Bandai Namco has officially revealed Bleach: Rebirth of Souls, a new fighting game based on the iconic Bleach anime and manga franchise. This surprise announcement will likely excite many fans of the series, as this upcoming 3D fighter will be the first Bleach game in a long time to be designed specifically with home consoles in mind.
As one of the best anime series of the 2000s, it should come as no surprise that the Bleach franchise has an extensive history of being adapted to the medium of video games. The first title based on Tito Kube’s beloved franchise was Bleach: Heat the Soul, a 3D cel-shaded fighting game that was released for the PSP exclusively in Japan. The Bleach series then went on to make an appearance on many other consoles, like the PS2, PS3, PS Vita, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, and Wii. In recent years, though, titles based on the franchise have largely been relegated to mobile platforms, meaning that Bleach games haven’t exactly had a big presence on modern consoles. Fortunately, that’s about to change soon.
During Anime Expo 2024, Bandai Namco announced that Bleach: Rebirth of Souls, an arena fighter set in the world of the classic shonen series, is currently in development for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. This new addition to the long-running lineup of games based on the Bleach franchise pits iconic characters like Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, and Byakuya Kuchiki against each other in intense, one-on-one battles. According to official details provided by Bandai Namco, players will be able to “choose [their] favorite character” and take advantage of their unique sword skills by commanding “the flow of battle to find an opening that spells defeat for [their] enemies.”
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is a New 3D Fighting Game From Bandai Namco
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls also puts a twist on the classic anime fighting game formula, as it occasionally gives players the opportunity to defeat their opponents in one hit, just like in the Bleach manga and TV show. Bandai Namco briefly elaborates on this point, saying that “the more desperate the situation, the more powerful [players] become.” The Japanese publisher then touches on how progression will work in the game, stating that players will be able to unlock “new forms and new blades” in Bleach: Rebirth of Souls that allow them to “bring victory from the edge of defeat.”
Outside of teasing that the game will support 1-2 player multiplayer both locally and online, Bandai Namco didn’t reveal much else about Bleach: Rebirth of Souls. The company didn’t even give a release window for the arena fighter upon its announcement, instead simply opting to state that the game is “coming soon” to PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam. Although some may be disappointed at the lack of a firm launch period, many fans will likely be happy to see the Bleach series get another shot at a proper console game regardless.
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