Bandai Namco will launch the PC version of Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster much earlier than its previous announcement. The company has revealed that it will release the port of the game that first appeared on mobile devices to PC on March 18, 2025. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

Bandai Namco first revealed the official PC port of Gakuen Idolmaster during a live stream in December 2024. In the roap explaining the company's plans to prepare for the title's first anniversary, it placed the PC port on the slot for the anniversary month in May 2025, along with the addition of Misuzu Hataya as the 12th playable idol.

The company then opened the PC port's official site in February 2024. The webpage reveals that the PC version will appear via DMM Games, and it also opened pre-registrations for the free-to-play game, although it does not list a release window.

The PC release will let players enjoy the gameplay and performance stages with eleven playable idols and screen resolutions up to 4K. The original mobile versions proved to be a hit in Japan, as both the iOS and Android versions brought the game to top the mobile game rankings in the country within a month after its release in May 2024. Google Japan also gave the Best Game of 2024 award to Gakuen Idolmaster in November 2024.

The PC version of Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster will launch via DMM Games in Japan on March 18, 2025. The game is immediately available on iOS and Android mobile devices in Japan.

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Bandai Namco revealed that it will release a PC version of Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster via DMM Games in Japan. The company also opened a new webpage on the Japanese PC gaming platform, where players can pre- for the game's PC release. There's no word on a US or English release yet.

The PC port of the mobile game will be available on Windows 10 and 11 operating systems with DirectX version of at least 11. Players will also have to make sure that they have at least 30 GB of free disk space with at least 8 GB of RAM. The minimum required processor for the game will be an Intel i5-7500 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, while the NVidia GeForce GTX 960 or Radeon RX 470 Graphics will be the minimum compatible GPU. In addition, the PC version will screen resolutions from 1080p to 4K.

The PC version of Gakuen Idolmaster will appear as part of Bandai Namco's preparations to celebrate the first anniversary of the mobile game it launched in May 2024. Its release around May 2025 will also coincide with the addition of Misuzu Hataya as the 12th playable idol. Although the game launched with nine available idols, Bandai Namco gradually added Saki's sister Ume Hanami and the academy heaster's granddaughter Sena Juo as new playable idols throughout the months.

Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster is immediately playable on iOS and Android mobile devices in Japan. The PC version of Gakuen Idolmaster will be available via DMM Games in Japan around the game's first anniversary in May 2025.

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Google has published the Japanese version of its Best of 2024 awards. Bandai Namco's Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster has particularly won the Best Game award in the country's version of the annual awards that give rewards to notable games available on Android mobile devices.

This award also served as a testament to Gakuen Idolmaster's success. Sensor Tower Japan noted that the game topped the amount rankings on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store in Japan in a full month following its release on May 16, 2024.

Google has also published a list of games that win other awards. The list of winners is as follows:

• Best Multi-Device Game: Pokemon Sleep
• Best Multiplayer Game: Squad Busters
• Best Pick-Up-and-Play Game: Monster Hunter Puzzles: Felyne Isles
• Best Indie Game: Suika Game
• Best Story: Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade
• Best Ongoing Game: Fate/Grand Order
• Best Play Game: Cafe Master Story
• Best PC Version Game: Wuthering Waves

As a side note, Ensemble Training—a workout-based rhythm game with characters and songs from Ensemble Stars—won the Best Personal Growth App award in the regular app categories, even though it did not appear in the game award categories.

Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster, the winner of the Best Game award in Google Play Japan's Best of 2024, is also available on iOS in addition to Android mobile devices in Japan.

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Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster performed very well for Bandai Namco within a month after it launched on May 16, 2024. Sensor Tower Japan published a report noting the new mobile game's performance in its launch month. it topped the domestic and revenue rankings within the period.

Sensor Tower ed a ranking sourced only from the Japanese official Google Play Store and Apple App Store from May 16, 2024, until June 15, 2024. It showed that with over 1.5 million s, Gakuen Idolmaster topped the ranking by suring even Supercell's Squad Busters and Kuro Games' Wuthering Waves. The latter recorded 30 million s worldwide from both the PC and mobile versions from its launch on May 22, 2024, until June 11, 2024. However, it could only reach fourth place with less than a million s when the scope was limited to Japanese mobile players.

