Bandai Namco Games
"Dearly Stars" was primarily developed by Microvision in conjunction with Bandai Namco Games. The game was directed by Toshihiko Kujioka of Bandai Namco Games and co-directed by Yoshimasa Koyama of Microvision. In 2008, while Bandai Namco Games was in the process of developing "The Idolmaster SP" and downloadable content for "The Idolmaster Live For You!", Kujioka and Bandai Namco Games producer Bunkei Tanaka submitted the proposal for "Dearly Stars" to Yōzō Sakagami, the main producer for "The Idolmaster" games. It was announced in May 2009 as the first game in the franchise's next stage called "2nd Vision", which was described as "The Idolmaster"s next project that would further expand the series' world.