Ethan Crossfield 
Anime IP has increasingly become a long-term gaming roadmap, and Naruto is no exception. TV Tokyo’s latest official comments point to a “new phase” beginning around the franchise’s 25th anniversary in 2027—alongside brand-new video games and other projects planned for the years after.
Background: 2027 isn’t just a celebration
Naruto fans already have major releases on the horizon, including a recently confirmed live-action movie. However, TV Tokyo’s new statement shifts attention from nostalgia to forward planning: when discussing the franchise’s 25th anniversary in 2027, the company characterized it not as a peak moment, but as the start of a new era. The comments were delivered through TV Tokyo Holdings’ FY 2025 Financial Results Briefing Q&A, published after the company’s May 2026 earnings presentation.
What TV Tokyo confirmed for 2027 and beyond
TV Tokyo stopped short of naming every project, but it did make several things clear about what comes next. The company confirmed that multiple new initiatives are already planned for 2027 and beyond, explicitly including brand-new Naruto video games. It also referenced additional “video” projects connected to the franchise—while the source indicates this could potentially relate to the live-action movie, rather than being tied to a specific subsection of the story.
Importantly, TV Tokyo did not blur the lines between the upcoming live-action movie and the separate 2027 release activity described in its statement. The live-action film is distinct, and the company’s “new phase” framing is aimed at keeping the franchise moving well past the anniversary year.
How this could shape the Naruto vs. Boruto direction
One open question is whether the next wave of games leans more toward the original Naruto era or toward Boruto’s timeline. The source notes that it’s uncertain if the upcoming release is tied to the original series or if “Naruto” is being used as an umbrella term for Boruto content.
Recent Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections included Boruto material, but the source also highlights a gap: there hasn’t yet been a major AAA game built entirely around Boruto: Naruto Next Generations or Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. With TV Tokyo specifically mentioning new projects and new partners, the door is open for a broader push toward Boruto-era storytelling—though that remains speculation until an official reveal clarifies what’s actually in development.
Key points
- TV Tokyo frames Naruto’s 2027 25th anniversary as the start of a new phase, not a franchise peak.
- Brand-new Naruto video games are planned to begin in 2027.
- Additional franchise “video” projects are on the roadmap, potentially tied to the live-action movie.
- TV Tokyo didn’t detail titles, but it signals continued growth through 2027 and beyond via new partnerships.
| Item | What’s confirmed | What’s not confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Naruto 25th anniversary (2027) | TV Tokyo says it marks a new phase for the franchise. | Exact project names and scope. |
| New Naruto games | Brand-new Naruto video games are planned to start in 2027. | Platforms, studios, genres, and release timing details. |
| Other video projects | TV Tokyo references additional franchise-linked video initiatives. | Whether they connect directly to the live-action movie or which story era they cover. |
| Live-action Naruto movie | Confirmed separately and in pre-production at Lionsgate; creator Masashi Kishimoto is involved in the adaptation excitement. | Any tie-in game details or release schedule. |
Expert View
From a market perspective, TV Tokyo’s wording suggests the company wants Naruto to behave like an ongoing live-service franchise rather than a one-year anniversary headline. For the competitive gaming community, that usually means more development opportunities for established fighting-game ecosystems and more room for new IP-to-game partnerships. For players, the biggest takeaway is strategic: the next Naruto-era push may still be “Naruto” in branding, but Boruto content could be the most logical area to expand—especially if new partners decide to fill the current gap for a Boruto-focused AAA release.
