Important Announcements from CyberConnect2 on Independent Publishing and the .hack Series
The vice president of CyberConnect2 provided important information about the studio's new direction at the Anime Expo event held recently. In particular, the status of the .hack series and the company's strategy to transition to independent publishing were topics eagerly awaited by fans.
Speaking to Anime News Network, the official stated that the studio has been known for licensed anime games such as Naruto: Ultimate Ninja and Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles for many years, but now wants to focus on its own IPs and independent publishing. Behind this move lies the desire to increase creative freedom and directly control revenue streams. The studio had previously achieved success with self-published games in the Fuga: Melodies of Steel series.
The most striking part of the speech was about the .hack series. Although no concrete announcement was made about the future of this universe, which has a cult following, the vice president hinted that the brand is “still alive” and that “we might see something when the time is right.” These statements created excitement among fans who have been waiting for a new .hack game for a long time. The series had inspired MMORPG culture with its PlayStation 2 games released in the early 2000s and subsequent anime adaptations.
CyberConnect2's shift towards independent publishing is seen as part of a major change in the industry. The studio, which traditionally worked for large publishers like Bandai Namco, now distributes its own games directly, taking on risk but also reaping the full potential reward. This strategy is expected to continue with projects like Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3. There are also rumors that the studio is working on a new AAA IP.
For fans, these news represent not only a change in a game studio's business model, but also the possibility of reviving classic series that have been on the verge of being forgotten. Adapting the .hack universe to modern consoles remains a dream for many players. For now, there is no definite date or project name; however, CyberConnect2's outspokenness signals that official announcements may come in the coming months.
