Beloved manga and anime My Hero Academia is being adapted into a free-to-play battle royale.
As reported by Gematsu, publisher Bandai Namco announced My Hero Academia: Ultra Rumble in the latest issue of the Weekly Jump magazine. Very little is currently known about the game but the advertisement does specify that it will feature 24-player matches and will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. While no release date was identified, the announcement does note that a closed beta will be conducted in the near future. It's currently unknown whether gamers will be able to apply to participate in this early build or if the beta is an internal initiative. While fans may be excited at the prospect of a new My Hero Academia game, a final release date has yet to be confirmed.
My Hero Academia is no stranger to game adaptions; the popular Shonen Jump franchise has appeared on several major gaming consoles and even tabletops over the years. The most well-known video game based on the superhero series is My Hero One's Justice, an action brawler developed by Byking and published by Bandai Namco. Released in 2018, the title allows players to take on the role of their favorite heroes and villains, duking it out in a variety of large environments recognizable from the anime. My Hero One's Justice received mixed to positive reviews as critics praised its stylish interpretation of the game's explosive fight scenes but lamented the shallow and repetitive combat system and story.
One's Justice proved successful enough to spawn a sequel, My Hero One's Justice 2, that expanded on the original in several notable ways. While critics still felt that it didn't feature a combat system that was consistently engaging, other parts, like the story campaign, were far more detailed and expansive. The characters of My Hero Academia also appeared in Jump Force, a crossover anime fighter that didn't strike a chord with gamers, resulting in it being delisted from all digital stores just a few years after it's launch.
My Hero Academia, follows the trials and tribulations of Izuku Midoriya, a boy desperate to become an iconic superhero despite his lack of powers. The show has earned a passionate fanbase and has generally received praise for its compelling writing and stunning fight scenes.
Source: Gematsu
