{"id":1775792,"date":"2026-02-17T09:26:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:26:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1775792"},"modified":"2026-02-17T09:26:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:26:52","slug":"cyberconnect2-unveils-hack-z-e-r-o-for-the-studios-30th-anniversary-bandai-namco-not-involved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1775792","title":{"rendered":"CyberConnect2 unveils .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O. for the studio&#8217;s 30th anniversary, Bandai Namco not involved"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/hackzero\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">CyberConnect2 unveils .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O. for the studio&#8217;s 30th anniversary, Bandai Namco not involved<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Logging in.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/hack-ZERO-trailer-screencap.png?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\".hack Z.E.R.O. reveal trailer\" loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"hack-ZERO-trailer-screencap.png\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>CyberConnect2<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fran Ruiz avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/fran-j-ruiz-author.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Fran Ruiz avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"fran-j-ruiz-author.png\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/fran-ruiz\">Fran Ruiz<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Contributor<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\nPublished on <time datetime=\"2026-02-17T09:26:52+00:00\">Feb. 17, 2026<\/time>              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/cyberconnect2-announces-new-game-hack-zero?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          9 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mypop-header-wrapper\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"4ae3b83b-340d-45ec-82eb-b66e60ee63ce\" data-name=\".hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\" data-follow-text=\"Follow .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\" title=\"Follow .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\"><br \/>\n  Follow .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.<br \/>\n<\/button>          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>Do you remember the .hack series? Are you even old enough to know what it is? Don&#8217;t worry if your answer is negative, as even RPG veterans admit it wasn&#8217;t particularly big in the West. Still, it remains one of the most fascinating series out there, albeit a hard one to follow due to its complicated titling and transmedia characteristics.<\/p>\n<p>Now, just in time for studio CyberConnect2&#8217;s 30th anniversary, a new project has been announced out of nowhere: .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O. marks the return of the franchise, which had been dormant on the games front since 2017&#8217;s .hack\/\/G.U. Last Recode remaster. You can watch the first trailer below:<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"\u300e.hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\u300f\u30c6\u30a3\u30b6\u30fc\u30c8\u30ec\u30fc\u30e9\u30fc #hackZERO #dothack #\u30c9\u30c3\u30c8\u30cf\u30c3\u30af\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UcjZq9RWAH8?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/UcjZq9RWAH8\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">\u300e.hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\u300f\u30c6\u30a3\u30b6\u30fc\u30c8\u30ec\u30fc\u30e9\u30fc #hackZERO #dothack #\u30c9\u30c3\u30c8\u30cf\u30c3\u30af<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UcjZq9RWAH8\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/companies\/bandai-namco-entertainment\">Bandai Namco Entertainment<\/a> has given CyberConnect2 permission to manage the entirety of the project from planning and development to release. It will be a title that is fully self-published by CyberConnect2,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cc2.co.jp\/hackzero\/en\/\">the official website<\/a> reveals. Yes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rpgsite.net\/news\/19641-cyberconnect2s-30th-anniversary-game-revealed-as-hackzero-action-rpg-for-consoles\">it appears Bandai Namco isn&#8217;t letting go of the IP rights<\/a> and doesn&#8217;t want to put money into the project, but thankfully, the entertainment giant has allowed it to happen with the original developers.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the reveal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.famitsu.com\/article\/202602\/66142\">Famitsu<\/a> has published an interview with CyberConnect2&#8217;s CEO Hiroshi &#8220;Piros&#8221; Matsuyama, who&#8217;s serving as executive producer on Z.E.R.O. It&#8217;s unclear right now if the game will follow an episodic format or happen over several entries in the style of the original series and the G.U. trilogy. However, more details were uncovered.