The landscape of the popular fighting game series, Guilty Gear, currently headlined by the successful Guilty Gear Strive since its launch in 2021, appears to be facing a significant, albeit reported, shift. Strive has enjoyed a robust lifespan, continuously adding content through four seasons of downloadable characters, maintaining strong player engagement. However, the series` absence from the recent Arc System Works Showcase event raised questions among fans and observers. A new report circulating online may provide a potential, albeit unconfirmed, explanation for this silence.
According to this recent report, which cites anonymous sources close to the situation, the project intended to be the next main installment in the Guilty Gear franchise following Strive has been subject to an internal cancellation by developer Arc System Works. This decision is reported to have been made quite recently, purportedly within the last couple of weeks. The current status of the next game is described as being “back to the drawing board.” While this sounds rather definitive, the report does include a caveat: the game is not necessarily “completely dead,” suggesting the concept might be revised or re-evaluated rather than permanently shelved.
This development presents a curious contrast when placed alongside earlier statements from the series` leadership. Just prior to this report emerging, Guilty Gear series producer Ken Miyauchi offered remarks that painted a potentially different picture of the future. He indicated that contrary to any assumptions that Strive might conclude its journey after its fourth season, this was “actually not true,” and that the team was “preparing something big and exciting that people probably won’t expect.” Hearing about a cancelled *next* game juxtaposed with teases of an unexpectedly significant future project certainly adds a layer of intrigue—or perhaps confusion—to Arc System Works` plans. One is left to ponder what exactly constitutes “something big and exciting” if the immediate follow-up title has been scrapped. Is it a new direction for Strive itself, or an entirely different approach to the next game?
It is relevant context that Arc System Works as a studio remains quite active beyond the reported turbulence within the Guilty Gear division. The developer recently revealed Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, a new 4v4 fighting game featuring Marvel characters, during a major industry showcase. Additionally, they unveiled other upcoming titles, including a new entry in the classic Bubble Bobble series, during their own dedicated showcase. This demonstrates that the company is clearly engaged in significant development efforts across multiple franchises, even as the path forward for its flagship fighting series is reportedly being re-evaluated.
For the moment, the precise direction and timeline for the Guilty Gear franchise after Strive remain less clear than fans might hope. The report of an internal cancellation for the direct follow-up introduces a notable element of uncertainty. Fans are now awaiting official communication from Arc System Works that could clarify the status of the next game and shed light on how the producer`s teasing comments align with the current reported state of development. Meanwhile, Guilty Gear Strive continues to be available and played on its existing platforms.
Callum Darby