Lollipop Chainsaw is getting a sequel and anime spin-off, greater than a decade after the unique launched.
The brand new online game is being developed by Dragami Video games, successor to the unique’s Kadokawa Video games, which launched remaster mission Lollipop Chainsaw RePop final yr for PC and consoles.
Lollipop Chainsaw received over a cult viewers again in 2012 for its cheerleader-starring undead-slicing hack-and-slash gameplay. Notably, the mission was directed by No Extra Heroes’ Suda51, and written at the very least partially by James Gunn. Sure, that James Gunn — lengthy earlier than his days making Superman and working the DCU, and nonetheless a few years earlier than the primary Guardians of the Galaxy.
At the moment’s press launch states that the franchise has up to now shifted 1.5 million items, although the overwhelming majority of those — at the very least 1.24 million — are gross sales for the unique sport, fairly than its latest remaster.
That remaster drew one thing of a combined response, as it lacked the unique sport’s licensed music soundtrack and arrived later than anticipated — after Dragami switched from its authentic plans to totally remake the sport. This preliminary concept was ditched, purportedly after followers stated they had been eager to play a remastered model of Lollipop Chainsaw as near the unique as doable.
At the moment’s announcement of a sequel once more makes point out of a need to develop a second sport that was in step with fan needs. There’s additionally point out that “key employees members” who labored on the unique sport had been again for the sequel, although no point out, as anticipated, of any involvement by Suda51. Or James Gunn.
“Below the sturdy partnership between Nada Holdings and Dragami Video games, improvement is already underway on a brand-new Lollipop Chainsaw title that each preserves and builds upon the attraction of the unique,” at present’s announcement reads.
“With a agency dedication to honoring the spirit of the unique work, the event staff consists of key employees members who had been concerned within the earlier title. The brand new mission can also be being developed with shut consideration to fan suggestions.”
The assertion then concludes with this — an oddly-worded affirmation that the sequel will proceed the “distinctive tone” of the unique and never tone it down on account of “DEI”. Is that this a reference to Suda51’s most up-to-date No Extra Heroes letting Travis Landing put on a “F**okay Racism” hoodie, or one thing to do with James Gunn’s Superman, which appears to have upset Fox Information?
Or, maybe, it is merely a suggestion that followers of the unique’s skimpy cheerleader costumes will not depart empty-handed.
“As with the unique, the brand new title goals to recreate a world wealthy in darkish humor,” the announcement concludes. “The event course of will prioritize staying true to the distinctive tone and spirit of the unique work, with out imposing extreme inventive restrictions within the title of DEI (Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion).”
There isn’t any phrase but on when Lollipop Chainsaw 2 will launch.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You may attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social