In addition, Gakuen Idolmaster also topped the Share of Voice ranking for mobile games with the Simulation genre on the Japanese YouTube scene in May 2024.

Sensor Tower also shared charts that show the game's sales performance made through microtransactions. While the iOS version maintained a top-three ranking for eight days since launch, the Android version stayed in first place for nine consecutive days on May 20-28, 2024.

The company also compared Bandai Namco's mobile game revenues from the same period in 2023. While titles like One Piece: Bounty Rush, One Piece: Treasure Cruise, and Dragon Ball: Dokkan Battle still remain intact, Gakuen Idolmaster dominated the share with 41% in the month following its launch.

Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster is readily available on Android and iOS mobile devices in Japan.

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Amiami, operated by Oami Corporation in Tokyo, announced the launch of its new Gakuen Idolmaster merchandise. This product line, available for pre-order as of May 29, 2024, includes a variety of items designed to appeal to new players and fans of the series. [Thanks, PR Times!]

The collection features the following items. Prices range from 660 yen to 6,600 yen ($4.19 and $41.87 respectively), with all items set to release in July 2024.

• B2 Tapestries - 3,850 yen
• Chibi-Chara Acrylic Stands - 880 yen
• Double-Sided Full Graphic T-Shirts - 6,600 yen
• Illustrated Art Collections - 990 yen
• Instant Photo Style Die-Cut Stickers - 660 yen
• Multi Desk Mats - 3,850 yen
• Student ID Card Style Acrylic Key Rings - 770 yen
• Ticket Style Die-Cut Stickers - 660 yen

Here is how all of the items will look:

Hatsuboshi Gakuen: the Idolmaster is the latest entry in the THE iDOLM@STER series, and it launched in Japan in 2024. Players become producers at Hatsusei Gakuen, an idol training school, guiding and developing aspiring idols who face various challenges. Pre-orders for the Gakuen Idolmaster merchandise can be placed on the Amiami online shop. For additional details and to explore the full range of products, visit the Amiami website. The merchandise is officially licensed by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.

Gakuen Idolmaster will be available on iOS and Android, and its merchandise releases in July 2024.

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Bandai Namco confirmed the release date for Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster. The new mobile game, which also forms the sixth "brand" in The Idolmaster franchise, will be available on May 16, 2024.

The company made the announcement during a live stream where it also goes more in-depth into the title's gameplay features. The player will generally have to do multiple playthroughs of the Produce Mode to gradually improve the idol's performance stats and the checkpoint exams. Vocal, Dance, and Visual lessons will be the primary methods to raise each stat.

The lessons will have a similar gameplay to The Idolmaster Shiny Colors: Song for Prism, in which the player must release cards to gain points while keeping the energy costs in mind. But while Song for Prism has the player race against time, the gameplay in Gakuen Idolmaster will be turn-based. It will task the player to rating thresholds within the allotted number of cards and turns.

Being a free-to-play game, Gakuen Idolmaster will also have gacha elements. Players who are just starting the game will be able to pick an SSR-grade Produce Card based on one of the nine launch characters. The rest will have to be acquired via gacha or gameplay tasks. The game will also provide enough jewels for players to do a 10-pull gacha at the beginning.

An archived version of the Japanese live stream is also available to watch right below:

Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster will be available for iOS and Android mobile devices in Japan, and the release date will be May 16, 2024.

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Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster will feature characters who train to become performer idols. Each character will have different ability levels and personalities, and it will be up to the player to improve their vocals, dances, and expressions as a producer.

When Bandai Namco first unveiled Gakuen Idolmaster in March 2024, it revealed nine playable characters but only added details to three of them: Saki Hanami, Temari Tsukimura, and Kotone Fujita. The company gradually revealed the names of the remaining six characters.

Rinami Himesaki (voiced by Yuri Usui) is a third-year student who is also the student council's secretary. She has the natural disposition of an elder sister, but she lost her confidence after her previous unit tried to depict her as a younger sister.

Sumika Shiun (voiced by Miya Minato) is a cheery girl who can get along with anyone but often slacks off on her studies. She used to participate in international ballet competitions, but an accident caused an injury that hampered her progress.