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>First, Matsuyama has said Z.E.R.O. isn&#8217;t connected to previous entries in the franchise, which should help newcomers jump in without previous knowledge of the universe. The World, the online game inside which the bulk of the stories was set, will also return, but they&#8217;re pushing 10 years into the future with the setting in order to double down on social media as a central part of our lives. Moreover, there will be a special focus on real drama between humans and &#8220;multiple layers of society as the main enemies,&#8221; including an evil corporation (of course).<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll have to wait for more details and the first in-game footage, but CyberConnect2 has also stated <a href=\"https:\/\/nichegamer.com\/hack-z-e-r-o-announced\/\">they&#8217;ve been trying to get this game done for nearly a decade<\/a>, so chances are this is being treated as a big new beginning for the franchise rather than a one-and-done spinoff.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>Do you remember the .hack series? Are you even old enough to know what it is? Don&#8217;t worry if your answer is negative, as even RPG veterans admit it wasn&#8217;t particularly big in the West. Still, it remains one of the most fascinating series out there, albeit a hard one to follow due to its complicated titling and transmedia characteristics.<\/p>\n<p>Now, just in time for studio CyberConnect2&#8217;s 30th anniversary, a new project has been announced out of nowhere: .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O. marks the return of the franchise, which had been dormant on the games front since 2017&#8217;s .hack\/\/G.U. Last Recode remaster. You can watch the first trailer below:<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"\u300e.hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\u300f\u30c6\u30a3\u30b6\u30fc\u30c8\u30ec\u30fc\u30e9\u30fc #hackZERO #dothack #\u30c9\u30c3\u30c8\u30cf\u30c3\u30af\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UcjZq9RWAH8?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/UcjZq9RWAH8\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">\u300e.hack\/\/Z.E.R.O.\u300f\u30c6\u30a3\u30b6\u30fc\u30c8\u30ec\u30fc\u30e9\u30fc #hackZERO #dothack #\u30c9\u30c3\u30c8\u30cf\u30c3\u30af<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UcjZq9RWAH8\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/companies\/bandai-namco-entertainment\">Bandai Namco Entertainment<\/a> has given CyberConnect2 permission to manage the entirety of the project from planning and development to release. It will be a title that is fully self-published by CyberConnect2,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cc2.co.jp\/hackzero\/en\/\">the official website<\/a> reveals. Yes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rpgsite.net\/news\/19641-cyberconnect2s-30th-anniversary-game-revealed-as-hackzero-action-rpg-for-consoles\">it appears Bandai Namco isn&#8217;t letting go of the IP rights<\/a> and doesn&#8217;t want to put money into the project, but thankfully, the entertainment giant has allowed it to happen with the original developers.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the reveal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.famitsu.com\/article\/202602\/66142\">Famitsu<\/a> has published an interview with CyberConnect2&#8217;s CEO Hiroshi &#8220;Piros&#8221; Matsuyama, who&#8217;s serving as executive producer on Z.E.R.O. It&#8217;s unclear right now if the game will follow an episodic format or happen over several entries in the style of the original series and the G.U. trilogy. However, more details were uncovered.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>First, Matsuyama has said Z.E.R.O. isn&#8217;t connected to previous entries in the franchise, which should help newcomers jump in without previous knowledge of the universe. The World, the online game inside which the bulk of the stories was set, will also return, but they&#8217;re pushing 10 years into the future with the setting in order to double down on social media as a central part of our lives. Moreover, there will be a special focus on real drama between humans and &#8220;multiple layers of society as the main enemies,&#8221; including an evil corporation (of course).<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll have to wait for more details and the first in-game footage, but CyberConnect2 has also stated <a href=\"https:\/\/nichegamer.com\/hack-z-e-r-o-announced\/\">they&#8217;ve been trying to get this game done for nearly a decade<\/a>, so chances are this is being treated as a big new beginning for the franchise rather than a one-and-done spinoff.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O. CyberConnect2 unveils .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O. for the studio&#8217;s 30th anniversary, Bandai Namco not involved Logging in. Image credit: CyberConnect2 News by Fran Ruiz Contributor Published on Feb. 17, 2026 9 comments Follow .hack\/\/Z.E.R.O. Do you remember the .hack series? Are you even old enough to know what it is? Don&#8217;t worry if your answer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-1775792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1775792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1775792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1775792\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1775792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1775792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1775792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}