Esteemed fighting game studio Arc System Works revealed, for the first time, the official trailer for the new Kill la Kill game. Titled Kill la Kill the Game: IF, the game is based on Studio Trigger’s eponymous anime that debuted back in 2013. During its panel at Anime Expo, Arc System Works stated that the story will be formatted like an episode of the anime and that the series’ original writer, Kazuki Nakashima, will return to the project.
Studio Trigger is known for its animated series that are over-the-top, stylish, and filled with distinctively colorful action sequences. Kill la Kill is no exception, as the story revolves around a world where clothes made with what’s called “life fibers” imbue wearers with spectacular abilities. Meanwhile, a girl named Matoi Ryuko must fight through a prestigious high school in order to find out the truth about her father’s death. As outlandish as the premise sounds, the action-packed battles that take place in the series are a natural fit to Arc System Works’ fighting game aesthetics.
Known for wildly popular fighting games such as BlazBlue and Guilty Gear, Arc System Works consistently puts out fast-paced and colorfully lush 2D titles that stylistically adhere to Japanese animation. The company will act as publisher in collaboration with Studio Trigger, while APLUS is developing the game. This will actually be the second time a Studio Trigger IP is adapted as a video game, as Bandai Namco-produced (and also APLUS developed) RPG Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time was released last November.
According to the trailer, the game will be released some time in 2019 on the PS4 and PC (via Steam). Though there is no concrete release date yet, the game will be playable as a demo from August 3 -5 at this year’s Evolution Championship Series fighting game tournament held in Las Vegas.