Granblue Fantasy: Versus launches February 6, 2020 in Japan
Introducing "RPG Mode."
Granblue Fantasy: Versus will launch for PlayStation 4 on February 6, 2020 in Japan, publisher Cygames and developer Arc System Works announced at Granblue Extra Fes 2019 Osaka. The release date is a delay from its previously planned 2019 release window. Pre-orders will begin on August 5.
A western release is planned via publisher XSEED Games in North America and Marvelous Europe in Europe, but a release date has yet to be officially announced.
In Japan, Granblue Fantasy: Versus will be available in physical standard and Premium Box editions, as well as digital standard and Deluxe editions. A Character Pass including five post-release character additions was also announced, and purchases include the “Power-Specialized Vyrn” as a lobby avatar. Here are the details:
■ Products
◆ Physical Editions
Standard Edition (6,980 yen)
Includes a copy of the game and a product code to get the following items in the Granblue Fantasy mobile game:
Gold Brick x1
Sunlight Stone x1
Sephira Evolite x1
Damascus Crystal x10
Premium Box (11,860 yen)
Includes the following:
A copy of the game
Product code to get the items in the Granblue Fantasy mobile game listed above
Special soundtrack CD
Special art book
Character Pass – Includes the unlock rights to five characters due out post-release, plus the Lobby Avatar “Power-Specialized Vyrn.”
Granblue Fantasy: Versus introduces a brand new story featuring your favorite Granblue Fantasy characters. Chaos has befallen the Sky Realm, leaving Gran with no choice but to fight against his former allies. In order for him to identify the source of the growing havoc and save his comrades, the airship Grandcypher takes flight once again into uncharted skies.
—Granblue Fantasy: Versus features a brand-new tale set in the world of Granblue Fantasy, fully voiced in both English and Japanese!
—Enjoy beautifully rendered 3D cutscenes while playing through the story.
Character Upgrading and Customizing
Enhance your characters using a comprehensive system similar to that of Granblue Fantasy. By equipping different weapons and skills, the strategic possibilities are endless!
—Set out for adventure aboard the airship Grandcypher and journey through the skies!
—Granblue Fantasy’s classic weapon system has been newly adapted for Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Upgrade your elemental grids to challenge formidable adversaries!
—Select up to two unique skills from a wide array of options, ranging from healing to debuffing, and use them to turn the tides of battle.
—The weapon skin feature allows you to apply the appearance of certain weapons to others, even in Versus mode!
Battle against monsters and primal beasts during the quests you tackle on your journey! Quest battles can be played with a partner, either locally or online. Alternatively, fight alongside a CPU ally to experience the fun of joint battles!
—Slash through waves of monsters! You can even enlist the help of the characters you’ve upgraded in RPG Mode.
—Fight against colossal primal beasts in special boss battles, and experience a whole new level of difficulty and excitement!
Library and Gallery
Visit the Journal to learn about the world of Granblue Fantasy, or enjoy a wealth of exciting content, including stories, art, and music!
—Includes features such as illustrated character profiles and location information.
—Browse an abundance of in-game art, illustrations, and music, or revisit stories you’ve cleared in RPG mode at any time.
■ Versus Mode
Experience Granblue Fantasy in fighting game form!
◆ Battle System
Granblue Fantasy: Versus features a simple yet extensive battle system, with skills that can be activated with the touch of a button, a unique skill cooldown system, and super skybound arts that can dramatically turn the tables on your opponent! Players new to fighting games will enjoy the ease of controlling their favorite characters, while fighting game veterans will be able to experience the thrill of intense, tactical battles!
Match Rules
—Battle Interface
(1) Win Counter – Displays the number of rounds won by the player.
(2) Skill Icons – Displays available skills. (Unavailable skills’ icon will be darkened.)
(3) SB Gauge – Skybound Art or Super Skybound Art can be activated when this gauge is full. Fills up upon dealing or taking damage, among other actions.
(4) Round Timer – Displays how much time is left in a round. The round ends when the timer reaches 0.
(5) HP Bar – Displays the character’s health. The round ends when it reaches 0.
(6) Chain Counter – Displays the number of consecutive hits performed.
(7) System Text – Displays contextual combat information such as counters.
—Match Format
A player wins a round when they reduce their opponent’s HP to zero. The first player to win two rounds in total wins the match.
—Round Time Limit
Each round has a 99-second time limit. When time runs out, the player with the higher amount of remaining HP wins the round.
L1 Button – Throw (can also be activated with Square + X)
L2 Button – Overhead Attack (can also be activated with Triangle + Circle)
R1 Button – Skill
R2 Button – Guard
This controller layout is the default. Button settings can be changed by selecting “Button Configuration” in the Main Menu’s “Customize” menu or in the online lobby’s Pause menu. (Pause menu will open by pressing Options when you are in an online lobby.)
—Avoiding Damage
Evade (Left + R2) – Evade avoids all damage from incoming attacks except for throws. However, there is a brief moment of vulnerability at the end of the move.
Cross Over (Right + R2) – Cross overs avoid all damage from incoming attacks while advancing formward. However, it doesn’t worka against throws and low attacks.
You can hold R2 and press Left or Right to pull off these moves.
—Skills
The cycle is as follows: Activate skill, recharge over time, skill ready to use gain.
Press the R1 button to use skill specific to that character. Once activated, each skill cannot be reused until its cooldown time passes. (The respective skill icon will be darkened during cooldown.)
—Skybound Art: Down, Down-Right, Right + R1
Deals more damage than regular skills. It can be activated once the SB gauge reaches 100 percent.
Fight your way toward the finish line, defeating the opponents that stand in your way! The difficulty can be adjusted as desired.
Free Training
Offers a wide range of settings and functions to meet your individual needs. Practice to your heart’s content!
Mission Training
Polish your skill with missions covering everything from mastering basic controls to countering specific characters!
Online Matches
Create a room and battle other players online. You can also queue up for ranked matches!
Online Lobby
Join an online lobby that can hold up to 64 players! You can play matches and chat with other skyfarers!
Additionally, Arc System Works updated the characters page of the official website with information about each character’s skills and Skybound Arts (except for Lowain and Ladvia). It also seems to indicate that there will be a total of 11 characters at launch, with three “coming soon” character slots shown on the page.
Watch a new trailer introducing RPG Mode and boss battle gameplay video below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.
Trailer
Boss Battle Gameplay
(From 2:40:10 to 2:41:44.)
Update 08/04/19 at 3:35 p.m.: North American publisher XSEED Games has sent out a press release for the newly announced RPG Mode. It does not include a North American release date, however, which the company says it will disclose at a later time. Some of the screenshots posted above were included with the press release at 4K resolution, which have been replaced in the gallery.
