Nexon held a special 'Kivotos Live' broadcast today (the 15th) to celebrate the 4.5th anniversary of 'Blue Archive.' The live stream, hosted on the official YouTube channel, featured General Producer Kim Yong-ha and Associate Producer Lee Jun-ho, who introduced the 4.5th-anniversary update, roadmap, and various upcoming events.

Decisive Battle on the Steel Continent: 'Decagrammaton' Chapter 3 Updates Starting May 19

First, on May 19, the main story 'Decagrammaton' Chapter 3, 'Sky of Unity' Part 1, will be added. With Malkuth, the final prophet of Decagrammaton, awakening and only three days left until the destruction of Kivotos, the story follows the Game Development Department and the Veritas students as they head to the Steel Continent with the Sensei to prevent the catastrophe.

Following the Part 1 update, Part 2 will arrive on the 27th. Alongside the Part 2 update, a limited-time world raid event, 'Joint Operation: Steel Continent Conquest,' will run until June 9. This raid is open to all users and features eight Decagrammaton bosses, including Binah, Chesed, Geburah, and Yesod. Some bosses possess global skills that buff nearby monsters, requiring a strategic approach. Completing the 'Decisive Battle' that follows the boss subjugation rewards players with various items, including Toki (Armed), a 10-pull recruitment ticket, and Pyroxenes. The climax of the event, 'Steel Continent Conquest: Malkuth,' will open on June 9.

The event-exclusive character 'Toki (Armed)' is a Piercing-type Striker and a supporter whose EX skill is enhanced based on the level of energy charged by her basic skill. When targeting an enemy, she deals damage proportional to her attack power and stuns them; when targeting an ally, she heals them proportional to her healing power and removes one debuff. The stun duration and the number of debuffs removed increase with the energy charge level.

In addition to Toki, this update introduces 'Rio (Armed)' and 'Himari (Armed).' Rio (Armed) is an explosive-type dealer specialized in suppressing light-armored single targets. Himari (Armed) is a special-position tactical supporter who uses a specially designed outdoor tactical wheelchair to periodically restore allies' HP or increase cost recovery.

A free 100-pull recruitment event will also be held from May 26 to 11:00 AM on June 9, allowing players to obtain new characters like Rio (Armed) and Himari (Armed).

The 4.5th Anniversary Fes characters, 'Aris (Armed)' and 'Key,' were also introduced. Aris (Armed) is a mystic-type dealer whose EX skill consists of two effects. Selecting 'Sword of Light' for herself immediately draws the EX skill and charges energy by one stage. Selecting 'Awakening: Supernova' against an enemy deals damage proportional to her attack power, consuming energy to increase the damage output. Key is a mystic-type supporter specialized in damage support, such as increasing allies' critical stats, attack power, and mystic effectiveness.

Aris (Armed) and Kei can be obtained through the 4.5th-anniversary Fes recruitment, which also includes Shiroko (Terror) and Hoshino (Armed) in the character lineup.

The Decagrammaton Chapter 3 update also promises Korean voice-overs. The Korean dub for Decagrammaton Part 1, 'Serpent of Wisdom,' will be released at the end of June. General Producer Kim Yong-ha said, "I am looking forward to the banter between Himari and Eimi," adding, "We will continue to provide Korean dubs for the main story, so please show your continued interest and love."

In-game Improvements: Battle Pass Overhaul and Steam Deck/Controller Support

Beyond updates, several in-game improvements were announced. The Battle Pass will transition to Season 2, which includes a 'Maintenance Station' featuring new interactions for Aris (Armed).

While introducing these interactive elements to the Battle Pass, the Cafe has also been improved. Previously, when students visited, the UI focused on their level and star rating; it will now display affinity levels, allowing for more efficient gift-giving. Players can now drag gifts to the profile icon in the bottom right corner, making it easier to give gifts even when students are busy with furniture interactions.

