Prepare to attack aggressively! The iconic run-'n'-gun series, Contra, is back - reloaded, reimagined, and reborn - with Contra: Operation Galuga, launching on March 12! The legendary soldiers return to blast their way through eight stages of action against the Red Falcon army in explosive co-op action for up to two players in Story Mode or up to four players in Arcade Mode!

The action and adventure of RWBY: Arrowfell is now available worldwide on Steam! Thanks to the efforts of our international publishing partner Arc System Works and collaborators at Rooster Teeth, players across the globe can can now experience Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang on their first big mission as officially licensed Huntresses. Created as an in-canon story set during RWBY Volume 7, this 2D action-adventure-platformer lets players swap between all four characters and use their trademark weapons and Semblances to battle Grimm, solve puzzles, and explore Solitas as they face a mysterious new threat - including the new, enigmatic group of Huntresses known as Team BRIR!

Now that RWBY: Arrowfell has been released globally, all players on Steam will be able to select Japanese or English voices, and choose from new text options including Japanese, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), and Korean.

Thank you to everyone who has been waiting patiently for RWBY: Arrowfell's worldwide release!

It's been about a month since the launch of RWBY: Arrowfell. Have you had a chance to play it yet?

I’m WayForward director and designer James Montagna, back with one more developer diary for RWBY: Arrowfell. Previously I shared a bit about our team’s fanaticism in creating a game for RWBY, as well as a bit about what it means to make a story canonical with the rich world of the show itself. However, there’s times where we have to rely on our own creativity and intuition as designers to flesh out the sides of Remnant that everyone has yet to see. What’s that like? Allow me to tell you more!

The way I’ll phrase this may seem like an unusual way of looking at things, but I believe it’s more fun to share really honest insights into what development is like, so I’ll go ahead and say it: The truth is, since we love RWBY too, making a game like RWBY: Arrowfell is sort of like creating fan art and fan fiction! Except it becomes official since we have the backing of the show creators to help guide things to full authenticity. That particular aspect is not only a great honor, but pretty thrilling since we learn what sort of thought has gone into establishing RWBY as we know it, and incorporate it into our approach for creating the game. As a result, we are able to present unseen Grimm, new characters, and untold plotlines.

When all of the original content is put together, RWBY: Arrowfell expands the world of our favorite Huntresses with fresh experiences, and the format of a video game means you’ll be able to discover it all for yourself! However, creating something in this format also comes with unique challenges where WayForward must rely on our expertise and capabilities as a development studio. This is especially seen in designing what we refer to as the “game flow.” In the game, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang use their individual Semblances for both combat and navigation. These Semblances can also be enhanced by certain characters you’ll encounter on your quest; for instance, Ruby’s enhanced Petal Burst allows her to air dash across wider gaps! Part of our design process is then to plot out the locations that can be visited, and all potential routes players can take to accomplish quest objectives. Each time a new enhancement is granted, more of the world opens up to explore. However, we have to be careful to make sure necessary “keys” to progress are all available with the Semblance enhancements players have at any given moment. This is just one small example of how game flow works, however. Building out the game is really like an elaborate logic puzzle at times!

Technical stuff aside, I’d like to close out this developer diary by sharing the attributes I find most special about RWBY: Arrowfell. The quest of this game will see Team RWBY meeting all-new faces such as Lieutenant Colonel Olive Harper and the mysterious and powerful Team BRIR, to name a few. These characters all have their own distinct personalities, motives, and ambitions, each making for a unique contribution to the narrative. There’s also heartfelt, intense, and even humorous moments. (Penny Polendina’s are some of my favorites!) Finally, I really enjoy the sensation of each individual Team RWBY member becoming more powerful as you assign Skill Points and enhance their Semblances, and even learn how to pair abilities together to accomplish more. The development team has given our all to create a thrilling RWBY game experience, and you now have the chance to play it and see for yourself. On behalf of WayForward, thanks for your patience and excitement. We all hope you enjoy your mission with Team RWBY through the frozen tundra of Solitas!

P.S. I’d love to hear about your favorite moments, so please feel free to reach out to @WayForward and @JamesPopStar on Twitter and lemme know about your time playing RWBY: Arrowfell! Okay, byeeeee!

Hello, and thank you to everyone to everyone who's been playing RWBY: Arrowfell!

WayForward director and designer James Montagna here. Last time, I took the opportunity to speak a bit about the excitement both myself and the rest of the hard-working development staff share about creating a new RWBY game. Like any development, the process was rife with unique challenges...but we had a lot of fun developing the game too! I’d say there’s no place this juxtaposition of challenge and fun was more apparent than working out the game’s narrative. Let’s talk about that!

