18th volume of “Developer’s Backyard”(7/25 Release)
- Featured articles
Hello, this is Producer Miyauchi.
As mentioned in the "Notice Regarding Data Leakage Due to Unauthorized Access" we sincerely apologize to all users who are playing Guilty Gear -Strive- for the significant inconvenience.
In response to this incident, last month Guilty Gear -Strive- implemented countermeasures not only against unauthorized access to the network mode using the leaked data but also against specific mods that were causing actual harm to players.
Due to security reasons, we may implement such updates without providing detailed information.
We will continue to work diligently to ensure that you can enjoy the game with peace of mind.
Now, in this Developer's Backyard, we will give you a little glimpse into our plans for the remaining Season 4 updates, and also recap the character updates for Season 4 so far.
Future Updates
・Nintendo Switch Edition Update
・Queen Dizzy
・Venom
・Unika
Future Updates
First, we apologize for the long wait for updates regarding "Ranked Match," which was announced for implementation between June and August. Development is progressing smoothly, but due to the need to implement security updates last month, we are currently preparing for an August release.
Please see below for an updated development roadmap.
●Next Update Scheduled for August:
The final character for Season 4, Lucy, a guest character from "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," the new Ranked Match mode, and battle balance adjustments are all planned for the August update.
The specific update date will be announced at the fighting game tournament "EVO," held in Las Vegas, USA, from August 1st to 3rd (local time). Please look forward to it.
●Addition of Ranked Match mode:
This feature is a mode where players of similar skill can be randomly matched for battles, similar to previous titles.
Here are the differences compared to the existing Rank Tower:
The Rank Tower will be renamed "Duel Tower" as an entry point for getting used to online battles for those who are not accustomed to fighting games or feel hesitant to play against random opponents without seeing them. The tutorial for the first-time play of the Network Mode will continue to guide players to the Tower as before.
The Tower has a demotion protection function where players will not drop below a certain floor if they perform specific actions like Psych Burst or Wall Break. Additionally, the rank (Assigned Floor) is assigned to the player, not to the character, making it easier to avoid intentionally lowering one's rank to fight players in lower ranks (so-called beginner hunting or smurfing).
We hope it will serve as a stepping stone which you can play as a casual mode to find opponents close to your skill level, and then start Ranked Matches once you gain some confidence.
After a review of the Tower's role, the Celestial Floor will be changed to floor 11. It functions as a normal floor above floor 10, as the Celestial Floor challenge has been removed. Therefore, while previously only players who had achieved the Celestial Floor challenge or had qualification to challenge it could enter the Celestial Floor, it will now be the topmost floor accessible to all players.
We will provide further details in the August update. In conjunction with the rule changes for the Tower, players whose current Assigned Floor is Celestial Floor will all be forcibly assigned to floor 10. The monthly Celestial Floor Rankings and ranking rewards will be handled as before. However, if your Assigned Floor is not Celestial, victories achieved in the Celestial Floor will no longer be counted towards the Celestial ranking and rewards. Therefore, players aiming for the top rewards in the August monthly Celestial Floor Rankings will need to raise their Assigned Floor to Celestial Floor after the update. Please be aware of this in advance.
Ranked Match is character-specific, making it a mode for players accustomed to fighting games who want to test their skills with each character they use.
Ranked Match will begin with 10 placement matches to determine the appropriate rank. Based on the win/loss of these placement matches, the most suitable rank will be assigned to the current character.
If your highest-ranked character is at Vanquisher rank, you will start at a set rank even if you lose all of your placement matches when starting Ranked Match with another character.
This system makes it easier to avoid unintentional smurfing.
Any clearly intentional manipulation of rank or Assigned Floor, and resulting beginner hunting or smurfing, is a violation of the End User License Agreement (EULA) and hinders healthy gameplay. If you encounter such behavior, please report it through the game. We will take action from the management side to foster a healthy online environment.
●Battle Balance Adjustments:
Let's discuss some of the upcoming changes.
We plan to make adjustments along the following lines for universal game mechanics that have brought up concerns:
・Revise the properties of Wild Assault:：The plan is to reduce the utility and dependency on Wild Assault.
