Video game developer CyberConnect2 has announced .hack//Z.E.R.O., a brand new entry in the long-running .hack cross-media RPG franchise, with a new trailer confirming a host of returning characters.
It’s the first all-new .hack game we’ve seen since 2012’s odd fighter .hack//Versus, and follows in the footsteps of the 2017 .hack//G.U. trilogy remaster.
Notably, it’s also a core development project for CyberConnect2 (the studio behind Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot and .hack//G.U. Last Recode), which will handle all aspects of planning and development. Previously, .hack games were published under the Bandai Namco Entertainment banner.
.hack franchise set to return – quick links
What to know about .hack//Z.E.R.O.
As its ‘Z.E.R.O.‘ moniker attests, .hack//Z.E.R.O. is the start of a new chapter for the long-running franchise.
While it will connect to other games in the franchise – the lead protagonist does appear to be returning hero Kite, albeit with a new look – CyberConnect2 has confirmed the adventure will be approachable for all players.
In further details shared with Famitsu (via RPG Site), the team has confirmed this game will be set in a time when social media is around, co-existing alongside the in-game MMO known as The World. There will also be an evil corporation in this story, with an emphasis on exploring its impact, and the ‘digitisation’ of the real world.
For a quick lore dump, the series is centred around the events that take place within The World, and games typically follow dual storylines – of the players controlling the characters in The World and how it impacts them, and of the fantasy drama taking place within The World.
When the original games released in the 2000s, and then the subsequent anime adaptations, .hack functioned as an exploration of early MMO trends, running parallel to the rise of MMOs in the real world. With many of these real life MMOs maintaining popularity throughout the decades since, and even becoming a more intrinsic part of gaming and real life, the .hack series feels more relevant than ever.
Everything we noticed in the teaser trailer
While CyberConnect2 is holding much of .hack//Z.E.R.O.‘s secrets to its chest – including when to expect its release – there are some clues we’ve picked up in its first trailer.
Looking closely, you’ll quickly note the protagonist’s resemblance to Kite, although with some changes to this avatar’s appearance. You’ll also be able to spot returning characters Blackrose and Balmung fighting in a field.
A young girl reaching out to Kite in the trailer could also be Aura, with a new, more sinister look.
Another notable element is the seeming digital corruption of Kite, which is a returning plot from the .hack//G.U. series. While the exact nature of these ‘glitches’ is unknown, it does appear the game will tread similar ground to its predecessors, with The World facing some sort of growing threat.
That’s about all we know for now, but we’re sure to learn more as CyberConnect2 continues development.
Also on ScreenHub: Konami confirms major plans for the long-running Castlevania franchise
Konami announced a major new Castlevania sequel, Belmont’s Curse, during a recent PlayStation State of Play showcase. It was confirmed to be a return to the franchise’s 1980s roots, complete with a focus on a new Belmont hero, wielding a whip and other weapons to take on the forces of evil. As Konami has recently confirmed, this is just the start of a fresh Castlevania revival.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse may be the first major Castlevania game in more than a decade, following on from 2014’s Lords of Shadow 2. But in the decades-long absence between major entries, the franchise has only become more popular. That’s largely thanks to Netflix.
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