Naruto Turns 25 With a Genuinely New Game, Not Just Another Reskin

TV Tokyo confirmed during an investor Q&A that 2027 will serve as a "new phase starting point" for Naruto, marking the 25th anniversary of the anime. The broadcaster outlined plans to build "global momentum" for the IP, including a brand-new game and accompanying video animation projects developed with "entirely new partners."

The timing matters. Naruto: Shippuden concluded in 2017, and the franchise has struggled to maintain its commercial peak since. Boruto failed to reignite the same level of enthusiasm—anime viewership dropped significantly, and the gaming side went quiet. No standout titles have emerged in years.

That's exactly why fans have been calling for an open-world ARPG, something that breaks from the Storm series' pure fighting-game formula. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot proved there's appetite for that style of gameplay in anime licensing: open exploration, RPG progression, and a world that feels lived-in rather than arena-based. A Naruto equivalent could fill that gap.

What makes this announcement noteworthy is the explicit mention of new partners. TV Tokyo isn't just commissioning another internal project—it's bringing in external developers. Whether that means a studio with ARPG experience or an entirely new collaborator remains unclear.

The burning question: will it support four-player co-op with voice chat and cooperative missions? For a franchise built on team dynamics and rivalries, multiplayer support could be the deciding factor. As it stands, single-player games feel soulless to the audience that grew up arguing over which character was stronger in dormitory lobbies.

But 2027 is a long wait. Current Naruto titles offer little appeal, and each new release feels like rehashed content. This plan could mark a genuine reset—or another case of promising something fresh and delivering the same recycled experience. We'll know more when those "new partners" reveal their vision.