 'Silver Palace', which was unexpectedly revealed last year, might be the first thing that comes to mind. However, tracing back their roots leads to 'Ensemble Stars!!', one of the leading titles in male idol producer games. Of course, when looking at their styles, 'StarToU' and 'Ensemble Stars!!' are quite different. This is because 'Ensemble Stars!!' actively adopted the Japanese anime style familiar to subculture gamers, particularly idol anime aesthetics. In fact, looking at idol game IPs that have continued to this day, Japanese names are standard, and both character designs and unit themes reflect a full Japanese idol style with exaggerated costumes meant strictly for the stage. Furthermore, except for a few exceptions, character physiques are generally slender, soft, and lightly built.

As such, this 'StarToU' PV was all the more surprising. Introducing MacGuffin, one of the main groups, the trailer not only introduces the four members—Tay, Yoora, Lim, and Noki—but begins abruptly with the members arguing. Setting the scene in a run-down garage covered in graffiti on a shabby street—a setting rarely favored in female-oriented idol games—and utilizing props that fully highlight a rough aesthetic was another standout choice. These elements directly oppose the bright, cheerful tone typical of traditional male idol games, which constantly preach togetherness and harmony. To make matters worse, two of the members end up throwing fists, and the phrase "Let's just disband" comes flying out right away.

In typical idol game PVs, when members fight, the focus is usually on the apology process or the subtle tension between those involved, but this trailer offers none of that. Seeing two members fight, the others simply brush it off as if it happens all the time. The remaining members continue going about their individual routines until practice and the music video shoot, where they seamlessly come together with utmost professionalism as if nothing had happened. Their casual wear, as well as their MV and stage outfits, also exude a more natural yet powerful feel.

K-Pop Idol Style Focused on Everyday Life as Artists

'Professional' is another key term to pay attention to. Looking back at previous idol producer games, most follow a format where players watch idols grow over time. In line with that theme, characters are generally aged between middle and high schoolers, with slender physiques emphasized to highlight that they are still students with room for growth. However, MacGuffin, the group featured in this PV, is depicted as true professionals who stay focused on their craft even after going at each other's throats. Consequently, the focus frequently shifts to details that project a tougher, more rebellious image—such as motorcycles, as well as exposed traps, forearms, and lats peeking through sleeveless shirts.

In fact, attempts to break away from the dominant subculture idol tropes have been growing more active in the 2020s. Even on the female idol side, 'Girl Crush'—which tells the story of a protagonist traveling from Japan to South Korea to become a K-pop idol—was approved for an anime adaptation. On the male idol side, the virtual idol group 'PLAVE', which debuted in 2023, serves as a prime example. Looking at PLAVE's 3D models, instead of the slender, delicate builds typical of subculture male or virtual idols, they boast a clean, tall, and lean physique paired with broad shoulders that incorporate masculinity into the design. Furthermore, by utilizing real-person motion capture technology, they created realistic, highly immersive stage performances.

With MacGuffin, 'StarToU' attempts to implement this distinct style directly in-game. In less than two minutes, the game leaves a lasting impression through bodies sculpted by rigorous training despite looking lean, precise color and lighting/shadow rendering, and facial features featuring delicate yet sharp anime-style eyes on more realistic proportions.

Combined with hip-hop beats and powerful choreography, it becomes clear that MacGuffin aims for a style similar to real-life boy groups rather than traditional idols in Japanese subculture. Looking at the stage version PV, unlike elaborate theme-focused stage outfits—though there is some exaggeration—their attire leans closer to casual wear while preserving each member's individuality.

Looking back at videos released when 'StarToU' was still known as V Project, this direction becomes even clearer. While practice room scenes are included since they are trainees, another key difference is that the practice room is depicted from the start as a natural part of daily life rather than an ascetic space for overcoming shortcomings. Practice is certainly routine for Japanese subculture idols as well, but because the underlying premise centers on students who still need to grow, practice room scenes usually feel heavily tied to training to achieve what they couldn't before. Once they mature and establish themselves, the group becomes highlighted as an entity symbolizing specific themed stages and songs, making practice room scenes rare. As a result, highlighting the practice room right from the beginning stands out significantly.

'StarToU' Prepares an All-Around Immersive Structure and Launches Pre-Registrations

Previously, subculture idol producer games placed heavier emphasis on music videos and showcasing character concepts. This aligns with what Japanese subculture idol media mix projects aimed for: expanding from games into anime based on those concepts and characters. However, as K-pop began influencing Japanese subculture and cel-shading and motion capture technologies advanced, the genre began heading in a new direction. This shift is clearly felt through 'StarToU''s PV. From its initial reveal, rather than emphasizing each member individually, the trailer highlighted conversations between members, naturally showcasing their chemistry and daily lives.

Of course, with idols as the main focus, 'StarToU' is likely to feature a rhythm game as its primary gameplay element, as is typical for most idol producer games. Since music is indispensable to idols, designing the game around rhythm gameplay is a natural choice. The main challenge will be how it builds emotional connections with the idols and unfolds their story on top of this foundation.

In the newly revealed in-game footage, players can experience multi-branching stories in the idol world through memory reproduction. Meanwhile, in the music space, rhythm gameplay forms the core experience of interaction and stage performances. Prior to performances, players can customize characters, outfits, and card combinations to create their own stages. The game's refined graphics also stand out, successfully capturing a grounded, realistic tone without falling into the uncanny valley. The beats reminiscent of actual boy group concerts and the matching choreography were equally impressive.

'StarToU' is a game that boldly breaks away from traditional idol game conventions and formulas. At the same time, it strives to stay truer than ever to the desires of idol fandoms who want to experience every facet of their favorite stars' activities with full immersion. While it may be too early to judge since it is still in early reveal stages, 'StarToU' is poised to make waves in many ways. From further elevated graphics to an approach that bridges the virtual and real worlds, it already demonstrates a direction distinct from conventional subculture tropes. With pre-registrations now open, it will be exciting to see what new world 'StarToU' will bring as it takes its first official steps.