Early on in discussions with the creators of the series, it was decided that the most impactful RWBY game experience we could provide together would be one that fits in with the series itself. That is, a story that would be entirely canon to that of the show, true to the moment in the timeline it is presented, and authentic in its tonality. The result is something that almost feels like a lost episode of the show that just happens to be in the form of a game. To drive this sense home, a collaboration was organized with the show’s animation team who produced cinematic scenes to be interwoven into the game experience. These sequences punctuate some of the key story moments, which players can enjoy presented in the familiar stylings of the show.

Regarding the connection to the series, RWBY: Arrowfell takes place at a specific time period during the course of Volume 7. If you’re familiar enough with the show, you likely know that throughout the course of the story, the cast of characters and the roles they play take many twists and turns. For the sake of being certain our game remains truly canonical, we had to take special care to make sure that Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang address those character relationships in the manner that they would at the time in which our story takes place. For instance, everything to do with Atlas Academy, General Ironwood, the Ace-Ops, etc. is exactly as you’d expect it to be upon Team RWBY first becoming licensed Huntresses!

While carefully working within the canonical constraints can be a challenge, one of the most fun parts of telling this game’s story is that of writing character dialogue. For me personally, this consisted of watching many episodes over and over again until I could get a sense of the characters’ voices firmly imprinted inside my head. Then comes the amusing, very specific questions! How might a character like Maria Calavera address Team RWBY? What would Uncle Qrow say in retaliation to Ruby choosing to withhold an item? Once I know the cast as well as an old friend, writing these moments and more just becomes an act of role playing out the scene and letting the characters have a conversation in my mind. After transcribing all of that into the script, as a last step to make sure things are as authentic as possible, the dialogue was then shared with Rooster Teeth for any additional suggestions or feedback.

Just like in any singular episode of the show, not every character happens to make an appearance. However, I hope you’ll look forward to seeing which ones do. On that note, you can also look forward to meeting some entirely new characters, including the enigmatic Team BRIR. In cases like this, we had to get to know these characters without being able to lean on something established by the show. Like other aspects of development, determining the personality and voice of a character from scratch was a unique challenge in itself...also fun! Next time, I’ll tell you a little more about it, as well as what goes into developing the game’s quest structure. See ya!

To everyone who's been playing or is looking forward to playing RWBY: Arrowfell — hello, and thank you for your enthusiasm!

I'm James Montagna, a director and designer at WayForward. I had the honor of working alongside both our talented development staff as well as Rooster Teeth to help make this new vision for RWBY a reality. Since I have been asked to offer a little insight into the creation through this developer diary, I'd like to take the opportunity to share...whatever interesting info I can!

RWBY: Arrowfell is a video game that allows players to experience the universe of RWBY through the lens of a side-scrolling action-adventure. You'll play as Ruby, Blake, Yang, and, my personal favorite, Weiss as you navigate the continent of Solitas on a critical mission for Atlas Academy. To that end, you'll be able to cycle through the members of Team RWBY either with the shoulder buttons or instantly switch to the one you want using the right analog stick. You’ll then use each one to unleash unique melee attacks, ranged attacks, and Semblances as you explore environments, battle foes, and solve puzzles. There's a lot more to say about the gameplay, but this time I'll mostly be speaking about what it's like to make a RWBY game in the first place.

When I learned WayForward had started discussing the possibility of a new RWBY game with the series' creators, without knowing if I would be involved in the project, I was eager to dive back into watching episodes of the show. I remember seeing the initial character trailers that were released in 2012 and 2013, and scattershot episodes here and there, but never had the chance to really dig in like I would have wished to with a busy schedule. Upon the project being greenlit and my eventual assignment to the development effort, my wish came true...an excuse to watch the entirety of RWBY for work purposes! A streaming subscription was activated, and off I went into the world of Remnant.

After watching and re-watching every episode, buying books and merch, and eventually even a trip to RTX in Texas, the fire of my own personal RWBY adoration was ignited. Speaking to the others at WayForward, it's safe to say many of our team members had their own similar journey, and we were all very excited to be developing this game! The passion that the RWBY creative team puts into the show can be felt in every episode, and it seemed only right that we match that dedication for a game like RWBY: Arrowfell.

In the show, fun banter, the dynamics of how each personality plays off of each other, and the heartfelt moments all come together to be one of my favorite parts of RWBY: the relationship between characters. The game reflects this as well, and there was plenty of back-and-forth with the show’s creators to make sure that everything felt on-brand and remained true to the show. In fact, RWBY: Arrowfell has been described as "an untold canon RWBY adventure," so next time I'll explain a bit more detail about what exactly this means, and what went into upholding this vision for the game. Until then!

