The gorgeous 3D fighter is still going strong.
Guilty Gear Strive just showed off Slayer as the final character of Season 3, and the trailer also confirmed that Season 4 is on its way. This means a new batch of characters, and based on recent releases, we have a few predictions for who will come back. Season 4 could also bring new stages or story mode chapters to incorporate all the new faces. It will also include a sweeping balance patch to prepare the game for its final years in the spotlight.
The numbers aren’t confirmed, but it's reasonable to expect four new characters to return from the franchise’s history. There’s also a chance we’ll see a surprise inclusion from beyond the Guilty Gear universe. Season 4 will also make Strive one of the longest-developed fighters from Arc System Works, surpassing Granblue Fantasy Versus and Dragon Ball FighterZ for DLC seasons.
Release date prediction for Guilty Gear Strive Season 4
Based on past character and season release schedules, we predict that Guilty Gear Season 4 will drop sometime during late July of 2024.
This prediction is mostly based on the time between Season 2’s final character and the release of Season 3. Asuka R♯ came out on May 25, 2023. Season 3 was announced shortly after, and the balance update came out on Aug. 24. That’s a three-month gap between the final character of a DLC pack and the next season.
However, there are a few reasons to believe the gap could be longer. Season 4 could also bring back a few older mechanics that would take time to develop. In our exclusive interview with developers Ken Miyauchi and Akira Katano, the pair hinted at major mechanical changes now that the game is getting older. Special mechanics could take extra time to develop, especially if they involve new visuals. If there is a delay, expect an update from Arc System Works and the release date for Strive Season 4 to be sometime in the fall of 2024.
What character could return to Strive?
Slayer is a fan-favorite, but Arc System Works still has a few obvious picks for Strive Season 4 characters.
The biggest holdout is Jam Kuradoberi, a Chinese kung fu fighter. Jam is another common request along with Slayer, and her powered-up kick mechanic would translate well to the system. However, Jam has a few strikes against her inclusion, specifically her canonically aggressive accent and “daily costume change” mechanic. Don’t expect either feature to return.
Alternate versions of existing characters are also on the table. Robo-Ky and Holy Order Sol from the XX series are mechanically unique, though some mechanics may be difficult to translate into Strive. Robo-May from ExplaMaytions with May! could make the jump as a playable character. Other possible returning picks are Dizzy, Venom, Justice, Kliff, and plenty of obscure names from Isuka and Overture.
Lastly, Guilty Gear Strive Season 4 could add something even less expected. Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising added 2B from Nier: Automata. Strive could get its crossover character in Season 4, possibly from its sister series Blazblue. Ragna the Bloodedge or Jin Kisaragi are the obvious picks. The developer could also pick someone from outside its resume, like a character from Melty Blood or Akatsuki Blitzkampf.
Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest updates on all things Guilty Gear Strive.