Link! Like! Love Live! (Game)
| Link! Like! Love Live! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Kanji | Link！Like！ラブライブ！ |
| Romaji | Link! Like! Rabu Raibu! |
| Game Info | |
| Developer(s) | ODD No. Inc. |
| Publisher | ODD No. Inc. |
| Released | April 15, 2023 |
| Genre | Music, Card & Board Game |
| Downloads/Releases | |
Link! Like! Love Live! is an iOS/Android application released on May 20, 2023, distributed by Odd Number. An early access version with limited functionality was released on April 15 of the same year. The app serves as the platform for the activities of the Hasunosora Girls' High School Idol Club.
The game contains four main content areas, each allowing players to support idols.
Overview
"Link! Like! Love Live!" is a new mobile app in the Love Live! series.
Its official abbreviation is リンクラ (Linkura)
Unlike previous Love Live! series apps, such as School idol festival and ALL STARS, which were solely games, Link! Like! Love Live! offers a variety of content, including live performances, talk shows, and a training card game, making it a comprehensive entertainment experience.
History
From October 16 to November 1, 2022, applications for the app’s title were accepted.
After a final vote, the official name was announced on January 30, 2023, via the official Love Live! Hasunosora Girls’ Academy School Idol Club Twitter account.[1]
On February 10, 2023, the logo was revealed.[2] Like previous standalone titles, it includes “School Idol Project.”
On April 15, 2023, an early access version with limited functionality was released. The app and its official site announced that the full version was scheduled for release in May.[3]
On May 15, it was confirmed that the full version would launch on May 20.[4]
On May 20, the official release was delayed from the initially planned 18:00 due to extended maintenance, and the full version was finally released at 23:30.
Publicly Proposed Titles
The title was decided through public voting from the following options:
- ラブライブ！オンエアー!! (Love Live! On Air!!)
- ラブライブ！エブリデイ!! (Love Live! Everyday!!)
- ラブライブ！ブロッサム!! (Love Live! Blossom!!)
- ラブライブ！ホライゾン!! (Love Live! Horizon!!)
- Link！Like！ラブライブ！ (Link! Like! Love Live!)
- アオハル！ラブライブ！ (Aoharu! Love Live!)
Staff
Character designer Iizuka is a first-time animator in the Love Live! series and has also worked on character designs for male-oriented idol projects such as The Idolmaster SideM and Ensemble Stars!
The production committee includes the three main companies, with Bushiroad being part of the project from the beginning.
- Original work: Hajime Yatate
- Original concept: Sakurako Kimino
- Character design: Haruko Iizuka
- Scenario direction: Shunsaku Yano
- Scenario writers: Mikami Teren, Aito Yui, Ougyo Kawagishi, Shunsuke Sarai
- Production: Project Love Live! Hasunosora Girls’ Academy School Idol Club (Bandai Namco Filmworks, Bandai Namco Music Live, KADOKAWA, Bushiroad)
Content
The app contains four main types of content.
School Idol Connect
A real-time streaming feature for Hasunosora members, consisting of:
- With×MEETS, talk streams
- Fes×LIVE, live performance streams
Fes×LIVE
Fes×LIVE are real-time 3D live concerts by Hasunosora members, held approximately every three months at the end of the month.
Users can send supportive comments, use the penlight feature to change the color of the bottom of the screen, and use a clapping function.
Unlike video-based streams, these concerts are rendered in real-time 3D on the user’s device, allowing camera angle switches, zoom control, and focused views on individual members.
Until the 103rd term May Fes×LIVE, users could use all features freely. From the 103rd term June Fes×LIVE onward, additional camera options require a Fes×LIVE Ticket, obtained through Sukusute Live Grand Prix. Higher ticket ranks unlock more viewpoint options. Viewing the concert itself does not require a ticket.
Initially, archived concerts were only available on YouTube. On July 1, 2023, the app introduced an archive feature.
Due to "technical reasons", camera switching in archived performances is only possible for 2-3 weeks after release; after this period, the archive becomes a pre-recorded video with fixed perspectives.
With×MEETS
With×MEETS are real-time talk streams featuring Hasunosora members. They are typically streamed three times a week, lasting 20–30 minutes per session.
There are two types of With×MEETS streams:
- Vertical streams: When a single member hosts
- Horizontal streams: When two or more members host
Users can send comments and interact in real time. The ability to send virtual gifts, obtainable as bonuses from gacha pulls, was introduced with the full release. Many streams feature a "With×MEETS AFTER" segment, an extended talk available to users who send gifts and reach a certain point threshold before the main stream ends.
Like Fes×LIVE, early archives were initially only available on YouTube. After the app introduced an archive feature, YouTube uploads continued with a one-week delay until the 105th term announcement on April 10, 2025, when they were discontinued. On April 11, during a live broadcast, it was officially announced that future archives would be exclusive to the Link! Like! app.
