At this year’s EVO tournament series, we had a deluge of announcements from the major fighting game companies, either announcing sequels, new DLC, new projects, or brand new IP. Two of the companies that dominated EVO with announcements were Bandai Namco and Arc System Works. In the case of the latter, one of the more hotly anticipated projects they rolled out during the second day of competition was that Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] is in development and heading to a console near you.

The new game is scheduled to release in early 2020, with French-Bread back at the development helm of the hand-animated 2D fighter.

The upcoming fighter sees many of the current cast of characters returning, along with some new faces. They’re also adding new actions and mechanics, as well as refining the overall playability of the upcoming fighter.

You can check out the near two minute trailer below for Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] courtesy of Gematsu.

The cast of characters includes Gordeau, Byakuya, Hyde, Orie, Chaos, Vatista, Phonon, Mika, Seth, Merkava, Hilda, Carmine, Linne, Enkidu, Waldstein, Wagner, Yuzuriha, and the “White Knight of the End”, Londrekia, who is the newcomer for this upcoming rendition of the 2D fighter.

The staff-wielding pretty-boy has some flamboyantly flashy moves that fit in quite well with the rest of the roster.

While I really like French-Bread’s work, I was never a fan of the Under Night In-Birth games because they felt like lateral moves to the Melty Blood games, as noted by 4Gamer.

Even still, there’s a dedicated, niche audience who loves the kind of art-style and gameplay that the Under Night In-Birth titles bring to the table.

Arc System Works and Aksys Games didn’t roll out an exact release date in 2020 for the game, but we do know it’s coming in the early first half of the year, and it’s likely going to be for the PS4, since that seems to be the go-to system for their games.