Arc System Works summarized a series of announcements made at the ARC WORLD TOUR 2025-2026 FINALS in South Korea, where champions were crowned in three fighting games and new details were unveiled for GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-. The event saw Zangief_Dream of Japan winning Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Jack of the United States triumphing in GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, and Jaca of Brazil emerging victorious in UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes.
In addition to the tournament results, Arc System Works also disclosed fresh details about GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Version 2.00, Season Pass 5, and the next playable character for the game.
Scheduled for April 9th, Version 2.00 will be released as a major update free of charge. The update will feature balance adjustments, new special moves for certain characters, and a new gameplay mechanic called ‘Counter Blitz’.
Following the update, players can anticipate the introduction of the ‘Blazing Pass’ in May, allowing them to unlock in-game rewards through gameplay progression.
Furthermore, Arc System Works unveiled a GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Version 2.00 Starter Edition, which includes the base game and all currently available downloadable content, including Season Pass 5.
Jam Kuradoberi to lead Guilty Gear -Strive- Season Pass 5
A major character-related announcement from the finals was the reveal of Jam Kuradoberi, who will join GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- on April 9th as an individual DLC character priced at $6.99 (~£5.40).
Jam will be the first addition in Season Pass 5, which will also feature Robo-Ky in Summer 2026, along with two more characters planned for Winter 2026 and Spring 2027.
Priced at $24.99 (~£19.30), Season Pass 5 will include all four DLC characters and a bonus package comprising Additional Battle Stage #9 ‘Cradled by the Four Beasts’, extra character colors, the GGST Wanted Poster Skin ‘Street’, and the GGST Battle UI Skin ‘Vintage Metal’.
These latest announcements mark another significant update phase for GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, solidifying its position as a prominent title in the fighting game community. Since its launch in 2021, the game has continued to receive seasonal updates, balance adjustments, and tournament support through the Arc World Tour.
Arc System Works, known for titles like Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, and Granblue Fantasy Versus, continues to invest in post-launch support for its flagship fighting games to stay competitive in the genre.
This latest update from the company aligns with a trend among fighting game publishers to use major live events for both esports competitions and product announcements, offering fans a blend of competitive narratives and sneak peeks at upcoming content.