In 2020, Arc System Works and Bandai Namco formed a partnership, with Guilty Gear -STRIVE- being the first ASW fighting game to be published by Bandai Namco. Here's a few words from Director Daisuke Ishiwatari on the partnership: "We are pleased to announce that Bandai Namco Entertainment will be distributing the latest title in the Guilty Gear series, Guilty Gear -Strive-. I'm surprised the chit-chat I have exchanged with Harada-san a few years ago has come to fruition. I hope our partnership will bring new joy to more users in Europe and Asia. We are working hard with Bandai Namco Entertainment to get people in Europe & Asia to play Guilty Gear more than ever before. Please look forward to it!"
     

 

Guilty Gear -STRIVE- will retain the same traditional button layout from past installments (Punch, Kick, Slash, Heavy Slash, and Dust), but new inputs will be used for Throws and Dashing. The Roman Cancel system will also be different and "simplified". However, some old style of inputs for certain techniques will still work as they did in previous installments. -STRIVE- also features a new "Stage Transition" feature, where a player can break their opponent through an invisible wall into a new area.


The cleverly-hidden "IV" within Guilty Gear STRIVE's logo implies Arc System Works considers this game to be the fourth X series installment (after X, XX, and Xrd) and/or fourth main series game (after 1, 2, and 3). A PS4 closed beta took place in April 2020. The current release window for Guilty Gear -STRIVE- is "Late 2020".
 

   
Keep it here on FightersGeneration.com for Guilty Gear -STRIVE- news, character reveals, content, and more!
 

Page Updated: October 22nd, 2020 Developer(s): Arc System Works, Team Red Publisher(s): Bandai Namco Designer(s): Daisuke Ishiwatari      Lead Director  Takeshi Yamanaka      Producer Artwork By: Daisuke Ishiwatari Platform(s): Arcade, PS4, PS5 Release Date(s): April 6th, 2021      Ultimate / Deluxe Editions April 9th, 2021      Standard Edition Characters:  Sol-Badguy, Ky Kiske, May, Axl Low, Chipp Zanuff, Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, Zato-1, Ramlethal Valentine, Leo Whitefang, Nagoriyuki, Giovanna, Anji Mito Featured Video: Related Games: GGXrd REV 2, GGXrd -REVELATOR-, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, Guilty Gear, Guilty Gear X, Guilty Gear X Advance, Guilty Gear XX, Guilty Gear X2 #Reload, Guilty Gear XX Slash, Guilty Gear Isuka, Guilty Gear Judgment, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R, BlazBlue: Central Fiction, SFV: Champion Edition, Dragon Ball FighterZ, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, Samurai Shodown (2019), UNIST-CLR, Granblue Fantasy Versus   Gameplay Engine    Story / Theme    Overall Graphics    Animation    Music / Sound Effects    Innovation    Art Direction    Customization     Options / Extras     Intro / Presentation     Replayability / Fun     "Ouch" Factor     Characters     BOTTOM LINE          First Impression: Visually, Guilty Gear -STRIVE- is another groundbreakingly beautiful 2.5D title from Arc System Works... no surprises there. ASW fighting games are so pretty, that with every new 2D fighting game that's announced by another developer, there are approximately 5 to 20 comments in the comments section saying "Why can't ArcSys make this game in their graphics style instead?" There's no denying Arc System Works continues to visually revolutionize the idea of a "2D fighting game" with their mainstay series... and Guilty Gear -STRIVE- is pulling no punches in that department. BETA IMPRESSIONS:  First of all, thanks Arc System Works for inviting me to the beta! Gameplay-wise, GGStrive is an intriguing step backwards in terms of complexity and speed. As a lover of traditional 2D fighting games, I invite the slower pace (and simplified mechanics, in Guilty Gear's case) with open arms. I feel like I can actually "play" this game competitively... unlike some of the "hyper-air-dash, corner-trap death juggle" GG installments of the past (where one touch of death combo by a skilled player could be your end). I like GGStrive's wall break system aesthetically and mechanically (reminds me of TEKKEN 7's), but I think being able to continue a combo after a wall break would make the system (and game) more fun. I love STRIVE's redesigned characters and their vastly updated movesets, as a whole! I really fell in love with Chipp Zanuff's speedy play-style and badass new ninja tech. Overall, I think GGStrive is going to be a fun game when it's finished... but Guilty Gear seems to be looking for a new "identity" with this installment. With the less emphasis on air juggles and toned down mechanics, pro-level GG players may feel that GGStrive doesn't "feel like" Guilty Gear, but in this game's case, I think simplifying the formula slightly is inviting for returning players, new and old. It's pretty cool that -STRIVE- seems like a reboot, with the playable roster from the first game intact. Even so, the drastic redesigns of the original cast makes -STRIVE- look and feel like a brand new game (with a superb art direction)... as opposed to Xrd's "upgraded / fleshed out" GGXX roster. If ASW can find their groove with GGStrive's gameplay (and it seems like they still have a lot of work to do), this game could be one of the headliners of the genre come 2021.  ~TFG Webmaster     Click Here for for PS5 / PS4 box art!