The first major update to Guilty Gear Xrd is now in development, with new features, a returning favorite character, and a brand new fighter.

Last December marked the worldwide return of the Guilty Gear franchise, with Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-. From Arc System Works and internal group Team RED, -SIGN- was built from the ground up using Unreal Engine 3. An abundance of visual trickery and artistic shading techniques were used to emulate the look and feel of the previous 2D games, all while using 3D character models and environments. Xrd is also the first entry in the series to be presented at 720p and 1080p on their respective consoles.

The PS3 and PS4 versions recently received a large update bringing them both up-to-speed with their Japanese arcade counterpart, however an even larger update was revealed overnight in the form of “Revelator”. Keeping with the tradition of Guilty Gear‘s multiple “physical” updates, Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- will be the next version of Arc System Works’s Fighter. The new version will include several new gameplay adjustments, a new input mechanic, and additional characters.

The most recent update to Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- simplified certain button-inputs for Overdrives and Special Attacks; -REVELATOR- will take this further, with the new “Stylish Mode”. When this gameplay mode is active, players can perform advanced combo strings using streamlined, simplified inputs.

According to Famitsu, Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- will add two additional characters to the roster. While he was nowhere to be seen in Xrd, the fan-favorite leader of the Jellyfish Pirates, Johnny will be playable once again. While he was unavailable in Xrd, Johnny is present in the Story Mode, with voice-acting and a completed character model. With that in mind, players could potentially see Dizzy and Gabriel as future playable characters.

A second character is teased for -REVELATOR-, however Guilty Gear fans are only treated to a silhouette of the character.

It could be speculated that this mystery character is “Delilah”, Bedman’s younger sister. During the Story Mode of Xrd, a conversation between Bedman and his anonymous client reveals that Delilah is the motivation behind his quest to create an “absolute world”; a later conversation reveals that she is in fact alive, but under the same curse as her older brother. Delilah’s importance to Bedman is further backed by one of his quotes during Elphelt’s Instant Kill cinematic; “You cannot replace Delilah!” is shouted upon Bedman’s defeat. While the mystery character’s features are hidden, an orb seems to be connected to one leg, while an ornate halo hovers above over her head; these are loosely similar to the architecture of Bedman’s mechanical frame.

A release date has not been scheduled for Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-; local play-testing will begin in Japan this Summer, as select arcades will host early builds of the title.

Source: Famitsu
Images courtesy of Arc System Works, Team RED, Famitsu