By now, you may have heard that RWBY: Arrowfell, an action-adventure-platformer that lets you embark on an all-new, canonical tale starring the daring quartet of fan-favorite Huntresses, launches on November 15. But just what is RWBY, and why is it perfect material for a video game? Millions of fans around the globe already know the answer, but if you’ve never had the chance to watch an episode of the hit animated series, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Read on for an introduction to the wonderful world of RWBY.

In short, RWBY is a fantasy adventure series set in the world of Remnant. Since time immemorial, mankind has struggled to fight back against soulless monsters known as the Creatures of Grimm, but has persevered and overcome adversity due to technological advancements with a power source known as Dust and the dedication of heroic warriors known as Huntsmen and Huntresses. When the RWBY series begins, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long have just enrolled at the Kingdom of Vale’s Beacon Academy – one of four similar institutions found throughout Remnant – to receive the training necessary to become the next generation of peace-protecting Huntresses.

Despite some initial personality clashes and differences in upbringing, Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang soon come together as the inseparable, irrepressible Team RWBY, using their already formidable combat skills to overcome the Grimm and other threats. Aided by their professors, friends, and fellow students, Team RWBY is poised to make their dream of becoming Remnant’s guardians come true. However, something far more sinister has been lurking behind the scenes – an ancient evil known as Salem – and when it makes its presence known, nothing is the same for team RWBY ever again.

Higher-education hijinks give way to a life-or-death battle for survival in a heartbeat, and following major sacrifice, the members of Team RWBY find themselves traveling across the continents of Remnant, leaving Beacon behind to visit other Kingdoms and other schools such as Haven Academy, with the goal of uniting the world against the looming threat of Salem. Eventually, Team RWBY finds themselves in the Kingdom of Atlas on the frigid northern continent of Solitas. Though there has been suffering and loss, there is strength and hope as well, and Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang even achieve their goal of becoming fully licensed Huntresses. It is shortly after this monumental occasion – which occurs early in RWBY Volume 7 – where the story of RWBY: Arrowfell begins.

With that in mind, here are a few of the key characters and concepts you’ll want to know before diving into the adventure:

Characters:

Ruby Rose: Determined, optimistic, and enthusiastic, Ruby Rose is the leader of Team RWBY and Yang’s younger sister. Has silver eyes. Weapon: Crescent Rose (High-Caliber Sniper-Scythe). Semblance: Petal Burst.

Weiss Schnee: Former heiress to the Schnee Dust fortune, Weiss is a refined and elegant fighter. Very opinionated but always there for her Team RWBY teammates. Weapon: Myrtenaster (Multi Action Dust Rapier). Semblance: Glyphs.

Blake Belladonna: This quiet, serious member of Team RWBY likes to think things through before jumping into action. Blake is a Faunus, a race with animal-like characteristics. Weapon: Gambol Shroud (Variant Ballistic Chain Scythe). Semblance: Shadow.

Yang Xiao Long: Yang is physically the strongest member of Team RWBY and is very protective of her younger sister, Ruby. She’s fiery and impulsive, yet also quite responsible. Weapon: Ember Celica (Dual Ranged Shot Gauntlets). Semblance: Burn.

Qrow Branwen: Qrow is an experienced, highly skilled Huntsman and the uncle of Ruby and Yang. Though he’s not without faults, his protection and guidance have been invaluable to Team RWBY.

Penny Polendina: Powerful, inquisitive, and somewhat naive, Penny is an advanced AI with very humanlike qualities. She’s best friends with Team RWBY (Ruby especially) and is considered the Protector of Mantle.

General Ironwood: The headmaster of Atlas Academy and leader of the Atlas military, General James Ironwood has taken Team RWBY under his wing. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes to protect the world from Salem and other threats.

Winter Schnee: Weiss’s older sister, Winter, has left the family Dust business behind to help protect Remnant as a member of the Atlas military. A close confidant of General Ironwood; adored by Weiss.

The Ace Operatives: This team of special agents, often known as the Ace-Ops, reports to General Ironwood to keep the peace in Atlas and beyond. The team consists of Clover Ebi (leader), Vine Zeki, Marrow Amin, Elm Ederne, and Harriet Bree.



Concepts:

Aura: An Aura is the manifestation of one’s soul. It allows individuals such as Huntsmen and Huntresses to draw on their inner strength to wield special abilities (Semblances) and protect themselves from harm.

Semblance: Semblances are superhuman abilities fueled by Aura, and are different for each person. Only skilled individuals can unlock and master their Semblances.

Dust: Dust is a crystal-based substance found throughout Remnant, mined and used as an energy source. There are numerous types – including Fire, Water, Lightning, and Wind – and it can be used to power weapons and cause phenomena resembling magic spells.



This is only a peek into what awaits in the world of RWBY! If you want to know more, check out RWBY Volumes 1-8 at https://www.roosterteeth.com, and prepare to experience the action and excitement firsthand when RWBY: Arrowfell launches on Nov. 15!