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Reverse 1999 release date and everything else you need to know

A truly bizarre adventure to the colourful past

Reverse 1999 release date and everything else you need to know

Update: It's official! The CN version is slated to be released on May 31st. 

While April is gearing up to be a month full of exciting releases with the entry of big games like Honkai Star Rail, on the CN market, many are elated as Bluepoch - developers behind the much anticipated Reverse 1999 - has launched a third CBT (Closed Beta Test). First announced around August 13th, 2021 with a slick PV following a period of stasis, the game finally regains the spotlight as well as traction.

However, the best part that roused the global audience was the confirmation of a simultaneous worldwide release. The game had its trademark registered in the EU on December 29th, 2022 while it’s still pending approval in NA. Unfortunately, access is restricted for Mainland China. Those with access to a Chinese phone number or those who registered and passed verification for BiliBili can still sign up on the official webpage.

With all that said and done, get strapped in as we are about to equip you with everything we know so far.

Quick run-down on Reverse 1999’s plot

Disclaimer: All the plot details are translated, and then pieced together from the backstory section on the game’s official webpage.

Adding to the extensive list of games sporting a depressive apocalyptic theme, Reverse 1999 doubles down on it by utilising Mother Nature's disastrous wrath. That's right. The plot stars a devastating storm creatively named “The Storm” that plunged the world back into 1929 and ushered in a Renaissance for classical pop culture.

The story then cuts to the 1960s when the Storm strikes again. As a countermeasure, a group of individuals wielding magic powers called the Arcanus begins to thrive in this new world. You assume the role of a timekeeper, accompanying these individuals to navigate the world and slowly uncover all the secrets and origin of the storm. And the best part? A magical suitcase (a memento of your mysterious mother) will be your humble abode and base of operations for your fellow Arcanites (the individuals wielding these world-bending Arcanus powers).

Is Reverse 1999 worth the hype?

While it is far from being a pioneer or trendsetter, it has its own merits that warrant its sights on our radar. For beginners, it has a unique take on the battle system compared to the usual dime-a-dozen turn-based combat. This game utilises a card-based battle system that determines the characters' attacks and it offers plenty of flexibility and fun. Visuals are often key to leaving a good first impression, and Reverse 1999 wins in this aspect. Hence, fans of gachas with equally gritty atmospheres, like those found in Arknights and Punishing Gray Raven, will certainly find it to their taste.

The roster is the primary allure here, along with the usual waifus and husbandos of premier quality. A standout aspect would be the plentiful, bizarre list of characters ranging from a bloody UFO (below) to an apple. The character sprites are well-detailed in terms of the proportion and fluidity of their animations. The developer team has already set its sights on the international market, solidified by the fact that it is one of the few games that had its maiden release with full English voiceover - a practice seldom seen among games, save for the giants such as Nikke and Genshin.

Release date of Reverse 1999

Sadly, we still do not have any definite date for the game's release, although we estimate the CN release to be in the summer of 2023. We will keep tabs on the official social media channels and keep you up-to-date regarding any relevant information. While not available yet on the official Google Play or App Store, Reverse 1999 is up for pre-registration on third-party game stores such as TapTap, with the placeholder "want" in place of download.

Meanwhile, tune into their newly released track titled “All in vague” to soothe your earbuds. Truly a jam!

  • Oh and while you're at it, hop aboard the hype train with a sneak peek at the release date for Honkai Star Rail.

How to get into Reverse 1999 and the extra goodies?

To quench the excitement, we bring forward gleeful news: the release date of Reverse 1999 is announced by the developers on May 31st in the Chinese game market with a promise that a Global version is on the horizon.

Note: The CBT is now closed

While the developers have held multiple CBTs since 2021 until the present, there is an upcoming third round to gather more feedback.

  • Closed Beta Test (data will be wiped after closure)
  • Platform: Android
  • Download available on April 13th, 2023 at 12:00
  • Test servers online on April 14th, 2023 at10:00 until April 21st, 2023 at 14:00

For the lucky ones, there are precious rewards for participating, starting with sharing the official webpage with your fellow buddies to rope them in and stand at most twenty chances to win fabulous goodies in their lucky roulette campaign. Fantastic prizes include an iPhone 14, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. For Weibo social butterflies, you can participate and share the official post with a glimmer of hope to win some prizes, including a 1999 Chinese Yuan cash reward limited to ten lucky winners as its grand prize. A pre-registration event is also in place and, for the final milestone, you will be rewarded with 10x pulls.