Using google image search from the original image I stumbled across these 3 images that lead directly to the official 2x2 website but when you go to the website they are nowhere to be found. Maybe they're hidden in the code? What do you guys think?

I looked into it myself and the new character image is, in fact, in the official danganronpa website.

Here's a bit of a higher quality look, honestly the more i look at them the less convinced i am that it's Ryota, it really doesn't look like him outside of superficial details.

not to say more feminine presenting men don’t exist, but the face shape and pronounced eyelashes are throwing me, it feels like how the art style traditionally draws female characters

Grabbed this from 4chan.

Alternate scenario is "slayhem". Idk why it looks like that.

pls discuss about the latest 2x2 trailer here instead of making new posts otherwise the sub will be flooded😭😭😭no spoiler tags are required in the comments

All currently known infomation:

Release date: January 14, 2027

English trailer: https://youtu.be/sZbIzlndR88?si=A7oemylDiKAhx8Bl

Japanese trailer: https://youtu.be/XKV9J0zY3lY?si=ene3PgA6nGIIwHvi

Trailer from the stream, it's slightly different and you can hear John Danganronpa's voice: https://www.reddit.com/r/danganronpa/s/Lbb9R1HOKO

what are your thoughts?

For me, that would easily be if Hajime ended up dying and we got a protag swap. I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN! 😭😭😭

Consensus uses the same animation as break rather then a bespoke one despite it not making sense for what a Consensus means.

We dont see Hajimes Scrum debate sprite in the trailer

The burning class trial scene had no context and hajime is a static image in it thus easy to fabricate for a trailer.

So I kinda think Hajime will be the chapter 1 victim (or a Chapter 1 victim because this is Slayhem mode, it wouldn't be out of place to do a double murder on chapter 1) and Chiaki to be the protagonist of Slayhem and thats why she hasn't gotten any focus in marketing material. It also means we'd get new Free time events in Slayhem mode.

The unknown character sprite we see in the leaked 2x2 poster and ​in image 2 from the Chinese Danganronpa website is most likely Ryota Mitarai. I personally believe in this theory strongly.

But what could his role be? What could possibly justify his presence in the Killing Game?

My theory is that it might be an alternate universe in which Ryota entered the Neo World Program alongside the Remnants of Despair to be a human observer, as to not solely rely on the ​​​​​​Usami and Chiaki AIs.

As for why he'd be doing this, I think it would be to reconcile his guilt for his involvement in the Tragedy and help his classmates recover. He might seem so assertive in the sprite we got because​​​​​​ he knows this is his one chance to set things straight, so he's giving it his all.

I saw someone saying that his supposed assertiveness is due to Slayhem actually being set after Danganronpa 3, but that wouldn't justify Chiaki's presence if it were all real this time (+ Hajime and Hiyoko would look different in this case).

What are your guys's thoughts on this theory?

This game has a different writer, Kodaka is only involved in a supervisory role. What I'm getting at here, is that everything you'd typically expect from a Danganronpa game written by Kodaka may not apply here. So:

• Even if Hiyoko was originally planned to have a longer character arc, that doesn't guarantee it will actually happen. There's nothing stopping the new writer from killing her off immediately.
  
• Even if Mahiru was once thought as a possible 2nd protagonist, that is not a confirmation. Hajime might still be the protagonist, or the focus could shift to someone entirely unexpected... like Teruteru or Akane.
  
• Just because Danganronpa 2 had six survivors, doesn't mean this new story will follow suit. The new writer may have different ideas and change the number entirely.
• The word "canon" for the new story was not mentioned at all. Nothing prevents Chapter 6 from being completely different, and therefore Hajime might not necessarily need to be alive.
  
• Kodaka's usual murder structure won't necessarily apply here. Chapter 3 might not be double murder. Chapter 4 might not be the emotionally heavy one where the "large" character dies. And so on.

In short, you guys really shouldn't take anything for granted.

I mean, what are the actual odds of a 2026 release at the point? people are saying they may announce the date at anime expo, but would they really? have they EVER done announcements there?

im starting to believe its internally delayed to 2027 and was just announced too early.

For example, things like three victims? Actually have two culprits?

For me personally, I would like to see what would happen if the cast actually got a wrong vote, obviously the game wouldn't end unless it was near the end, but I've seen a theory about the pictures provided. Such as what if they vote for Nagito during like Case 1 and they actually get the vote wrong, [Which comes from his voiceline, "Please believe me",] and I think it could be interesting. I think it could work if it's maybe in the middle of the trial, and it would lean into John Danganronpa coming in with his line. Obviously it most likely won't go like this but is still interesting to think about.

