Aniplex has introduced the competition in Fate/EXTRA Record. The publisher released a new character trailer called "RIVAL's SIDE" earlier this week (October 15th) during the first Fate/EXTRA Record TIMES livestream on the official TYPE-MOON GAMES YouTube channel. It focuses on the rival Masters and Servants players will fight during the Moon Holy Grail War, and it arrived alongside the full voice cast for those characters and news of a special 90-minute hands-on event in Tokyo.
The remake of the 2010 PSP RPG Fate/EXTRA launches early next year (January 28th, 2027) on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Check out the English version of the trailer below:
Meet The Rival Masters
The trailer runs through the roster of opponents standing between the player and the Holy Grail. Shinji Matou is voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya, and Aniplex's character profile describes him as an Asian gaming champion and gifted hacker whose pride and habit of looking down on others make him hard to deal with. He appears to be friends with the protagonist, though the profile hints there may be more to that.
Rin Tohsaka is played by Kana Ueda, Rani VIII by Asami Sanada, and Leonardo B. Harwey by Romi Park. Julius B. Harwey is voiced by Wataru Hatano, Dan Blackmore by Mugihito, and Monji Gatou by Kentaro Ito. Alice is played by Ai Nonaka, and Run Ru-kun by Yu Kobayashi.
The Servants are credited only as each Master's Servant, which fits a game built around uncovering true names. Shinji's Servant is voiced by Urara Takano, Dan Blackmore's by Kosuke Toriumi, Leo's by Daichu Mizushima, Rin's by Nobutoshi Canna, and Monji Gatou's by Ikumi Hasegawa. Kunihiko Yasui voices both Julius's and Rani's Servants, while Hisao Egawa plays Run Ru-kun's.
A Holy Grail War Built On Information
That secrecy is a big part of how Record plays. Players take the role of a Master inside SE.RA.PH, a vast digital world hidden on the moon, where 128 Master and Servant pairs fight in a tournament for a Holy Grail that can grant any wish. Each round builds toward a final battle on the seventh day, and in the days before it, players explore dungeons, strengthen their Servant, and gather intelligence on their next opponent. Learning a rival Servant's true name gives you the edge when the fight finally comes.
Combat is a deck-building command battle system. Players combine commands, items, and support actions, and each Servant brings its own look and abilities, so the deck has to be built around who you contracted. Aniplex says the remake expands the original's scenario, redraws the character art, and overhauls the graphics and systems. Arco Wada returns as character designer, and the soundtrack comes from Yoshimasa Terui and Keita Haga.
Where To Play It Early
The special hands-on event takes place November 7th and 8th at an undisclosed location in Tokyo. It covers a wider slice of the game than earlier event demos, with about 90 minutes of play per session. Aniplex is inviting 150 people across five sessions of 30, chosen by lottery, and applications are open to Japan residents until later this month (October 28th). Attendees get a non-sale clear file featuring the key visual.
There are other chances to try it, too. The game is playable at Machi Asobi Vol. 31 in Tokushima this weekend, with a stage event on Sunday (October 18th) streaming on ABEMA. Fans in Europe can go hands-on at Paris Games Week later this month, according to the Aniplex Gaming Hub account:
A Long Road To Launch
Record has taken a while to get here. TYPE-MOON announced it in July 2020, on the 10th anniversary of the original game, and it slipped from 2025 to spring 2026 before Bandai Namco Entertainment stepped away as publisher in March. TYPE-MOON said at the time that development would continue under a revised structure. Aniplex was named the new publisher on August 31st, with Meteorise, the studio behind Bleach: Rebirth of Souls and Atelier Resleriana, now developing it alongside TYPE-MOON. Original Fate/EXTRA producer Kazuya Nino stepped down as the remake's director around the same time, citing personal reasons.
Pre-orders are open now. The Steam page lists a Digital Deluxe Edition with an arranged BGM pack from the original game, a bundle of Servant and player outfits split into Beach, Night, and Festival sets, and a digital soundtrack and art book. A physical Limited Edition adds a three-disc soundtrack, a SteelBook case, and an artbook, and Marvelous Europe is handling the release in Europe and Australia.
Which rival are you most looking forward to facing again, or are you going into the Moon Holy Grail War fresh and hoping you can figure out the Servants' true names on your own?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.