Bandai has opened pre-orders for Vital Bracelet Characters for Kamen Rider and Ultraman. It will officially release the virtual character-raising devices in late 2021. Both Vital Bracelets will be availabel for pre-order until September 6, 2021 and will cost 6,490 yen (roughly $60). [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]
Development for these devices comes from the Digimon Vital Bracelet. The wearable device will let users raise virtual characters and creatures by doing physical activities in real life. The Vital Bracelet Characters series will have the same improvements as the newer Digivice V model, such as Sleep Mode.
To distinguish other franchise devices from Digimon, Bandai will provide a different type of input card. The Kamen Rider and Ultraman devices will use a new set of items called VBM Cards. The non-Digimon franchises will also have a separate mobile app. Bandai does not guarantee compatibility for inserting a DiM Card into a Vital Bracelet Characters device and a VBM Card into a Digimon Vital Bracelet.
Two Vital Bracelet models are available exclusively on Premium Bandai. The Vital Bracelet Characters Kamen Rider 50th Edition will come with a VBM card containing ten Masked Riders from the Showa era, including Amazon and Skyrider. The Vital Bracelet Characters Ultraman 55th Edition will have a different card featuring the six Ultra Brothers. Regular models that are more widely available will include cards from other titles, such as Kamen Rider Kuuga and Ultraman Tiga.
Bandai will first release the Vital Bracelet Characters Ultraman 55th Edition in November 2021. The Vital Bracelet Characters Kamen Rider 50th Edition will follow in December 2021. Pre-orders are open until September 6, 2021.
