Classic JRPG Franchise .hack Returns After a Fourteen Year Hiatus with .hack//Z.E.R.O.
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
CyberConnect2 is reviving the classic .hack franchise with .hack//Z.E.R.O., a brand-new action RPG celebrating the studio's 30th anniversary.
CyberConnect2 is celebrating its 30th anniversary by bringing back one of gaming's most influential sci-fi fantasy universes. According to a report by Polygon, the studio announced .hack//Z.E.R.O., also known as Project Dusk, marking the first brand-new entry in the series since 2012. The upcoming action RPG is currently slated exclusively for consoles with no official release date announced yet. Fans of the developer's past work on Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot and various anime adaptations will find a familiar creative pedigree steering this new chapter.
The initial teaser trailer highlights a distinct visual contrast between a hyper-modern real world filled with delivery drones and social media, and the digital fantasy MMORPG environment known as The World. Executive producer Hiroshi Matsuyama confirmed in a recent interview that events happening in the real world will carry just as much weight as the adventures inside the digital space. CyberConnect2 also noted that while the game ties into the broader legacy of the franchise, newcomers can jump straight in without needing to catch up on decades of lore.
This revival feels particularly timely for players who grew up with the early 2000s multimedia juggernaut that helped popularize the concept of stories set inside virtual online games. Bandai Namco has granted CyberConnect2 full permission to manage the entire project independently, covering everything from planning to the final release. As modern gaming continues to blur the lines between virtual spaces and physical reality, bringing back a franchise built around that exact premise is a smart move for players looking for deep narrative experiences.
Tags: RPG, Gaming News, CyberConnect2, Anime Games, Consoles
Original article: Polygon