CyberConnect2 has officially announced .hack Z.E.R.O., a brand-new action RPG, as part of its 30th anniversary celebration. The studio confirmed the project on February 16, 2026, calling it a full restart of the long-running .hack franchise and the first mainline entry in over a decade .
For the first time in the franchise’s history, .hack Z.E.R.O. will be entirely self-published by CyberConnect2. Previous entries were published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, but this project places full creative and production control in the developer’s hands, from planning through release. Bandai Namco has granted permission for CyberConnect2 to manage the project independently .
Is .hack Z.E.R.O. an Action RPG? Here’s What We Know
CyberConnect2 describes .hack Z.E.R.O. as a modern action RPG that preserves the series’ defining dual-world structure. Players will once again explore the in-game MMORPG known as “The World,” while also engaging more deeply with real-world characters and drama. According to the studio, the story is set roughly ten years in the future and removes earlier constraints that limited real-world storytelling in past titles.
The developer emphasizes that Z.E.R.O. is designed as a fresh starting point. No prior knowledge of the .hack universe is required, making it accessible to new players while still respecting longtime fans.
Music by Taro Hakase
One of the standout announcements is the involvement of world-renowned violinist Taro Hakase, who will compose the game’s music. His participation signals a strong emotional and cinematic direction for the project and has already generated excitement among fans .
Key Staff Revealed
CyberConnect2 has shared an extensive staff list, led by Executive Producer Hiroshi Matsuyama. The project brings together long-time studio leaders across game design, art, programming, and sound, reinforcing that Z.E.R.O. is a major internal production rather than a small-scale revival .
.hack Z.E.R.O. Release Date and Platforms
At this stage, CyberConnect2 has not announced supported platforms or a release window. The studio confirmed that .hack Z.E.R.O. is currently in active development and shared a teaser trailer alongside the announcement, signaling a long-term roadmap rather than an imminent launch .
.hack has remained largely dormant since the 2010 PSP release .hack//Link and the 2017 remaster .hack//G.U. Last Recode. By restarting the franchise with a fully self-published title, CyberConnect2 is positioning .hack Z.E.R.O. as both a revival and a reinvention—one shaped entirely by the studio’s current creative vision.
More details are expected as development continues, but for fans of classic RPGs and virtual-world storytelling, .hack Z.E.R.O. now stands as one of the most notable long-term projects to watch.