・Revise the effects of Guard Crush:：The plan is to make it easier to deal with.
・Revise the specifications around the R.I.S.C. level:：We are aiming for adjustments where a small amount of accumulation no longer easily leads to high damage compared to before.
We do not plan to strengthen alternative systems or add new systems as a result of these revisions. Individual character adjustments will be made based on the revisions of these universal mechanics.
Nintendo Switch Edition Update
We sincerely apologize for the long wait regarding the update for Guilty Gear -Strive- Nintendo Switch Edition.
Venom and Unika, along with Lucy, are planned for an update in the Fall of 2025.
Development for the Nintendo Switch Edition involves porting the character after completion, followed by sequential optimization and processing load reduction.
The Fall 2025 update is expected to bring it up to speed with the latest version, including not only playable character additions but also Digital Figures, balance adjustments, and Ranked Matches. Additionally, we are addressing issues where text is difficult to read in some language settings. Please look forward to the update.
Luminous wings guiding the path
Queen of Compassion in Full Bloom
Ease of Use: ★★★☆☆
Battle Type: Unique
■Name: Dizzy (VA: Kira Buckland)
■Height: 167cm / 5’5””
■Weight: 56kg / 124lb
■Blood Type: Undetermined
■Birthday: December 25th
■Hometown: Unknown
■Hobbies: Grooming her wings
■Likes: Everyone she can call family, those who helped her in the forest
■Dislikes: Conflict
■Affiliation: Formerly Jellyfish Pirates, Vialattea Kingdom
A half-Gear born between a Gear and a human.
Although she once distrusted humans, meeting many kind people gradually helps her overcome those feelings.
Sincere and pure at heart, she loves nature and humanity, despising conflict.
For a time she lives in hiding in the Forest of Demons after an elderly human couple takes her in. Johnny then asks her to join the Jellyfish Pirates, where she is welcomed warmly.
During this new peaceful life, she meets Ky Kiske, a director of the International Police Force at the time, and falls in love. She eventually bears him a son, Sin.
Later, she is sealed away in slumber to escape an enemy attack and subsequently freed during the Cradle incident.
After Ky steps down from his position as Allied King of Illyria, Dizzy now rules the new kingdom Vialattea together with him. Although still growing accustomed to her official duties, she finds each day fulfilling.
Dizzy is a crucial character in understanding the relationship between Sol and Ky, as well as the overall world of the Guilty Gear series. Therefore, we always wanted to include Dizzy as a playable character at some point from the beginning of development.
Necro and Undine, located on her back, are her defining features. From our development experience in Xrd, we knew that making Dizzy a playable character would require creating not only her, but also Necro and Undine. For this reason, her development period was longer compared to other characters until her official implementation.
●Character Design
Queen Dizzy comes from a point in time slightly after the events of the anime "Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers" (GGSTDR), where Ky abdicated from the throne of the United Kingdom of Illyria.
She rules Vialattea, a new country within Illyria's territory inhabited by Gears, together with Ky. Her outfit in this installment differs from her previous combat attire and is what she wears when performing her public duties in Vialattea.
The Vialattea crest on her costume depicts a dove carrying wheat, symbolizing peace and prosperity.
●Battle Design
Even as a queen, Dizzy still dislikes conflict. However, instead of being protected by Necro and Undine as before, she now wields her power with her own will to protect the people she cherishes. The newly added “Ice Field," "Michael Sword," and "Wings of Light" are special moves that represent Dizzy's growth.
"Ice Field" is a follow-up available after "I used this to catch fish." It spreads ice across the ground, affecting the movement and momentum of both players.
It triggers a follow-up hit when knocking the opponent down, opening up combo potential when used well. However, it also affects the user, making it a double-edged sword.
"Michael Sword" is one of Justice's signature techniques.
As Justice's daughter, Dizzy could use this move in the Guilty Gear XX series as part of her EX version moveset. In this installment, "Michael Sword" has a visual appearance that more closely resembles Justice's.
