Here's some fantastic news for fans of the hit anime BLEACH.
Mobile games developer KLab Inc. has announced the upcoming release of BLEACH Soul Puzzle. As opposed to the JRPG BLEACH: Brave Souls, which recently released on Switch, BLEACH Soul Puzzle will be the very first puzzle game based on the popular anime series.
No specific launch date has been revealed yet. Developers, however, said it is scheduled for a global release in 2024.
BLEACH Soul Puzzle will be available both on iOS and Android devices. It takes the classic match-3 gameplay formula and is set in the world of BLEACH. In it, players need to match three or more puzzle pieces of the same color to clear the board.
The game also promises to go beyond simply matching colorful tiles. Players will witness BLEACH characters unleashing attacks as they clear the board. Additionally, the game will incorporate various BLEACH universe elements. In turn, this will allow players to immerse themselves in the world while developing their puzzle skills.
Meanwhile, KLab Inc. confirmed that characters from the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, the latest season of BLEACH, will make an appearance in the upcoming game.
BLEACH Soul Puzzle marked KLab's expansion to the 'hybrid-casual' gaming market.
"Match-3 puzzle games are a powerhouse genre," the Japanese developer stated in a press release. "(It generates) a staggering 1 trillion Yen in in-app revenue, representing a significant 10% share of the mobile gaming market," they added.
In the meantime, pre-registration and pre-orders for BLEACH Soul Puzzle have started on the App Store and Play Store.
Fans can also participate in a campaign for a chance to win an autograph from Masakazu Morita, the voice actor for protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki. The game will have English and Japanese language support. It can be accessed in over 150 countries and regions.