RIP SIF2: How to Play the New “Japan-Exclusive” Love Live! Game (Link! Like! Love Live!)

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Introduction

It’s hard to accept, but Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 (SIF2) is gone. The Global server shut down in May 2024, just months after its release. It was a dark time for all Love Livers around the world.

But the music hasn’t stopped. In Japan, a new school idol group is taking over the scene: Hasunosora Girls’ High School Idol Club.

Their dedicated app, “Link! Like! Love Live!” (Linkura), is currently active and thriving. It features real-time 3D live concerts, a card collection system, and a story that unfolds in real-time with the actual calendar.

There is NO Global Version planned. The developers have hinted that it’s “too difficult to translate/localize” due to the real-time nature of the content. So, if you want to support Hasunosora, you must play the Japanese version.

In this guide, I will show you how to download and play Link! Like! Love Live! from anywhere in the world.

What is “Link! Like! Love Live!”?

Unlike the rhythm-focused SIF2, this is a “Virtual School Idol” app.

  1. Fes×LIVE (Virtual Live): The members perform live concerts in 3D. You can wave your penlight and send comments in real-time.
  2. With×MEETS (Live Stream): The characters (Seiyuu) do live talk streams inside the app.
  3. Card Game: It has a unique “Musical Card Battle” system (not a traditional rhythm game, but very strategic).

Step 1: Prepare Your Tools (VPN & Account)

Since this app is exclusive to the Japanese App Store / Google Play, you cannot download it with a US/EU account.

  1. Get a VPN: To access the store and ensure stable connection during live streams (which require good bandwidth).
  2. Create a Japanese Account:

Step 2: How to Download

  1. Connect VPN to Japan.
  2. Open the App Store / Google Play (Make sure you are logged into your JP account).
  3. Search for “Link Like Love Live” or “蓮ノ空” (Hasunosora).
    • Icon: Look for the app icon with the girl with pink hair (Kaho Hinoshita).
  4. Install.
    • Note: The initial data download is large. Keep your Wi-Fi on.

Step 3: Overcoming the Language Barrier

Since the app is story-heavy and 100% Japanese, it can be intimidating. But the international community is very helpful.

  • For Story: Use Google Lens (Screen Translation) or look for fan translations on YouTube/Discord.
  • For Gameplay: The card mechanics are simple once you learn the icons (Heart = Heal, Note = Score). The [Hasunosora Wiki] has guides in English.

Step 4: How to Support (In-App Purchases)

To get the best cards or send “Gifts” during the live streams, you might want to buy “SIs” (In-game currency).

Warning: Your foreign credit card will likely be rejected by the Japanese store. You need to use Japanese Gift Cards.

Conclusion: Join the “Hasunosora” Story

SIF2 may be a memory, but Link! Like! Love Live! is the future of the franchise. Being able to watch the 3D lives in real-time is an experience you can’t get anywhere else.

Don’t wait for a Global version that might never come. Join the Japanese server today!

Start your new School Idol life:

  1. Get a VPN
  2. Create Account
  3. Download “Linkura”.

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