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Wizardry

The Wizardry series is in its 45th anniversary year, with Drecom releasing anniversary assets and an anime adaptation of the Wizardry-based light novel Blade & Bastard scheduled for 2027, while a Steam key revocation incident for Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials has caused controversy.

Synthesized from 4 Yomimono stories · updated Jun 30

Drecom, the current rights holder for Wizardry titles 6 through 8 and Wizardry Variants Daphne, opened a 45th anniversary special site on June 1, 2026, with a countdown to June 4. On June 11, Drecom released a main visual by illustrator Jun Suemi featuring characters from Wizardry Variants Daphne and the novel Blade & Bastard, alongside a fan survey running until August 31. The anniversary comes as the series, which debuted in 1981, reaches its 45th year in September 2026, with rights split between Atari (first five games) and Drecom (later titles).

On June 27, Game*Spark Publishing revoked Steam keys for Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials purchased on the external store DIRECT GAMES after the game was sold at an unintended price of 90 yen for a bundle normally priced at 7,146 yen. The publisher called the revocation a painful decision and directed customer inquiries to DIRECT GAMES.

On June 30, Warner Bros. Japan released the first teaser PV for the anime Blade & Bastard, set in the Wizardry world. The dark fantasy series adapts Kumo Kagyu's light novel with character drafts by so-bin. The teaser shows first footage and reveals main staff including director Tomoki Kobayashi and animation production by Shimpu. The anime is scheduled for 2027.

Key facts

45th anniversary main visual released
Drecom released a main visual by illustrator Jun Suemi for the 45th anniversary of the RPG Wizardry on June 11, 2026.
Blade & Bastard anime staff and release year
The anime Blade & Bastard, set in the Wizardry world, is directed by Tomoki Kobayashi with animation production by Shimpu, and is scheduled for 2027.
Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials Steam keys revoked
Game*Spark Publishing revoked Steam keys for Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials purchased on DIRECT GAMES after the game was sold at an unintended price of 90 yen for a bundle normally priced at 7,146 yen.
45th anniversary special site opened
The official Wizardry series X account, operated by Drecom, announced the opening of a 45th anniversary special site on June 1, 2026, with a countdown ending around 18:00 JST on June 4.
Rights split between Atari and Drecom
The rights to the first five Wizardry games were acquired by Atari in May 2026, while later titles are held by Drecom.

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Release
tv · 2027 · 2026-06-30
Announced
opening of a 45th anniversary special site with a countdown to June 4 · 2026-06-01

Connections

Music by
jun suemi
Writes of
so bin

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/wizardry. CC BY 4.0.

All coverage

3d ago

Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials Scenario Editor Update Adds Continuous Events, Monster Images

The 20th anniversary sale for Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials on Steam and Switch is ending soon, but the game is also getting a major scenario editor update. The update introduces continuous event functions, more monster images from DLC, and new scenario settings. Free portrait DLCs, including collaborations with Denki no Kissaten and Kitsune no Kaerimichi, are available. The Switch version has received two performance updates and is confirmed to run better on Switch 2.

Jul 3

Wizardry Variants Daphne and Final Fantasy XI Collaboration Set for Summer 2026

Drecom announced on July 3, 2026, that a collaboration event between the 3D dungeon RPG Wizardry Variants Daphne and Square Enix's MMORPG Final Fantasy XI will take place in the summer of 2026. Specific content and timing details are to be announced later. Final Fantasy XI began service in Japan in May 2002 and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2027. The game has released five expansion packs, including Chains of Promathia and Seekers of Adoulin, and its latest scenario, The Embryo of the Eclipsed World, has been distributed since 2020. Wizardry Variants Daphne is the latest entry in the Wizardry series, which marks its 45th anniversary in 2026. The collaboration will bring together the world of Vana'diel from Final Fantasy XI with the harsh dungeon exploration of Wizardry Variants Daphne. The announcement comes as Final Fantasy XI approaches its 24th anniversary in 2026.

Jun 30

Blade & Bastard Anime Teaser PV Reveals Staff, 2027 Release

Warner Bros. Japan released the first teaser PV for the anime Blade & Bastard, set in the Wizardry world. The dark fantasy series adapts Kumo Kagyu's light novel with character drafts by so-bin. The teaser shows first footage and reveals main staff including director Tomoki Kobayashi and animation production by Shimpu. The anime is scheduled for 2027.

Jun 27

Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials Steam Keys Revoked After Unauthorized 90 Yen Sale

Game*Spark Publishing is revoking Steam keys for Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials purchased on the external store DIRECT GAMES after the game was sold at an unintended price, reportedly 90 yen for a bundle normally priced at 7,146 yen. The publisher called the revocation a painful decision and directed customer inquiries to DIRECT GAMES.

Jun 11

Wizardry 45th Anniversary Main Visual by Jun Suemi Released

Drecom released a main visual by illustrator Jun Suemi for the 45th anniversary of the RPG Wizardry on June 11, 2026. The artwork features characters from Wizardry Variants Daphne and the novel Blade & Bastard. A special survey collecting fan memories and messages runs until August 31.

Jun 1

Wizardry 45th Anniversary Site Opens With Countdown to June 4

The official Wizardry series X account, operated by Drecom, announced the opening of a 45th anniversary special site on June 1, 2026. The site shows a countdown ending around 18:00 JST on June 4, when an announcement is expected. The series debuted in 1981 and reaches its 45th anniversary in September 2026. It is unclear whether the announcement involves the first five games, whose rights were acquired by Atari in May 2026, or the later titles held by Drecom.