The announcement of Fairy Tail 2, a sequel to the 2020 RPG Fairy Tail, came as an unexpected yet welcome surprise for fans. Despite the enduring popularity of Hiro Mashima’s series, Koei Tecmo and Gust had given no clear indication that they would continue expanding the franchise, especially after bringing the original manga’s storyline to a close.
Now, they are set to make some significant changes with this new installment.
Scheduled for release on December 13th, 2024, Fairy Tail 2 will focus on the climactic events of the Alvarez Empire Arc, transforming them into an RPG experience. In addition, the game will feature an original story arc, exclusive to the game and approved by Mashima himself.
Unlike its 2020 predecessor, Fairy Tail 2 will depart from the turn-based combat system, instead adopting a more globally commercialized, real-time battle system.
Koei Tecmo and Gust have already unveiled a trailer showcasing the game’s character progression mechanics, along with approximately 18 minutes of gameplay footage, which was revealed during their appearance at Tokyo Game Show 2024.
The newly unveiled trailer offers fans a first look at the updated character progression mechanics, allowing players to shape their own Fairy Tail experience by customizing the skill development of their favorite characters.
As players progress through the game, they will also have the chance to unlock exclusive character stories, providing deeper insights into these beloved figures. These new, original sequences and interactions give players the opportunity to explore previously unseen sides of the Fairy Tail cast, enriching their overall journey.
The gameplay footage showcases fast-paced real-time action and dynamic magic-based combos, ramping up excitement for the game’s release on Sony PlayStation 4 & 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. However, despite the anticipation, dedicated fans of the Fairy Tail series remain cautious, particularly when it comes to concerns about potential censorship in the sequel.
The original 2020 RPG release of Fairy Tail faced heavy criticism from fans due to a day-one censorship patch implemented by GUST.
This patch added a “black void” effect under female characters’ skirts, preventing players from viewing underneath them during gameplay.
Pre-release footage and trailers had shown uncensored content, leading many to believe the changes were introduced deliberately rather than being necessitated by age rating restrictions.
While PC players were able to bypass the censorship through mods, console players were left with no options if they purchased Fairy Tail digitally. Those with physical copies could still play the uncensored version as initially shipped, but they had to forgo future updates that addressed glitches or bugs if they wished to avoid the censorship.
In anticipation of Fairy Tail 2, the game’s producer, Hiroshi Kataoka, has been actively engaging with countless media outlets nig and small, from WCCF Tech to RPGamer in order to generate excitement.
In these interviews, he has outlined the game’s design vision, introduced the original story arc titled “Key to the Unknown,” and explained the shift from a traditional turn-based combat system to a more action-oriented, real-time battle system.
However, it was an interview with Noisy Pixel that truly caught fans’ attention, as they were the only publication bold enough to ask Kataoka about the possibility of censorship in Fairy Tail 2.
This rare moment of transparency has sparked renewed hope among the fanbase, hope that was swiftly killed.
On the surface, this would seem like a reason for celebration. However, if you read between the lines, you’ll realize that Kataoka’s statement, claiming that the levels of fanservice in Fairy Tail 2 will be comparable to those in the 2020 release means very little given the previous experience with the day-one censorship patch.
When Noisy Pixel directly asked if Fairy Tail 2 would be censored in any way, Kataoka responded with a confident “no.” Yet, considering the claim that fanservice levels are identical between both games, this response might hint that the infamous “black void” would return.
It’s possible that, rather than risk backlash from another post-launch censorship patch, GUST may have designed the game with these restrictions from the start, avoiding the controversy of altering content after release.
This was essentially confirmed during the Tokyo Game Show demo presentation, where the “black void” effect was visibly present during combat for Wendy Marvell alongside other instances during cinematics that focused extensively to blur or obfuscate any underskirt glimpses for characters.
The interview, in hindsight, falls flat. Fairy Tail 2 was censored from the start of production, so it will technically release “uncensored,” avoiding a bait-and-switch with a day-one patch.
While Fairy Tail 2 is likely to be a solid title at launch, especially given GUST’s recent improvements following the financial success of the Atelier Ryza series of titles, fans who value authenticity and are tired of being treated as if they can’t handle panty shots, a staple in Japanese media might want to pass when the game releases or opt to sail the high seas and pirate the game instead come December 13th.