Hiro Shinosawa (voiced by Reina Kawamura) is a mysterious genius who perfected academic exams and has already graduated from university but scored zero in practical skills. She somehow enjoys attending lessons that do not suit her at all.

Lilja Katsuragi (voiced by Kana Hanaiwa) is a half-Swedish girl who aspires to become an idol despite her lack of experience in singing and dancing. She is also close friends with Sumika, who used to study ballet in Sweden.

China Kuramoto (voiced by Mao Ito) is a girl from a wealthy family who aspires to become an idol despite having the lowest performance skills compared to all other students.

The ninth and last playable character at launch will be Mao Arimura (voiced by Tsumugi Nanase). The third-year student is also Rinami's classmate and the superintendent of Hatsuboshi Academy's Idol major dormitory. She aspires to become a "cool prince" idol, as she was also inspired by opera troupes.

However, these nine characters will not be the only ones to appear in the game. During the NicoNico Chokaigi 2024 event, Bandai Namco revealed three more characters who will appear as NPC rivals at launch. They will also play important roles in the game's storylines with close connections to the initial playable characters in Gakuen Idolmaster.

Ume Hanami (voiced by Ayane Matsuda) is Saki's younger sister who managed to enroll in Hatsuboshi Academy by filling a vacant slot. She also used to be an athlete with superior physical abilities like her sister.

Misuzu Hataya (voiced by Non Harusaki) is Temari's childhood friend who also used to belong to the same idol unit as the latter.

Sena Juo (voiced by Mashiro Hitaka) is the granddaughter of Hatsuboshi Academy's heaster Kunio Juo. She also assumes the position of the student council's president. Sena will primarily appear in Kotone Fujita's story.

Bandai Namco wrapped up the new content reveals with a new universal song titled "Hajime" (Start). While each playable idol also has their own unique songs, all of them will be able to perform this song at launch.

Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster will be available for iOS and Android mobile devices in Japan in Spring 2024.

The post These Gakuen Idolmaster Characters Will Appear at Launch appeared first on Siliconera.

Bandai Namco revealed the new Idolmaster game it previously teased in late February 2024. The new game will be titled Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster, and it will be available on iOS and Android mobile devices as a free-to-play app. The game will also be known in Japan with the shortened title Gakuen Idolmaster.

As the title suggests, Gakuen Idolmaster will take place at Hatsuboshi Academy. Its high school will feature a specific Idol major, in addition to the regular study course. The academy will also have a vocational college with a Producer major. After graduating, both Idol and Producer students will a yet-to-be-named talent production agency. Akio Ohtsuka, the veteran voice actor best known for Metal Gear Solid's Solid Snake and Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory's Anavel Gato, will voice the academy's heaster Kunio Juo.

The player will become a student in the college's Producer major. They will be able to produce a single idol candidate during a gameplay session. The Producer College's professor Asari Neo, who is voiced by Aoi Koga, will assist the player in a similar way Kotori Otonashi and Hazuki Nanakusa did in other Idolmaster titles.

Gakuen Idolmaster will feature nine characters at launch, but the reveal stream only unveiled the first three. The fourth character will make her debut in a livestream scheduled for March 13, 2024. The remaining characters will also be revealed gradually every following Wednesday.

Bandai Namco has also published individual trailers for the first three announced characters. The first one is Kotone Fujita, who will be voiced by Hikaru Iida. Her songs and performances will be geared towards the "kawaii/cute" genre.

The second character revealed is Temari Tsukimura, who will be voiced by Nao Ojika. She will represent the "blue" line of idols who have superior vocals but stoic personalities. Previous examples in The Idolmaster metaseries include Chihaya Kisaragi, Rin Shibuya, and Hiori Kazano.

The third and last character announced in the new The Idolmaster game stream is Saki Hanami, and Aoi Nagatsuki will provide her voiceover. She will also act as the title's overall poster girl in a similar fashion to Haruka Amami and Shiny Colors' Mano Sakuragi.

The full reveal trailer for Gakuen Idolmaster is available right below:

Hatsuboshi Gakuen: The Idolmaster will be available on iOS and Android mobile devices in Spring 2024.

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