"Wings of Light" was a technique with immense attack power exclusively used by the Gold CPU Dizzy in the Guilty Gear XX series. In this installment, once activated, it possesses incredible power that depletes the opponent's health within its area of effect. However, it takes a significant amount of time to activate, and will be interrupted if Dizzy is attacked during this period. Furthermore, while "Wings of Light" is active, the Tension Gauge will decrease over time, and its effect will end when the gauge is empty. Therefore, considerable skill is required to master it, but it can create unique match developments.
Unrelenting Pursuer in the Dark of Night
Deep Purple Billiard Phantom
Ease of Use: ★☆☆☆☆
Battle Type: Zoning
■Name: Venom (VA: Howard Wang)
■Height: 179 cm / 5'11""
■Weight: 66kg / 146lb
■Blood Type: A
■Bakery opening: May 16
■Origin: England
■Hobbies: Reading, chess
■Values: Zato, compassion, Millia when she's with Zato, the townspeople
■Dislikes: Blood, anyone who would wrong Zato, Millia, unsorted trash
■Affiliation: Underside Bakehouse
■Weapon: Pool cue
He is a gentle and honest man who can barely bring himself to lie. There is a rigidity to his speech that suggests he favors reason above all else, but in fact, he places high importance on emotion, empathy, and humility.
During the battle with Bedman, the leader of the Assassin’s Guild Venom dies–to the outside world, at least.
After Robo-Ky saves his life, he attempts to fund his repairs by taking any work he can get, until Zato gifts him ownership of the store where he opens his bakery.
Through his new life as a baker, Venom learns of a new and unfamiliar “battle.”
He grows fond of the townspeople who fight not to take the lives of others but for their own pride, and swears to protect their “battlefield.”
And so begins his new battle: baker by day, mysterious punisher “Phantom” by night.
■Robo-Ky (VA: Alejandro Saab)
Robo-Ky is a robotic weapon developed in a laboratory run by the Post-War Administration Bureau. He was modeled after the famous hero and warrior Ky Kiske: legendary for his accomplishments during the Crusades and the Second Holy Order Selection Tournament. Data about Ky has been carefully sampled, analyzed, and finally incorporated into Robo-Ky's artificial intelligence unit. Although all Robo-Kys were implanted with a personality, none of the Robo-Kys which followed after the first were ever quite as complete.
He seems extremely attracted to women, and sees humans as inferior creatures but also demonstrates extremely human behavior.
The source of his power comes from a powerful beetle within him known as the Hercules Engine.
He loses his pride and joy, his body frame, in the battle with Bedman. Undeterred by this cruel twist of fate, however, he works to earn his repair fees by helping out at Venom’s bakery.
He also takes great pains to look out for Venom while he fights for justice, making himself a worthy partner.
●Character Design
Venom's background in the previous Guilty Gear Xrd series story is that he left the Assassin’s Guild, opened a bakery, and is earning money for Robo-Ky's repairs. However, instead of the everyday baker Venom, he fights as the mysterious vigilante "Phantom" in an outfit with minor changes from his previous attire.
Initially, there was an internal proposal to release the character under the name "Phantom." However, while he intends to conceal his identity, it's quite obvious to the other characters... With this in mind, we decided to display his name as Venom in the end.
●Battle Design
Venom is known for his unique battle style, as he attacks using cue balls which can change trajectories when colliding with one another. We aimed for a Venom unique to Guilty Gear -Strive-, incorporating elements such as his signature billiard gimmick, with the ability to cancel his normal attacks after striking a ball with them just like when connecting with an opponent. His ease of use is ★☆☆☆☆, making him a technical character, a rarity since Asuka.
Similar to his Instant Kill move "Giga Machina System" from Guilty Gear Xrd, his command grab "Tryambaka" turns the opponent into a ball. They can then be struck.
As shown below, each character's ball has a unique appearance.
Incidentally, Robo-Ky, who accompanies Venom, makes a dashing appearance in Venom's "Ground Throw" and "Dark Angel" to attack, and also appears in victory animations, showing that he is a good partner to Venom.
