BLEACH Set to Return With New Official Sequel Just Two Days After Its 22-Year Anime Run Ends
Image by Charlotte Davis
BLEACH is officially returning just two days after its long-running TV anime reached its conclusion, with Bandai Namco confirming the imminent launch of a new game set after the Thousand-Year Blood War.
“BLEACH Mirrors High” places players in the role of their own rookie Soul Reaper as they enter the Gotei 13, with an original storyline beginning in Karakura Town after the events adapted by the recently completed anime.
The timing creates an unusually direct handover between the two projects, with Mirrors High beginning almost immediately after BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War brought the franchise’s 22-year television journey to an end.
BLEACH first reached television in 2004, with its original anime running until 2012 before returning a decade later to finally adapt Tite Kubo’s concluding Thousand-Year Blood War storyline.
Its fourth and final cour, officially titled “BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity”, completed that adaptation with Episode 50, “DEATH & STRAWBERRY”, bringing Ichigo Kurosaki’s long-running TV anime story to its conclusion.
Mirrors High immediately shifts the focus beyond that conflict, beginning with a lone soul awakening in Karakura Town and allowing players to create their own protagonist before starting life as a Soul Reaper.
Character customization extends beyond the protagonist’s appearance and name to their Zanpakuto, which can also be altered as players progress through the new story.
Tite Kubo has been closely involved with the project from its earliest stages, providing original character designs and development input after Bandai Namco first unveiled Mirrors High in December 2025.
The game has continued building its original cast throughout 2026, including three Kubo-designed rookie Soul Reapers revealed in July alongside the first detailed look at its combat and customization systems.
Bandai Namco’s final pre-launch broadcast has now introduced another 10 new rookie Soul Reapers designed by Kubo, further expanding the cast that players will meet alongside established BLEACH characters.
Familiar faces available at launch include Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, Byakuya Kuchiki, Uryu Ishida, Yoruichi Shihoin, Toshiro Hitsugaya, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, and several other major characters from across the series.
Battles use teams of three fighters and a card-based action system, combining individual attacks and special techniques with three-person Soul Drive moves.
The connection with the recently completed anime also extends behind the scenes, with PIERROT FILMS producing Mirrors High’s full opening animation after handling BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War.
Its opening theme, “CRITICAL”, is written and composed by suisoh, who previously contributed music to Thousand-Year Blood War, with arrangement shared between suisoh and ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION bassist Takahiro Yamada.
Sosuke Aizen will also headline the game’s first limited-time gacha after launch through a new “[The One Who Stands in Heaven] Sosuke Aizen” version, with his original voice actor Show Hayami returning for the role.
“BLEACH Mirrors High” officially launches for iOS and Android on October 28, 2026 UTC as a free-to-play game with in-app purchases, just two days after the final BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War episode aired on October 26.
Pre-downloads are already available through the App Store and Google Play, with the game becoming playable once Bandai Namco’s launch maintenance has concluded.
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