DIGIMON LIBERATOR: Why A VR Game Needs to Happen Now

Digimon has the perfect candidate for its first VR game. Discover why Bandai Namco should grasp this opportunity.

Digimon Liberator is sitting on the perfect concept for a VR game to Digivolve the TCG. The project featuring a Web Comic and Web Novel include the Digimon Card Game as part of the story. Like Shoto and his friends, a whole world has been teased for real players to dive into. With a lot of development occurring from the competition and the upcoming booster sync release schedule, there are lots of signs pointing to Digimon’s first VR title. 

Digimon Liberator takes place in a fictional full-dive VR video game, where players enter the world of Lucana. After a world tournament for the Digimon Card Game, players take on the next challenge as wild NPCs and Digimon run rampant.

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The Web Comic follows the adventures of Shoto and Arisa as they encounter Pteromon and Shoemon, with Episode 3 Part 2 now available. The project also includes a Web Novel that focuses on the Debug team and Beta testers, Yuuki and Winr, which only currently consists of 4 installments. 

Digimon Liberator Should Be Digimon’s First VR Game 

Digimon Liberator has already been viewed as the best video game concept by fans. However, the concept is already screaming VR potential, which is a frontier Bandai Namco has yet to fully embrace. Whether you have a Quest headset, or the Vive, or are looking to get the Apple Vision Pro, there are many VR headsets available for different budgets. With no new Digimon Game announced yet, there could be a big way that Digimon could spread around the world using this amazing Digimon project. 

Defined Concept Already Established 

The new Digimon project has already showcased the magnificent mechanics and concepts for a VR title. This includes battle NPC’s, bringing Digimon out of your cards, and even unlocking new Digimon during the experience. Both Shoto and Yuuki’s stories have highlighted the potential for the Digimon Card Game in a VR setting. It has also shown how the Card Game will work with the physical release, which has yet to feature for Yu-Gi-Oh. 

From adding the player as a Tamer Card to unlocking new never-before-seen Digimon, there are so many ways that the VR game could surprise fans. Battling NPCs or even PVP will be exciting to experience in this VR world and could even let fans get more involved with events around the world. The biggest selling point is the Digimon themselves as even seeing these epic battles or interacting with partner Digimon would be a blessing. 

Competition Already Developing VR Concepts 

Two known IPs are currently developing VR content, which have been teased online. Ready Player One and Yu-Gi-Oh have already been revealed to be in progress as VR has been reported to be bringing their worlds to life.

Konami showing video preview of VR experience as player engages in personal first sneak-peek.

Futureverse has revealed they are working on the Oasis involving a partnership between Readyverse Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery. However, they are not the only company working on content for the VR platform. 

Konami has also revealed a huge VR development project involving a realized version of the ‘Legendary Heroes’ arc. Known as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links Presents SOLID VISION EXPERIMENT, the preview showcases the impact of the iconic monster card game used in VR. This is a huge development that could also be applied to Digimon Liberator to bring the experience to players. The longer the wait, the harder it will be to captivate the audience. 

VR doesn’t mean VR Only 

Just because a title is a VR game, doesn’t mean that players would be limited to this platform. A Card Game title could be easily enjoyed as a casual video game that features cross-platform capabilities. Naturally, they would be two separate experiences but there is no reason why there can’t be an alternative to allow all fans to compete against each other. Mixed Reality headsets like the Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro can also allow for battles at conventions or in a real space, adding greater potential.

Tabletop Simulator is a great example of allowing VR and non-VR players to enjoy the same game, including Card-based releases.

One of the biggest issues with VR is getting friends together to enjoy the same game. By allowing a different experience to feature asymmetrical gameplay would allow the Digimon Card Game to go further than any other VR title. There could also be ways to highlight the physical card game too, such as teasing new cards in upcoming booster packs by having them usable in the game. With so many routes that the VR game could take, the biggest wow factor would be the immersion and visual intensity of a 3D battle experience. 

From Limited Local Events To a Digital World  

With the upcoming booster release sync, there is a way to change the current format of the Digimon Card Game. That is by using VR to bring all Tamers together, no matter where they are. By having the language specific to a user, players could battle each other around the world.  

There are different time zones but interacting with Digimon and other players could be even better in the correct space. VR could also host amazing events that bring the global community together, creating a true Digital World.

Digimon Liberator currently features the latest Digimon Project, with Episode 3 Part II now available for the webcomic. The latest installments for both releases can be enjoyed on the official website, with the comic also available on GlobalComix and Webtoon.

Digimon Liberator

Digimon Survive currently features as the latest video game for the franchise, available on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC via Steam. Followed by ports of Digimon Story Cybersleuth: Complete Edition and Digimon World: Next Order for PC and Nintendo Switch.

RELATED: DIGIMON TCG Delay Highlights Need for Release Sync

What do you think about Digimon Liberator as a potential VR game? Do you think this fantastic webcomic should be a video game? Are you hoping for a new Digimon title from Bandai Namco this year? Let us know on social media and keep following The Illuminerdi for more Digimon content.

SOURCE: Konami, Futureverse, Digimon Liberator

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Bryn Darby

Long time fan of Tokusatsu fan since Power Rangers was first released in the 90s. Whereas most Superhero fans grew up with DC Comics and Marvel, my childhood was surrounded by releases from Saban Entertainment such as Beetleborgs, along with anime, and other various fads of the generation. Anime is also a great passion with Digimon, That Time I Was Reincarnated As A Slime, and Demon Slayer being significant favorites. It was the love of both Power Rangers and Digimon that led to the path of becoming a Senior Writer for The Illuminerdi.