Black★Rock Shooter FRAGMENT (ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT, Burakku Rokku Shūtā FRAGMENT) was a mobile game developed by G2 Studios for iOS and Android. It was released in Japan on November 24, 2022.[1]
On December 22 2023, it was announced that the game's online service would end on March 1, 2024.[2][3] The game was then converted to an offline version, preserving the game's archive and story, which was available for download and update between March 7 and May 2, 2024.[4]
The game has a derived manga series named EPISODE: STRIKERS, which was serialized from February to December 2023.[5]
Synopsis[]
In the 22nd century, humanity has established a global network that manages the world's infrastructure, such as public transport, factories, power plants, and personal devices (mobile phones, PCs etc.). However, the network eventually gives birth (possibly by accident) to an A.I. entity called Innocent Cloud that proceeds to take over said network and then attack humanity with a highly lethal biological weapon, putting the world in jeopardy. In response, a team of warriors immune to the said weapon called Synthetics are developed to fight back against Innocent Cloud. The struggle proves to be a long-term stalemate however, at least partially due to humanity having lost all their advanced resources to Innocent Cloud and having no real way of contacting each other around the world. This also means that they struggle to trust the Synthetics that were sworn to protect them.
The player plays from the perspective of an unnamed protagonist who is tasked with coordinating the Synthetics into battle and embarking on a journey with them to stop Innocent Cloud once and for all. At the start, the player infiltrates a facility where Innocent Cloud is preparing its latest weapon. Upon infiltration however, the player discovers an amnesiac black-haired girl with a blue flame igniting from her eye...
Gameplay[]
Gameplay screenshot
Core gameplay is akin to tower defense game, where a team of player-controlled units fights off waves of incoming enemies. Each playable unit can move to new positions, making the game more similar to a real-time tactics game.
All playable units have their own attack range, which is shown in yellow when selected, and will automatically attack enemy units that enter their range. Their fighting capabilities can be enhanced by overlapping their attack range to create a "kill zone", which is shown in blue on the map. Each playable unit has their own skill, and it can be activated by tapping on the unit's portrait twice when fully charged. "Kill ability" is a trump card move that is similar to a unit skill, but instead of activating for individual units, kill ability is activated for all surviving units at the same time on command.
Maps may also include "gimmick areas" that can buff or debuff any units that are inside, such as increasing offense or decreasing defense.[6]
Characters[]
Playable Characters[]
- Main Article: List of Armaments
| Character | Affiliation | Japanese VA | Release date (Japan) | Type | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Elishka |
Bunny1 | Akari Kito | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Scottie | — |
 Yuzuki |
Bunny1 | Kana Ichinose | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | kwgc | — |
 Hu-rin |
Bunny1 | Miku Ito | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | kanase bench | — |
 Nara |
Bunny1 | Kaede Hondo | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Ashima | — |
 Yvette |
Forge5 | Ayane Sakura | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Rui Tomono | — |
 Nichola |
Forge5 | Hisako Kanemoto | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Mephisto | — |
 Heroise |
Forge5 | Shino Shimoji | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | kuronoi | — |
 Adelaide |
Forge5 | Shiori Izawa | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Zenmaibook | — |
 Aelnesse |
Clock404 | Yoko Hikasa | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Rui Tomono | — |
 Corva |
Clock404 | Kanae Ito | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Genyaky | — |
 Wilma |
Clock404 | Aoi Koga | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Zenmaibook | — |
 Averil |
Brownie9 | Rina Hidaka | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Rui Tomono | — |
 Constance |
Brownie9 | Inori Minase | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Zenmaibook | — |
 Grace |
Brownie9 | Tomoyo Kurosawa | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | kanase bench | — |
 Naomi |
Suicide7 | Himika Akaneya | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Rui Tomono | — |
 Rola |
Suicide7 | Aya Uchida | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | kuronoi | — |
 Lisa |
Suicide7 | Sawako Hata | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Genyaky | — |
 Eners |
Suicide7 | Sumire Uesaka | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | Mephisto | — |
 Mia |
Secret | Ai Fairouz | 2022-11-24 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | CHANxCO | — |
 Hilke |
Unknown | Azumi Waki | 2023-11-14 | Burning Evil Eye | Scottie | — |
 DeadMaster |
Unknown | — | 2023-11-30 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | AF_KURO | — |
 Chariot |
Unknown | — | 2023-11-30 | AFARM Official Soldier's Uniform | がわこ | — |
 Empress (DAWN FALL) |
Collaboration | Yui Ishikawa | 2022-12-13 | DAWN FALL | Unknown | Collaboration with Black★★Rock Shooter DAWN FALL. |
 Dead Master (DAWN FALL) |
Collaboration | Saori Hayami | 2022-12-13 | DAWN FALL | Unknown | Collaboration with Black★★Rock Shooter DAWN FALL. |
 Strength (DAWN FALL) |
Collaboration | Megumi Han | 2022-12-13 | DAWN FALL | Unknown | Collaboration with Black★★Rock Shooter DAWN FALL. |
 Ruby Rose (Ice Queendom) |
Collaboration | Saori Hayami | 2023-03-31 | Ice Queendom | Unknown | Collaboration with RWBY: Ice Queendom. |
 Weiss Schnee (Ice Queendom) |
Collaboration | Yoko Hikasa | 2023-03-31 | Ice Queendom | Unknown | Collaboration with RWBY: Ice Queendom. |
 Blake Belladonna (Ice Queendom) |
Collaboration | Yū Shimamura | 2023-03-31 | Ice Queendom | Unknown | Collaboration with RWBY: Ice Queendom. |
 Yang Xiao Long (Ice Queendom) |
Collaboration | Ami Koshimizu | 2023-03-31 | Ice Queendom | Unknown | Collaboration with RWBY: Ice Queendom. |
 Shinei Nouzen (86 -Eighty Six-) |
Collaboration | Shōya Chiba | 2023-09-29 | 86 -Eighty Six- | 先崎真琴 | Collaboration with 86 -Eighty Six-. |
 Vladilena Milizé (86 -Eighty Six-) |
Collaboration | Ikumi Hasegawa | 2023-09-29 | 86 -Eighty Six- | 美和野らぐ | Collaboration with 86 -Eighty Six-. |
 Theoto Rikka (86 -Eighty Six-) |
Collaboration | Natsumi Fujiwara | 2023-09-29 | 86 -Eighty Six- | 桑島黎音 | Collaboration with 86 -Eighty Six-. |
Other Characters[]
| Character | Affiliation | Japanese VA | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
 Sumina Amano |
Unknown | Kaori Nazuka | Scottie |
Development[]
The teaser visual for FRAGMENT by Rui Tomono.
