Following the triumphant launch of Guilty Gear Strive 2.0, Arc System Works appears poised to propel the franchise into new territory. In a conversation with Famitsu, producer Ken Miyauchi elaborated on the studio’s intentions to expand the franchise and explore the narrative beyond the 2025 Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers anime series.
Guilty Gear Strive has now entered its fifth year, and with the release of Ver. 2.00, I believe we’ve finally reached the stage where we can start thinking about the series’ next steps. We will continue the Guilty Gear series, and personally, I’m eager to see a new story unfold. I hope to deliver developments that connect with the story so far, including the events depicted in the Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers anime. I’d be delighted if you would enjoy the series, including these upcoming developments.”
Although advancing the franchise involves multiple elements, such as gameplay refinements and graphical enhancements for its fighting games, Miyauchi expresses a personal enthusiasm for progressing Guilty Gear’s storyline.
Different from its Arcade mode, which presents fragmented character stories linked through matches, Guilty Gear Strive’s Story mode comprises nine viewable primary chapters (along with one supplementary chapter) that trace the journey of Sol Badguy and a select group of allies. While the main narrative succeeded in highlighting the game’s striking cel-shaded visuals, its limited interactivity left some players feeling more like spectators of an anime than active participants in a game.
In contrast, Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers serves as an eight-episode anime series set after the main campaign’s conclusion but prior to the game’s fourth season launch. It centers on a fresh character, Unika, and her interactions with the core cast.
The specifics of Guilty Gear’s forthcoming developments appear to remain closely guarded at this time, yet until the development team chooses to disclose their plans, Miyauchi encourages fans to continue engaging with the franchise.
Guilty Gear Strive is available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Windows (Steam), Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and arcades.
Mido