Summary
Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connectionscould end up being the last Storm game, or at least the final entry with CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama at the helm.
Even though Naruto fans have spent the past decade begging for a new Ultimate Ninja Storm game, it’s fair to say that the semi-sequel Connectionswasn’t what everyone was asking for. That disdain was only made worse when Connectionslaunched to mixed reception from fans and critics, who didn’t think it lived up to Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’s all-timer status.
Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections might not have made as much of an impact as fans were expecting,but there was at least some hope that it might lead into another mainline Storm gamelike everyone wanted in the first place. Although that seemed like a reasonable expectation considering how popular the series is, it seems that isn’t going to be the case after all.
CyberConnect2 Might Be Done With Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm
As shared by Twitter user ShonenGameZandoriginally reported by Yagami1211, veteran Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm developer and CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama recently appeared at Japan Expo 2024 in Paris andhosted a panel titled, “Master Class: Creating Backgrounds for CC2 Development Titles”.
According to Yagami1211, Matsuyama answered some questions towards the end of the panel, including one about the future of the Ultimate Ninja Storm series. When asked if CyberConnect2 would be making another Storm game, Matsuyama reportedly said that Connections would be the “last Storm game for him”.
Matsuyama also noted that he hopes to use a new engine for CyberConnect2’s next project, which doesn’t seem to be related to Naruto.
Considering Matsuyama has been CEO of CyberConnect2 during the development of every Ultimate Ninja Storm game (as well as Ultimate Ninja) this seems to suggest that the studio is done with the series for the foreseeable future. Matsuyama did at least confirm that Connections will see updates and patches for a “long time to come”, but it’s still disappointing to hear the series is ending at Connections.
Although that might seem like worrying news for Naruto fans, it doesn’tnecessarilyspell the end of the Storm series or CyberConnect2’s involvement with Naruto, as another studio could always take up the mantle or an entirely new game could be created.Matsuyama’s comments do seem to indicate an interest in a brand-new title, so let’s hope the team gets another chance.