Black★Rock Shooter FRAGMENT was first announced on December 26, 2021 by the game's official Twitter account[7]. The announcement established the game as being separate from Black★★Rock Shooter DAWN FALL, with its own story set in a different world.
On January 1, 2022, the official Twitter account shared an image of a New Year's message from Good Smile Company and G2 Studios.[8] At the bottom of this image is a code in Caesar cipher; when each letter of this code is shifted forward by six letters, the code reads "the space-time gets mixed, divided and collapsed".[9]
On February 8, 2022, the official Twitter account announced that it would begin sharing background and concept art for FRAGMENT starting on February 15. Reveals for these artworks occurred on a regular basis (three to four days for background art), then gradually changed to an irregular basis once they started revealing concept art.
A global release of the game was initially planned for early 2023.[10] This was later changed to Spring 2023, but ultimately it did not materialize before the game was announced to end service in 2024.[11]
Production Staff[]
A list of main production staff was released on March 22, 2022:[12][13]
- Design Direction: huke
- Scenario / Script: Ichiro Sakaki, Okina Kamino
- Teaser Visual: Rui Tomono
- Logo Design: Hiroto Sugawara
- Publisher: Good Smile Company
- Developer: G2 Studios
- Theme Song: TeddyLoid
- Character Design: Ashima, Kanase Bench, kwgc, Kuronoi, Genyaky, Scottie, Zenmaibook, CHANxCO, Rui Tomono, Mephisto
Gallery[]
- Full article: Black★Rock Shooter FRAGMENT/Gallery
External Links[]
- Official Website (archived from the original on September 4, 2025)
- Official Twitter
- Official YouTube Channel
- Official Pixiv
References[]
- ↑ ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT【公式】 [@brs_fragment] (October 24, 2022). https://twitter.com/brs_fragment/status/1584469925632299008. Twitter.
- ↑ ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT【公式】 [@brs_fragment] (December 22, 2023). https://twitter.com/brs_fragment/status/1738092616775004502. Twitter.
- ↑ "【重要】サービス終了のお知らせ". Black★Rock Shooter FRAGMENT Official Website. Published on December 22, 2023. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved on September 8, 2025.
- ↑ "【重要】オフライン版（Ver.2.6.0）のお知らせ". Black★Rock Shooter FRAGMENT Official Website. Published on February 28, 2024. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved on September 8, 2025.
- ↑ ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT【公式】 [@brs_fragment] (January 31, 2023). https://twitter.com/brs_fragment/status/1620345641829367808. Twitter.
- ↑ "ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT｜体験版プレイ動画". YouTube. Published on August 10, 2022. Retrieved on August 11, 2022.
- ↑ ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT【公式】 [@brs_fragment] (December 25, 2022). https://twitter.com/brs_fragment/status/1474938034332532736. Twitter.
- ↑ ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT【公式】 [@brs_fragment] (January 1, 2022). https://twitter.com/brs_fragment/status/1477203041447456772. Twitter.
- ↑ L-3 [@LLL_Cube] (January 1, 2022). https://twitter.com/LLL_Cube/status/1477250485879185416. Twitter.
- ↑ ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT【公式】 [@brs_fragment] (February 13, 2022). https://twitter.com/brs_fragment/status/1492664839592083458. Twitter.
- ↑ ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT【公式】 [@brs_fragment] (October 24, 2022). https://twitter.com/brs_fragment/status/1584476044123582464. Twitter.
- ↑ "STAFF". Black★Rock Shooter FRAGMENT Official Website. Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved on September 8, 2025.
- ↑ ブラック★ロックシューター FRAGMENT【公式】 [@brs_fragment] (March 22, 2022). https://twitter.com/brs_fragment/status/1506299674114007040. Twitter.
| Black★Rock Shooter FRAGMENT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Bunny1 | Elishka • Yuzuki • Hu-rin • Nara |
| Forge5 | Yvette • Nichola • Heroise • Adelaide | |
| Clock404 | Aelnesse • Corva • Wilma | |
| Brownie9 | Averil • Constance • Grace | |
| Suicide7 | Naomi • Rola • Lisa • Eners | |
| Secret | Mia | |
| Others | DeadMaster • Chariot • Hilke • Sumina Amano | |
| Collaboration | DAWN FALL: Empress • Dead Master • Strength RWBY: Ruby Rose • Weiss Schnee • Blake Belladonna • Yang Xiao Long 86: Shinei Nouzen • Vladilena Milizé • Theoto Rikka | |
| Terminology | EXMATA • Innocent Cloud • List of Armaments • Synthetic | |
| Related Media | Black★Rock Shooter FRAGMENT EPISODE: STRIKERS | |