Guilty Gear Strive is now in its fourth year of content updates, and despite being one of the older fighting games compared to newer releases like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, it continues to thrive. At Evo 2024, Arc System Works announced a major addition to the game: Lucy from Cyberpunk Edgerunners. I had the opportunity to speak with Guilty Gear Strive Producer Ken Miyauchi to learn more about this unexpected collaboration and the future of the game.
Miyauchi shared that the idea of adding Lucy to the game had been in the works since 2023. The decision to include Lucy was made after discussions with CD PROJEKT RED, the studio behind Cyberpunk Edgerunners. While David is the main character of the anime, Lucy was chosen for specific reasons that Miyauchi couldn’t reveal to avoid spoilers.
When asked about a possible collaboration with Studio Trigger, the animation studio behind Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Miyauchi mentioned that their talks were directly with CD PROJEKT RED. However, he expressed interest in collaborating with Trigger in the future.
In addition to Lucy, the game will introduce a 3-on-3 mode where players control a team of three characters simultaneously. Miyauchi explained that each team member will have a specific role, and players can switch between characters strategically during battles.
Regarding other characters like Dizzy, Venom, and Unika, Miyauchi hinted at unique gameplay styles for each character without revealing too many details to avoid spoilers from the anime series.
Looking ahead to Season 4 updates, Miyauchi discussed upcoming balance changes targeted at underutilized characters and adjustments to universal mechanics. He also mentioned potential improvements to base-level features like frame data in training mode and matchmaking systems.
When asked about the possibility of implementing instant kills in Strive, Miyauchi expressed interest but acknowledged the challenges of developing intricate animations for each character. He assured fans that the team was considering this feature for future updates.
Reflecting on the evolution of fighting games, Miyauchi emphasized the importance of community feedback and the ongoing quest to innovate within the genre. He highlighted the current era as an exciting time for fighting game enthusiasts and expressed a commitment to delivering enjoyable experiences for players.
As Guilty Gear Strive continues to evolve with new characters, game modes, and updates, fans can look forward to an engaging and dynamic gaming experience. Stay tuned for more announcements from Arc System Works as they strive to push the boundaries of the fighting game genre.