Untarnished resounding thunderclap
Trick Weapon Wielding Super Rookie
Ease of Use: ★★★★★
Battle Type: Balance
■Name: Unika (VA: Erin Yvette)
■Height: 167cm / 5'5””
■Weight: 59kg /131lbs
■Blood Type: Unknown
■Birth Date: March 5
■Origin: Unknown
■Hobby: Seasoning
■Values: Family, her favorite jacket
■Dislikes: Dogs, octopi
A girl from the future after the destruction of the Second Crusades.
Daughter of Ky and Dizzy, she inherits Gear blood like her brother Sin.
In the ruined future, Nerville discovers her while still inside her egg and raises her to faithfully follow his orders.
She travels to the past from the future where mankind is on the brink of extinction, convinced by Nerville that this is how to save the world, and engages Sol and the others in combat.
Her feelings begin to waver after meeting Sin and Bridget, leading to her parting ways with Nerville. She teams up with Sin and the others to thwart Nerville’s attempted invasion.
Aware that her origins left her unfamiliar with the world and humanity, Unika sets off on a journey under supervision of the United States.
Through her many encounters with others during her travels, she learns of peace and herself. She decides to use her power to ensure people like her future self do not come to be.
After her long journey, she refuses the offer to stay with her family in Vialattea. Instead, she asks the United States which had been monitoring her to place her under their control.
Although Vernon wants to accept her request, Goldlewis and the rest of the staff oppose his decision given her history as a terrorist.
With the support of Stryper, however, she eventually manages to secure a position as Presidential Bodyguard Trainee.
She is allowed to handle missions on her own, although the United States constantly tracks her using magic.
As she comes from a wasteland of a world, she has equal or superior survival experience to Sin.
Her clothing is mostly mass-produced garments provided by the shelters in the future world, however her jacket is the final present she received from someone who showed her kindness.
●Character Design:
Unika's first appearance was in the TV anime. During the plotting phase of GGSTDR, General Director Daisuke Ishiwatari handled her character name and design as a new character for Guilty Gear.
Ishiwatari was provided with the essential elements for the script, such as Unika's identity as the daughter of Ky and Dizzy from the future, her personality, upbringing, and the fact that she possessed means of attacking from a distance in addition to close combat.
The result was a character very representative of Guilty Gear, with the Thunderseal incorporated as part of her transforming armament. Her transformation was part of her design right from the initial concept, an unexpected addition.
Unfortunately, not all elements conceived in the rough sketches could be incorporated into the anime. They were instead unveiled in GGST.
Incidentally, the name "Unika" was given to her by Ky and Dizzy before her birth.
She has many undisclosed settings, but we hope to have an opportunity to reveal them someday.
●Battle Design:
Unika is designed as a character who can unleash diverse attacks by transforming her weapon during battle, hence she has a large number of command normals.
Although her command list might appear complex at first glance, we aimed for a battle design with an ease of use of ★★★★★ to encourage a wide range of players to try her as a completely new character for GGST.
Her Command Normals 2 through 6 (excluding →+P) give her access to a quick input for special move follow-ups, effectively making it possible to use special moves with a single button press.
For example, after "Command Normal 2" (→+HS), inputting ←+K will execute "A.T.T.G. Top-Attack (Powered-up)" (↓↙←+K). Similarly, →+HS will allow for "A.M.T.G. Streak (Powered-up)," →+S for "A.C.T.G. Blast-Off (Powered-up)," and →+K for "A.T.T.G. Penetrate (Powered-up)." This allows players who are not accustomed to command inputs to perform a variety of moves.
While the controls are simple, on the other hand, the character demands depth for those who wish to pursue high-damage combos and setplay.
Incidentally, the abbreviations such as "A.M.T.G." in her move names are all techniques designed for fighting Gears, and they stand for the following:
A.M.T.G. → Anti-Multi-Type GEAR
A.A.T.G. → Anti-Aerial Type GEAR
A.C.T.G. → Anti-Colossal Type GEAR
A.T.T.G. → Anti-Terrestrial Type GEAR
That’s all for Volume 18 of Developer’s Backyard.
Thank you for sticking around until the end.
We’re currently accepting submissions for topics you’d like us to discuss in a future Developer’s Backyard, as well as questions and comments via the form below.
Check out the official GGST X for the latest info!
https://twitter.com/GUILTYGEAR_PR
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