Cygames finally announced the release date of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising at EVO 2023.
The second iteration of the Granblue Fantasy fighting game will release on November 30, 2023, for PS5, PS4, and PC. Pre-orders start tonight at midnight.
The standard edition will be priced at $49.99, while the Deluxe Edition will be priced at $74.99.
On top of that, a free edition will be available including 4 characters, part 1 of the story, online play, and lobby access (including the Grand Bruise Legends minigames). Some features will be limited, but players will be able to enjoy online matches with everyone else.
A second online beta has also been announced for the fall of 2023 focusing on lobby matches, crossplay, and Grand Buise Legends. It will include tweaks based on feedback from the first beta.
You can check out the trailer below.
We heard earlier this week that the game is a separate release from its predecessor, albeit players will be able to carry over certain elements including story progress, tournament trophies, EX colors, and battle pass rewards like weapons and colors.
Among the major additions, besides new characters and gameplay mechanics, is the inclusion of rollback netcode. Crossplay among platforms will also be supported.
Incidentally, the tournament at EVO 2023 was won by Gamera using Yuel after a hard-fought grand final against Buh using Siegfried.
If you'd like to see more about Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, you can check out the original reveal, alongside more trailers showcasing Anila, Siegfried, and Nier.
If you're unfamiliar with the game, it's the new iteration of Granblue Fantasy Versus, which was developed by Arc System Works and was originally released in 2020. It's based on the popular Granblue Fantasy mobile game.
While the game was generally received positively, the pandemic basically demolished Cygames' obvious esports ambitions. Due to that, it's understandable that the Shibuya-based developer is re-releasing the game and trying to give it a much-deserved second chance.
Incidentally, we already know that more news about the game on top of its JRPG brother Granblue Fantasy Relink will come at an event hosted in Japan in September.