Highlights
- WayForward confirmed a new mainline Shantae game arriving in 2027.
- The title features a visual redesign for Shantae, hinting at updated combat mechanics.
- This marks the first original installment since 2019 for the 3-million-copy series.
Get your hair-whips ready, because everyone's favorite half-genie is officially preparing for a massive comeback. California-based indie developer WayForward confirmed over the weekend that a brand-new, unnamed seventh mainline installment in the beloved Shantae series is currently in deep development. Announced during the studio's game developer panel at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, the developer delivered the exact news fans have been waiting for: a completely original adventure is on the way, targeting a release next year in 2027.
While the announcement was light on technical specifics like target platforms and gameplay trailers, WayForward did treat attendees to an early look at the project with official teaser artwork. The promotional image keeps the focus squarely on Shantae, and it was the titular hero's new look that stole the show.
Shantae is sporting a significant visual redesign, rocking twin braids tipped with spiked iron balls and hair-chains. For a series defined by action-platforming where players transform into various magical forms and use their hair as a weapon, this fresh aesthetic strongly hints at a major shake-up to her signature combat system, pointing toward new offensive mechanics, interchangeable hair abilities, and updated traversal tools.
A Major Milestone After 3 Million Copies Sold
This upcoming 2027 project represents a major milestone for the franchise, serving as its first completely original mainline chapter since Shantae and the Seven Sirens launched on Apple Arcade back in 2019, before eventually porting to consoles. While WayForward kept fans fed just last year with the release of Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution across modern consoles and PC, that title wasn't technically a new game but a restorated completion of a lost Game Boy Advance project originally canceled back in 2004.
The last time the series saw a similar level of ground-up modern excitement was for 2016’s Half-Genie Hero, which became a massive hit after a highly successful crowdfunding campaign. To date, the franchise has accumulated over 3 million copies sold worldwide across six distinct installments, as per VGC.
Beyond its flagship half-genie hero, WayForward has spent its impressive 30-year history establishing itself as an industry leader in pixel art, 2D animation, and tight platforming design. While Shantae remains their best-known original property, the studio has an extensive resume of bringing beloved franchises to life, working on hit licensed games based on Double Dragon, DuckTales, Adventure Time, and Marvel Puzzle Quest, alongside original brawlers like River City Girls. Most recently, the team was behind the critically acclaimed Nintendo Switch remake Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, which won over fans and critics alike as a faithful love letter to the handheld strategy classics.
Because WayForward is treating this Anime Expo reveal as an early teaser rather than a full curtain-drop, the studio emphasized that the game remains deep in production and substantial updates will take time to prepare.
However, industry analysts expect more concrete details, platform confirmations, and gameplay footage as development progresses toward the 2027 launch window. For now, fans can rest easy knowing that a genuine, modern successor to Shantae's overarching story is finally moving ahead.
