BlazBlue: Central Fiction
Developer(s)	Arc System Works[a]
Publisher(s)	JP: Arc System Works NA: Aksys Games EU: PQube[1] WW: Bandai Namco Entertainment (Switch)
Designer(s)	Toshimichi Mori Yūki Katō
Composer(s)	Daisuke Ishiwatari Galneryus
Series	BlazBlue Xblaze Code: Embryo
Platform(s)	Arcade PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 Windows Nintendo Switch
Release	Arcade JP: November 19, 2015 PS3, PS4 JP: October 6, 2016 NA: November 1, 2016 EU: November 4, 2016 Windows WW: April 26, 2017 Nintendo Switch JP/NA: February 7, 2019 EU: February 8, 2019
Genre(s)	Fighting
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

BlazBlue: Central Fiction, released in Japan as BlazBlue: Centralfiction, is a 2D fighting video game developed and published by Arc System Works. It is the final game of the main series^[2] and the only game not to have an English dub.^[3][4]

Following the gameplay from Chrono Phantasma Extend, there are additional changes and new mechanics. The Overdrive activation’s duration is now shown under the Burst Gauge in the form of a countdown timer (which counts seconds and split-seconds); The character portrait near the health bar shakes when taking damage; and each character’s emblem appears on their side when the phrase “The Wheel of Fate is Turning” shows at the start of the first Rebel. The new gameplay mechanics are: Exceed Accel, a special type of Distortion Drive, which is executed a same input as Overdrive activation by holding it during Overdrive activation, or pressing it, begins with the character performing a specific attack in their move-set, and once it connects the rest of the background shatters away into the Overdrive background effect when the attack is performed. It dishes large damage, but immediately ends Overdrive; and Active Flow, which acts as the opposite of Negative Penalty status. A character that fights offensively goes into an Active Flow, which boosts damage and recovery of the Burst Gauge. Active Flow also increases the damage of Exceed Accel (for some it may add extra effects and animations). When a character enters Active Flow, his/her emblem on the health bar becomes purple pink. The purple pink color itself is also shown surrounding the Overdrive Gauge, when a character is close to entering Active Flow. A character can only enter Active Flow once per round.^[5]

The story mode for Central Fiction lasts for 40 hours, with extra arcade mode stories separated into three acts.^[6][7]

All 28 fighters from Chrono Phantasma Extend return in Central Fiction. This brings the total roster to 36 playable fighters.

• Hibiki Kohaku: Kagura’s secretary and personal assassin. Born into a line of assassins serving the Mutsuki household.^[8]
• Naoto Kurogane: The main character of Bloodedge Experience. He is an outsider of the parallel world who searches for a girl called Raquel Alucard.^[8]
• Nine the Phantom: Originally one of the Six Heroes. Possessing an exceptional intellect and extraordinary magical power, she is the creator of the “Nox Nyctores” and “Ars Magus.” In 2200 A.D., she works with the Imperator.^[9]
• Hades Izanami: The former Imperator, highest ranking political official and commander of the Novus Orbis Librarium. In reality, she is the Drive of The Origin. Her goal, to bring upon the day of reckoning, and destroy everything from the world.^[10]

• Es: One of the main characters of the XBlaze spinoff series. Also known as Embryo Storage. She is the gatekeeper observing the proxy that conveys the will of the Azure.^[11]
• Mai Natsume: The main character of the manga series, Remix Heart and Variable Heart. She is the heir to the Duodecim’s Hazuki family and a former student of the Military Academy.^[12]
• Susano’o: One of the Six Heroes who defeated the Black Beast once upon a time, as well as Yuuki Terumi’s true form. Due to the effect of the Susano’o Unit, his impulse for destruction is unchecked, and he brings atrocities tyrannically.^[13]
• Jubei: One of the Six Heroes, Kokonoe’s father, and Nine’s husband. A beastkin warrior who fights with a sword and his razor-sharp claws. He believes in duty and humanity, and has a strong sense of justice. He was released in North America and Japan on August 31, 2017, and in Europe on September 4, 2017.^[14]

The game was released for the arcades on November 19, 2015, with a location test having been done in mid-July of that year.^[15] A console version was released in Japan on October 6, 2016, in North America on November 1, 2016, and in Europe on November 4, 2016, for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.^[1][16][17] Aksys Games has confirmed a limited edition for North American markets which includes a soundtrack disc, a nendoroid figure and a hardcover art book.

A Steam port was released on April 26, 2017.^[18]

A Nintendo Switch release called BlazBlue: Centralfiction – Special Edition was released digitally on February 7, 2019, on Nintendo’s eShop. It was also released physically in Europe^[19] and in Japan, but not in North America besides a limited release by Limited Run Games in 2022.^[20] This version has every character including the PlayStation console added characters and the DLC character, Jubei.

At CEO 2021, it was revealed that the Steam version of the game will be patched with rollback netcode in 2022.^[21] The rollback netcode for the Steam version was officially released on February 1, 2022.^[22]

In Japan, BlazBlue: Central Fiction sold 26,506 copies on PS4 and 9,674 copies on PS3.^[31][32] Aggregate reviewer Metacritic gave the game an 84 out of 100 citing generally positive reviews from websites.^[23] Famitsu gave the game a 34/40 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions.^[27] Chris Carter of Destructoid gave the title an 8.5/10 while complimenting the impressive amount of effort with few problems for a niche game.^[25] Filippo Facchetti of Eurogamer gave a score 9 out of 10 for Central Fiction, recommending players who love fighting games and anime to buy the title.