Guilty Gear fans have extremely patient. It's been almost three years since Arc System Works confirmed that a new Guilty Gear game was in development. Since then, its been a mix of character reveals, release day announcements, delays, and more. Now, however, Guilty Gear Strive is closer to reality than ever. Its final release date is nearing, a beta is ongoing, and Arc System Works is ready to reveal the game's final roster addition for launch.
She's been one of the most consistent additions since her introduction to the Guilty Gear franchise with Guilty Gear XX. I-No is now confirmed to be a main roster addition for Guilty Gear Strive at launch. She's received a complete visual overhaul, but her design still retails the aspects fans would demand. Those demands being a kick-ass guitar, a witchy aesthetic, plenty of red, and a deadly smile. The right-hand woman of That Man and one of Guilty Gear's most exciting villains, I-No is back.
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I-No isn't necessarily the most popular character that Arc System Works could add to Guilty Gear Strive's roster, but her fanbase is absolutely dedicated. In an official poll held this past year of players' most-wanted characters for Guilty Gear Strive, I-No didn't even make the top 10 list for Japan. Internationally, however, she did much better. She was 5 on the US list, 6 in Asia, and 6 in Europe, too.
Guilty Gear Strive's launch roster is now complete, Arc System Works has confirmed. I-No will fill the fifteenth and final slot on the roster. She's joined by Sol Badguy, Ky Kiske, May, Chipp Zanuff, Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, Zato-1, Axl Low, Anji Mito, Ramlethal Valentine, Leo Whitefang, Nagoriyuki, and Giovanni. DLC expansions containing new characters are expected, but none have been revealed yet. Guilty Gear Xrd, for example, ended up with 25 total playable characters.
Characters that I-No slipped by that Guilty Gear fans will be hoping are added at a later date include Baiken, Johnny, Bridget, Slayer, and Jam Kuradoberi. Of course, there's a list of other Guilty Gear characters waiting their turn even beyond those six, and Arc System Works likely has some original characters in mind, as well.
All that's left for Guilty Gear fans to do is enjoy the ongoing Guilty Gear Strive beta, now extended to February 28, and wait for full launch. The era of Guilty Gear Xrd is coming to its end and a new era of Guilty Gear is about to begin.
Guilty Gear Strive releases April 6 on PC, PS4, and PS5.
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