The Lollipop Chainsaw franchise is officially returning with a brand-new installment, Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back. Announced at this year's Tokyo Game Show, the project is being developed by JP Universe under the direction of Hajime Tabata, best known for his work on Final Fantasy XV. The production aims to maintain the series' roots by bringing back original writer Masahiro Yuki and character designer NekoshowguN.
This announcement follows a period of transition for the IP, which was acquired by Dragami Games from Kadokawa Games in 2022. The new title arrives on the heels of the 2024 remaster, Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, which brought the original 2012 cult-classic title to modern hardware. While the original game was a high-profile collaboration between Suda51 and James Gunn, this sequel marks a shift in creative leadership while keeping core narrative and design personnel attached.
Beyond the game, Nada Holdings previously confirmed plans for an anime adaptation of the franchise, though details regarding that project remain scarce. With the game not expected until 2027, it remains to be seen how the studio will balance the franchise's established aesthetic with the new creative direction led by Tabata. Given the long gap between the original release and the recent remaster, which currently holds a 72/100 on Metacritic, do you think the sequel will lean further into the arcade-style hack-and-slash roots or modernize the gameplay loop?
