Summary
If 2023 was the year of the RPG, with releases likeFinal Fantasy 16andBaldur’s Gate 3, then 2024 is the year of the anime game. Already, fans have been treated toDLC for Naruto x Boruto: Storm Connections, thefirst-ever Jujutsu Kaisen game, whichalso just received new Season Two DLC, news ofa new Gundam game, plusa Gundam collaboration in Call of Duty, and aMario Party, Demon Slayer hybrid party game. Oh, anda release date for Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero– the spiritual successorto the Budokai Tenkaichi series.
The Year of the Anime Game (sorry, Shadow, it’s no longer your year) continues on with news thatHunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact will be launching globally later this year. On Friday, Arc System Works, the publisher behindGuilty GearandFighterZ, announced that it would be bringing the 2D 3v3 fighting game outside of Japan. It’s important to note that the gameis still a project by Bushiroad and Eighting, ArcSys is just handling the wider release.
News of the 2024 release was shown alongside a new trailer, which showcased many of the game’s mechanics along with its roster. Check it out:
Not only did the trailer confirm the game’s release window as well as its global release, but it also did highlight its platforms. When Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact does launch, it’ll be onPlayStation 5,Nintendo SwitchandPC via Steam. AnXboxrelease was not listed, and it appears the game will also not be coming to last gen hardware.
It’s an unfortunate development for Xbox players, though it wouldn’t be the first time an anime game skipped the Microsoft console. In the past,several One Piece titles only came out on PlayStation hardware.
Bisky Will Be Joining The Roster
A 2024 global release wasn’t the only news for the anime fighter, as Biscuit Krueger, also known as Bisky, was also announced. Bisky is an integral part of the anime and manga’s Greed Island arc, and a fan favorite. Interestingly enough, this wouldn’t be Bisky’s first game appearance asshe was also a DLC character in Jump Force.
The announcement of the transmutation nen user was also combined with a trailer. Check it out:
With the announcement of Bisky, the roster of Nen x Impact stands at 10. The gamewill reportedly only have 16 fighters at launch, so only six characters are left to be revealed. At least two of that final number will likely be Meruem and Chrollo, though it’s hard to say who might be in the final four. Illumi certainly has a case, as does Kite. And, of course, Pitou has to factor in somehow, given their importance to the plot.
Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how the final roster is decided. On a final note, interested gamers can test out a demo at Anime Expo 2024 in July. It’ll be the first playable U.S. demo,according to Crunchyroll. Here’s to the Year of the Anime Game!
