Arc System Works Announces BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma

New information has surfaced today via Twitter that a new BlazBlue title is in the works at Arc System Works and has been announced at BlueFes 2012, an event in Japan where other big announcements such as this one have been made. The game, dubbed BlazBlue: Chrono Phastasma, will feature three new characters and seems to take place after the events of Calamity Trigger. It's unclear if this is an entirely new game or a "Super" type update, but with all the new features we're inclined to believe it is. Check out the translation of the details that have been revealed so far:

        The new release will be titled Blazblue Chrono Phantasma.
        There’s reportedly a lot that’s been changed in the game. The neutral poses have been redrawn for all the characters, and their costumes are even different. Of course they also have new moves.
        Noel has a different weapon and she doesn’t wear a cap this time.
        Tsubaki seems to be the version that’s fallen to the dark side.
        Hazama has a new DD
        The BGMs seems to be different as well
        Three new characters will be added in: Amane, Barret(Bullet?), Azrael. Amane fights with something like a cloth, Barret looks a bit like Makoto, Azrael is muscular.

The title has been confirmed via Arc System Works' Toshimishi Mori, and is an interesting turn of events after the recent release and success of Persona 4 Arena in Japan. BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma has an arcade release window of Q4 2012, with no console port yet announced. Given the success of the series in general though, we're sure it's not far behind. Below, we've included the Japanese trailer that was also reveiled at BlueFes, courtesy of Famitsu.

I've always been a big fan of Arc System Works and their titles, so this can't come soon enough for me! Keep it locked here to GameZone for more details as they surface.

Dustin Steiner is GameZone's eSports Correspondent! Follow him on Twitter @VGHC_Deitis and check out Video Gaming Hard Corps, where he is a local tournament organizer for the S. FL. Fighting Game Community.