Activity Records (Story Mode)
Activity Records are the story mode of Link! Like!. Unlike previous game installments, Activity Records do not have gameplay requirements.
Scenes use animated 3D models instead of traditional visual novel standing character sprites, with movements synchronized to dialogue. Background characters without 3D models appear only as dialogue text. Areas expected to feature event CGs are instead displayed using still 3D models.
The early access version included six episodes. After the launch of the full version, new episodes are added monthly, split into two updates. Each episode consists of multiple parts.
School Idol Stage
School Idol Stage is a "new-style musical card game". It was introduced with the full version.
School Idol Show
In the major update on May 20, 2025, a new rhythm game mode called School Idol Show was added. The previous School Idol Stage mode remains available, and now a fully-fledged rhythm game mode has been implemented alongside it.
Other Features
Gacha
A system used to obtain cards for School Idol Stage and gifts for With×MEETS. Pulling in the gacha costs School Idol Smart cash (SISca).
Cards
Character cards are obtained from gacha pulls or Live Grand Prix rewards. These cards are used to build decks for gameplay in School Idol Stage. Placing a card as the deck leader changes the outfit of the SD character in School Idol Stage Live.
Card rarity includes R, SR, UR, plus special types BR and DR (acquired through unique methods or gacha). UR cards feature 2D animations made using Spine software. Unlike School idol festival 2, they are pre-recorded rather than real-time animated.
Some cards feature exclusive voice lines or cross-voice interactions, which can include lengthy dialogues, significant character insights, or emotional references to other members. For example:
Voice lines can be replayed via Collection → School Idol → Card Performance Voice.
Cards can be idolized, unlocking a second illustration and gaining a “+” suffix after awakening.
Gifts
Gacha rewards also include gifts, earned based on the number of obtained cards. Gifts are ranked from 1st to 6th tier, with higher tiers granting more points.
Users can throw gifts during With×MEETS to accumulate point. If the total exceeds 10,000 points during a session, the AFTER broadcast is unlocked. If a gift isn’t used during the live session, it can still be thrown after the archive release.
Missions
Missions are challenges that reward items when certain conditions are met in School Idol Connect or School Idol Stage.
There are three types of missions:
- Daily Missions, which reset every day.
- Weekly Missions, which reset every week on Monday.
- Main Missions, which have no time limit.
Daily and weekly missions grant Petals, which can be collected and exchanged for SISca.
Completing all missions is not required. For instance, daily missions offer six different ways to earn a total of 8 Petals, but only 6 Petals are needed for SISca rewards, leaving 2 Petals as surplus.
Presents
Rewards received from login bonuses, events, and School Idol Connect streams.
Shop
A marketplace where SISca and other items can be purchased.
Collection
An album system where acquired items can be viewed, including:
- Stickers
- 4-panel comic "Link! Life! Love Live!"
- School Idol profiles
- Obtained cards
Awakened card details (original illustration and voice lines) are only viewable through this section.
Within School Idol profiles, users can access a character's biography, discography, system voices, unlocked cards, and Fan Level information.
Circle
A team feature where users can form groups to interact and compete in Circle Battles, a monthly ranking event. Ranking outcomes determine S, A, and other tier placements.
Announcements
Official updates from the developers, including story updates, gacha additions, and patch notes.
Friends
As of June 2024, this feature remains locked.
Items
Displays inventory for With×MEETS gifts, School Idol Stage materials, and more.
Sound Settings / Various Settings / Menu
General customization and configuration options.
Recommended Specs
For details, refer to the official site's recommended play environment.[5]
Recommended devices:
- iOS: iPhone 12 or later
- Android: Snapdragon 888 or higher
The app demands high-performance specifications, likely due to its real-time rendering processing on the user’s device. Initially, there were no support features for lower-end devices, but later updates introduced:
- Graphic settings: Low, Standard, and High quality options.
- Fes×LIVE playback modes: Type B prevents viewpoint switching, suggesting a streaming-based playback method.
Users below the recommended specs can still play, but performance issues such as lag, temporary freezing, or disruptions while watching Fes×LIVE or With×MEETS may occur.
Trivia
- Love Live! School idol festival 2 MIRACLE LIVE! was released on the same day as Link! Like! Love Live!'s demo.
References
- ↑ @hasunosora_SIC (January 29, 2023). "新作スマホアプリタイトル決定！！" – via Twitter.
- ↑ @hasunosora_SIC (February 10, 2023). "本日から事前登録キャンペーンがスタート✨" – via Twitter."
- ↑ "リンクラ「アーリーアクセス」ユーザーのみなさまへ" on the Hasunosora website.
- ↑ "「Link！Like！ラブライブ！」正式リリース版 リリース日決定！" on the Hasunosora Website.
- ↑ Link! Like! Love Live! FAQ