The fighting game community has been buzzing following a recent report suggesting that the planned follow-up title to the successful *Guilty Gear Strive* has been internally cancelled by developer Arc System Works.
According to a report published by Insider Gaming, citing anonymous sources, the project intended to succeed *Guilty Gear Strive* has met its demise within the studio`s development pipeline. This internal cancellation is said to have occurred within the last few weeks. While the specific game concept is reportedly “back to the drawing board,” the report indicates that the franchise`s future is not entirely dead, merely undergoing a significant re-evaluation.
This news arrives somewhat aligned with, yet also in contrast to, recent public statements. *Guilty Gear Strive* has been the standard-bearer for the franchise since its 2021 launch, receiving consistent support including four seasons of downloadable content. Its noticeable absence from the recent Arc System Works showcase event had already fueled speculation regarding the immediate future of new *Guilty Gear* titles.
Adding a layer of intrigue, series producer Ken Miyauchi recently commented at Anime Expo that while some might believe *Strive*`s updates would cease after Season 4, this was “not true.” He stated the team was “preparing something big and exciting that people probably won`t expect” for the franchise. This could imply that while a specific, previously envisioned game was cancelled, a completely different, potentially more ambitious or experimental, project is still in the works – perhaps the very thing necessitating a return to the “drawing board.”
Arc System Works, known for its visually striking and technically deep fighting games, is certainly not idle. The studio recently unveiled *Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls*, a 4v4 tag fighter featuring Marvel characters, at the PlayStation State of Play, and also announced a new *Bubble Bobble* title during their own showcase. Their current development bandwidth appears divided across multiple projects.
The reported cancellation means fans hoping for a direct sequel or a game built immediately upon *Strive*`s foundations might have to temper expectations. The franchise`s next step is now seemingly shrouded in a bit more mystery, defined by both an internal reset and the promise of something unexpected down the line. For now, *Guilty Gear Strive* remains readily available across various platforms, serving as the current entry point for players into this long-running fighting series.
Ellis Thorne