At Evo 2025, Arc System Works unveiled an exciting new DLC character for Guilty Gear Strive: Lucy from the popular Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. This marks the first-ever guest character addition in the Guilty Gear series, bringing a fresh crossover angle to the fighting game that has continued to build a strong community since its launch. Lucy’s official release date in Guilty Gear Strive is set for August 21, 2025, a highly anticipated event for fans of both the anime and the fighting game franchise.
Lucy, also known as Lucyna Kushinada in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, is an elite hacker and a central protagonist of the anime, known for her sharp combat skills with monowires and hacking prowess. Bringing such a character to Guilty Gear Strive is a unique choice, as guest characters rarely appear in the franchise. The integration leverages Lucy’s signature hacking mechanics, which translate into special in-game abilities called Quickhacks. These Quickhacks, including moves like Algorithm Malfunction, Optics Inhibition, and Energy Siphon, emulate the hacking styles from Cyberpunk 2077 and Edgerunners, creating a distinctive fighting style. During gameplay, Lucy can temporarily “pause time” to select Quickhacks, using limited resources much like in the original games, and afflict opponents with debuffs that appear as icons, mirroring Cyberpunk’s visual cues.
With this DLC, Arc System Works not only adds a beloved character from a major media franchise but also expands the gameplay variety in Guilty Gear Strive. Lucy will be the last character of Season Pass 4, which also includes returning favorites Dizzy and Venom, alongside a brand-new character named Unika. Dizzy is slated for release in October 2024, Venom in early 2025, with Unika and Lucy arriving sometime in 2025, culminating with Lucy’s launch on August 21st.
The reveal at Evo 2025 underscores Arc System Works’ sustained commitment to supporting Guilty Gear Strive well beyond its initial release. The game has attracted over 3.5 million players and continues to evolve with additional content. Alongside Lucy’s release, the developer announced Guilty Gear Strive version 2.00, a major update planned for 2026, promising new characters and further enhancements to the game. Early teases suggest possible returns of fan-favorite characters like Robo-Ky and Jam Kuradoberi, which keeps excitement high among the community even after more than four years since Strive’s debut.
The addition of Lucy as a guest character is notable not only for its gameplay innovation but also for the broader trend of guest fighters in fighting games. Franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Bros., and Tekken have popularized the concept of crossover guest characters, though Guilty Gear had remained resistant until now. Lucy’s inclusion could signify a new direction for the series, potentially opening the door for future cross-franchise collaborations.
Arc System Works’ execution of Lucy’s character design and animations has drawn praise for staying true to her Cyberpunk roots while adapting fluidly into the Guilty Gear universe’s distinctive aesthetic. Fans can expect her cybernetic monowire combat, quickhacking abilities, and charismatic presence to make her a highly dynamic and tactical fighter.
In summary, the addition of Lucy from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners as a guest DLC character in Guilty Gear Strive is a groundbreaking moment for the franchise announced at Evo 2025. Her August 21, 2025 release date is highly anticipated, promising a unique blend of hacking gameplay and fast-paced fighting action. This move highlights Arc System Works’ ongoing commitment to evolving Guilty Gear Strive and ushers in potential new possibilities for future character crossovers and game expansions