Bandai Namco will set up a location test for The Idolmaster Tours at the Amusement Expo in Tokyo Big Sight on November 25, 2023. The new arcade game will feature physical cards that players can insert to customize the idols’ costumes and add supporting effects during live performances, and the gameplay section will require players to operate the control panel in a timely manner to optimize the stage’s lighting and effects.
The location test build will feature the following content:
- Available songs: “The Idolmaster” and “Nando demo Waraou”
- The Idolmaster idols: Haruka Amami, Chihaya Kisaragi, Miki Hoshii
- Cinderella Girls idols: Uzuki Shimamura, Rin Shibuya, Mio Honda
- Million Live idols: Mirai Kasuga, Shizuka Mogami, Tsubasa Ibuki
- Shiny Colors idols: Mano Sakuragi, Hiori Kazano, Meguru Hachimiya
This will not be the first location test for The Idolmaster Tours. Bandai Namco first revealed the title at JAEPO 2023 in February 2023. It then held early location tests at five Namco arcade centers across Japan from May to July 2023.
The upcoming location test at the Amusement Expo will have a new bonus reward not in prior tests. Everyone who played the demo build at the event will receive a new promotional Support Card featuring SideM‘s Teru Tendo and his teammates at Dramatic Stars. The arcade game’s full release will add the SideM male idols and the ability to download direct feed videos of the live performances.
The Amusement Expo will appear as a new major public event where people can try out upcoming arcade games, as the existing annual JAEPO events are more geared towards business-to-business interactions. Other major game publishers besides Bandai Namco have also confirmed their attendance at this event. Taito and Capcom will place playable demos of Street Fighter 6 Type Arcade in the former’s booth. Meanwhile, Sega will hold events showcasing its existing titles like Initial D The Arcade and Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown.
The Amusement Expo in Tokyo Big Sight will take place on November 25, 2023. The full release of The Idolmaster Tours will appear later in Japanese arcades.
