Gungrave G.O.R.E: Blood Heat is the latest installment in the franchise and a full remake of the 2022 game. Gungrave G.O.R.E did not perform well critically, receiving mostly low scores from reviewers. However, the newly announced remake appears to be seeking redemption, aiming to restore the franchise’s reputation with a fresh start.
Many consider Gungrave to be one of the forgotten PS2 third-person shooter games, even though the franchise has had several sequels and an anime adaptation since its original launch. This is partly because most installments after the original, including Gungrave G.O.R.E, failed to satisfy fans and were largely seen as failures.
Gungrave G.O.R.E: Blood Heat Is a Redemption-Seeking Remake of the 2022 Game
Announced during Xbox’s livestream at the 2025 Tokyo Game Show, Gungrave G.O.R.E: Blood Heat is described as a “full rebuild” of its predecessor. While it currently has no release window, it is planned for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. One of the key differences in this installment is its enhanced visuals, powered by Unreal Engine 5. According to developer Studio IGGYMOB, the remake will also revamp most aspects of the gameplay, delivering more polished combat with stylish new animations. Blood Heat is also expected to introduce new characters not featured in any previous Gungrave games.
Everything New in Gungrave G.O.R.E: Blood Heat
- Unreal Engine 5 graphics
- New combat system
- Modern sensibility
- Enhanced stylish movement
- Improved animations
- New 360-degree controls
- New interactions with levels and objects
- Smarter enemy AI
- Newly designed Beyond the Grave character
- Never-before-seen characters
- Eye-catching explosions and effects
Fans of the Gungrave series’ protagonist will be glad to know he has been revamped as well. The new look for the stylish gunslinger is designed by Yasuhiro Nightow, the acclaimed manga artist behind Trigun. Nightow also created Brandon Heat‘s appearance for the anime adaptation. Beyond visual upgrades, including the protagonist’s refined look, Gungrave G.O.R.E: Blood Heat introduces new gameplay mechanics, such as fresh interactions with world objects. Aiming to compete with modern third-person shooters, Blood Heat also promises improved controls and a faster combat tempo, with movements that are said to be more satisfying than before.
It remains to be seen whether the upcoming installment can address Gungrave G.O.R.E‘s biggest issues. However, based on the current teaser trailer, the remake shows strong potential to revive the glory of the once-popular franchise. Fans can already wishlist Blood Heat on the Microsoft Store, though the Steam and PlayStation Store pages do not appear to have been created at the time of publish.