Updates to the shop were also mentioned. The purchase limits for nine types of Pyroxene packages will reset on May 26 for the 4.5th anniversary. A new 'Attendance Log' package will also be introduced, providing daily rewards for 14 days. Recruitment ticket usage has been improved for new and returning users; if a player has an odd number of daily recruitment tickets, they can now use Pyroxenes to make up the difference for a 10-pull. Additionally, the free 100-pull event begins May 26, and official support for Steam Deck and controllers will be added.

'Blue Archive' Expands Through Collaborations, Merchandise, and Charity Runs'

Following the 4.5th anniversary update presentation, various offline events and merchandise for the 'Blue Archive' IP were announced. A variety of music will be released digitally, including the Wild Hunt Art Academy theme OST, the ending song 'Someday Certainly' from the Magical Girl Heavy Caliber event, and a collection of character songs.

The cover illustration for OST Vol. 7, themed around the students of Shanhaijing Senior Secondary School, was also revealed. Pre-orders for OST Vol. 7 begin on the 18th across various platforms, alongside new Shanhaijing-themed official merchandise, which will be available for pre-order via the Chalet Store starting the 22nd.

Collaboration plans with various brands and organizations were also mentioned. First, a collaboration with Logitech is scheduled for the fall of 2026, featuring gaming gear themed after Blue Archive students. Furthermore, the team will continue its partnership with God Brave Studio to release plastic models of characters such as Geburah and Chokhmah.

Following the 2025 campaign, the game will again partner with the Korean Red Cross for a blood donation drive. The campaign will take place in two phases, with the first phase available at 90 designated blood donation centers nationwide. A total of 4k participants who choose the collaboration merchandise will receive a Blue Archive character-illustrated power bank. The second phase will take place in August at blood donation centers nationwide, offering special commemorative items featuring Blue Archive key visuals.

Food, beverage, and apparel collaborations were also teased. In June, a collaboration with Maeil Dairies will launch limited-edition Blue Archive Picnic Ades. Available in strawberry and watermelon flavors, the products feature Hina, Ibuki, Iroha, Aris, Neru, and Yuuka as the main models. They will be sold in 20-pack boxes and include limited-edition merchandise such as reusable cups and acrylic keyrings.

A second collaboration with Musinsa is set for late June. This collaboration will feature students from 'Wild Hunt Art Academy,' 'Trinity General School,' and 'Gehenna Academy,' offering a variety of apparel and products featuring illustrations of these students.

New summer-themed merchandise for 'Cafe Memorial,' the official Blue Archive theme cafe at Yongsan I'Park Mall's Dopamine Station, was also announced. New illustrations and themes featuring Siroko, Hoshino, Kanoe, and Eri in raincoats will be released for the rainy season, along with tumblers and drink cup holders. Reservations for the Cafe Memorial in June, opening May 20, will be available via CatchTable, with stricter no-show policies. If a no-show creates an empty seat, those waiting on-site will be admitted sequentially. Related regulations will be updated via official social media channels.

On June 14, a charity running event, 'Kivotos Run,' will be held at Hanam Misa Boat Race Park. The 5km course will feature various programs, including photo zones, merchandise booths, cosplay events, and a DJ performance by KARUT. All participants will receive commemorative items such as a T-shirt, string bag, headband, and sports towel, with additional gifts and medals for those who complete the run. Applications for 'Kivotos Run' open on the 18th at 2:00 PM via KakaoTalk Gift.

Blue Archive will also participate in 'Anime Expo 2026,' the largest subculture festival in North America, held in Los Angeles from July 2 to 5. The booth will feature various interactive events and a merchandise zone, along with a panel session where the 'Blue Archive' development team will share behind-the-scenes stories. The panel session will be broadcast live on the official YouTube channel starting at 10:00 AM KST on July 4.

Meanwhile, Nexon has opened pre-registration for the 4.5th anniversary of the global 'Blue Archive' service. Those who pre-register by May 25 will receive various rewards, including a T9 Equipment Blueprint Selector and a 10-pull recruitment ticket. Detailed information is available on the official community.