.hack//Z.E.R.O. Announced, CyberConnect2 Revives Series With Self-Published RPG
Developer CyberConnect2 announced a new entry in the .hack series, and it’s called .hack//Z.E.R.O..
Not much is known about the project yet, other than that it is currently in development at CyberConnect2.
The last release in the series was .hack//G.U. Last Recode, a collection of the original .hack//G.U. titles released in 2017. However, the last completely new mainline entry dates back to 2007 with .hack//G.U. Vol. 3: Redemption. Because of this, .hack//Z.E.R.O. marks the revival of a franchise that has largely been dormant for nearly two decades.
In a Famitsu interview translated by Gematsu, CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama clarified that the project reflects the idea of “restarting .hack from zero,” and has no connection to the .hack//ZERO light novel series written by Yokote Michiko.
The story will take place roughly 10 years in the future and will once again center around the MMORPG known as “The World.” Matsuyama also noted that earlier games depicted the real world primarily through emails and web browsers due to budget limitations. Those restrictions will no longer apply in this new entry, suggesting players may experience both the in-game world and real-world perspectives more directly.
The official website for the project is also live.
About the Author - Carlos Hernandez
Carlos Hernandez is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Too Much Gaming, where he writes about video games, reviews, and industry news. A lifelong gamer, he would do anything to experience Final Fantasy Tactics for the first time again and has a love/hate relationship with games that require hunting for new gear to improve your character.
A cross between Vampire Survivors, Arkanoid, Space Invaders, and the base-building elements of Actraiser Renaissance, Ball x Pitt is the perfect combination of old-school charm and difficulty, creating a unique fusion of so many seemingly disparate gameplay elements into something more than the sum of its parts.