A new The Idolmaster SideM game has been announced for Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, bringing the male-idol-focused branch of Bandai Namco’s long-running series back to consoles. Bandai Namco subsidiary D3 Publisher revealed the project on September 13 alongside its first teaser trailer. The game does not yet have an official title or release window, with further details scheduled to be announced later.
The new project is described as an “idol production and scheduling adventure” in which players take the role of a producer working with 315 Production. All 49 idols across the agency’s 16 units are set to appear, giving the game a considerably broader roster than a smaller character-focused spin-off. SideM differs from the mainline Idolmaster games by centering on male idols pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.
Its story will be original while remaining within the established world of The Idolmaster SideM. Players will follow the 49 idols as they pursue individual ambitions while collectively preparing for a major concert scheduled one year in the future. D3 Publisher says the project is being developed with the amount of content expected from a full console game, suggesting a more substantial experience than the mobile titles that have formed a large part of SideM’s history.
Scheduling appears to be one of the central systems. Although the announcement did not provide a detailed gameplay breakdown, the description suggests players will manage the idols’ activities over the year leading up to the concert while following their individual stories. That structure is consistent with The Idolmaster’s traditional producer role, where management decisions sit alongside character interactions, performances and progression.
The announcement coincided with The Idolmaster SideM 11th Stage: Ever Ever After, which took place at Toyota Arena Tokyo on September 12 and 13. The two-day live event featured performers representing units including Jupiter, Altessimo, FRAME, High×Joker, Café Parade, S.E.M, C.FIRST and others from 315 Production. Revealing a new console project during the franchise-focused weekend gives SideM a major new game alongside its continuing music, live-event and merchandise activities.
Switch 2 will give the project access to Nintendo’s current-generation hardware, while support for the original Switch keeps the game available to the much larger existing install base. Publishers have continued supporting both systems during the transition, with projects ranging from Yo-kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain to smaller Japanese releases maintaining some level of cross-generation support. D3 Publisher has not indicated whether the two versions of SideM will differ technically or include platform-specific features.
The game also marks a notable return to dedicated console hardware for SideM. The franchise began in 2014 and has expanded through mobile games, anime, music releases and extensive live performances, establishing its own identity within the wider Idolmaster series. A console-scale project built around the entire 315 Production roster gives Bandai Namco and D3 Publisher an opportunity to consolidate that material into a more traditional packaged game experience.
There are still several significant details left unanswered. D3 Publisher has not revealed the game’s final name, launch date, pricing, physical edition plans or whether it will receive a release outside Japan. The announcement also does not yet specify how performances, training, scheduling and character interactions will work moment to moment.
More information will be released at a later date, but the initial announcement confirms both Switch generations and establishes the basic structure of the project. For SideM fans, the key development is that all 49 idols are being brought together for an original year-long production story designed specifically as a full console game.
