Danganronpa 2×2 Officially Reveals the Identity of Its Mysterious New Character
Image by James RichardsonDanganronpa 2×2 has revealed the identity of a mysterious new student who will join its alternate killing game, with Demon Slayer voice actor Natsuki Hanae confirmed to play the newly introduced Sakutaro Higashi.
Higashi will appear as one of the high school students drawn into the Class Trials of the game’s new Slayhem Mode, known as Kyouki Mode in Japan, although one of the most important details about him is deliberately being kept secret.
Unlike the returning students from Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, Higashi is currently identified only as the “Ultimate ???,” leaving his Ultimate talent as another mystery for players to uncover when the game launches.
Hanae is making his first appearance in the Danganronpa series with the role, adding another major anime voice actor to the game’s Japanese cast after becoming widely known as the voice of Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Speaking about joining the series, Hanae said he was honored to take part in Danganronpa for the first time and described the recording process as especially enjoyable as the culprits, tricks and other secrets of the story gradually became clear while working through the script.
The new character is another indication of just how extensively Danganronpa 2×2 is expanding on the original 2012 game rather than functioning as a straightforward remake.
Players will be able to choose between an Original Mode that retells Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair with refreshed visuals and presentation, and the much larger Slayhem Mode, which uses Jabberwock Island and the familiar cast as the foundation for an entirely different killing game.
Victims, culprits and the methods behind the murders can all change in the alternate scenario, meaning even fans who already know every Class Trial from the original game won’t simply be solving the same mysteries again.
The reveal of Higashi also answers part of the mystery surrounding the unidentified character previously shown when Spike Chunsoft confirmed the game’s January 2027 release date earlier this month, although his unknown Ultimate talent ensures there are still major questions surrounding his role.
The release date reveal followed an earlier delay announced during Anime Expo in July, when Danganronpa 2×2 moved out of its original 2026 window as the developers continued work on the expanded release.
The project is being developed by Gemdrops with Spike Chunsoft handling planning and production, while original Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka is supervising and contributing to the concept and murder tricks alongside mystery writer Takekuni Kitayama.
Danganronpa 2×2 will release on January 14, 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store, with both Japanese and English voice acting supported.
The Standard Edition will be priced at $59.99 in the US, while the $139.99 “Psycho Tropical Vacation Package” adds Monokuma and Monomi figures, a reversible bucket hat, the game’s soundtrack and a collector’s box.
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