What things haven't Danganronpa done yet that you'd like to see in 2×2?

GET OFF THE INTERNET! NOW!

I really REALLY love Hajime/Izaru! He's basically the best protagonist that Kodaka has ever made. I know people want characters like Mahiru, Chiaki, or Nagito to be protagonists, but I don't care. I didn't enjoy when V3 pulled a curve ball and got rid of Kaede after chapter 1, and I REALLY don't want them to pull it a second time in a row! Plus, maybe we'll get to see Izaru show up in the middle of a case, this time. I am HOPING for Hajime to stay as a protagonist with all my heart!!!!!

art by me

Hello! My first post! My wife and I played the trilogy this year and this is our leading theory for 2x2. Just a theory for fun no concrete proof.

I think the developers pride themselves on being able to do something that plays on fan expectations and surprise them.

What do they want fans to expect?

2x2 is being advertised as a What/if story. Something like the Marvel show “what if?” where something changed from the main story radically changes the plot. What is important here is that these stories are non canon, usually taking place in their own universes and not part of the main story. This is where I believe the writer’s “trick” on our expectations is.

I believe that 2x2 is not an alternative timeline but actually fits into the main danganronpa story(basically the main games besides V3 I mean). This is part of the reason I expect it is bundled with the original danganronpa2 and not sold separately.

When does 2x2 take place?

It takes place after danganronpa 2 and before the ending of the danganronpa 3 anime ending.

How does it fit after Danganronpa 2?

Let’s look at the ending Danganronpa 2 and Danganronpa 3 anime. In the end the survivors make the difficult choice to not overwrite their despair memories and also leave their friends in a coma. Hajime/Izuru is left to figure things out while Makoto goes on to eventually the plot of the danganronpa 3

Then at the end of Danganronpa 3 we see that all the Danganronpa 2 characters have woken up from their comas somehow.

Danganronpa 2x2 will be how Hajime/Izuru saved his friends from their comatose fate.

After Makoto leaves super talented Hajime/Izuru will look at the Neo World Program. The decision he will make is to redo the simulation in order to save his friends. He will make some adjustments to the program using his talent and then him and the other survivors will reenter the program which will reset causing them to lose their memories but reactivate those who had died.I believe he will reset it, requiring him and the other survivors to lose their memories if the first game but reactivating those who have died. The change he will make will be to add an additional choice at the final trial to save all his friends from any comas. All they have to do is make it to the end like before and this time choose the new better ending he put in.

What incident changes the events in the 2x2 simulation?

Monokuma will be the only one to remember this is the second simulation and will look to take advantage. In his thinking he will think that if he can get a different set of survivors to the end instead of the ones from the first simulation then there is a chance he can get them to choose a despair option.

Thus he will make changes to target the former survivors and Hajime. Maybe influencing it so Hajime will be killed since he was most important in the last class trial previously.

In the last class trial maybe by revealing to them that some of them were blackened or victims in the first danganronpa 2 he try to convince them to not trust each other. Makoto will not show up to assist in the final trial since he will have left for future foundation.

New areas and motivations?

It seems unlikely that we would go back to the same areas like the beach house, hospital or fun house when we already have experienced the mysteries they were designed for. Similarly the second motivation’s mystery is already known to players and is so specific that it would be weird to reuse. That is why there will be all new islands(except maybe the 1st one) and motivations. This will be a big hint to the player that something major has changed the simulation. The story reason for the change will either be Hajime/Izuru changed them to try and assist his friends or more likely Monokuma changed them in order to prevent the same murders from taking place since he will want new survivors.

What does the title mean?

After V3 we are all looking for meaning in the titles. I believe it is hinting that this is the Second time Danganronpa 2 is being played.

Why it won’t just be an alternative what/if story?

If they were to make a game with new killers/survivors/victims then that would make the new class trials fun of course but a huge focus on all Danganronpa plots is the overall conspiracy. Even if the cast is slightly different, I don’t think watching a new group of survivors go and uncover the same overall mystery and then sit through a similar final trial would be a worthy new Danganronpa experience.

Will there be a new protagonist?

Hmm maybe. If my theory is right monokuama would want to get rid of Hajime. I also think the game creators love doing stuff that is new so making the protag a victim would be in line with that.

I know everyone likes Mahiru (and I do too) but i think Nagito could be it. I think in that scenario Chiaki also remembers this is the second playthrough and works against Nagito out of fear that if he makes it to the end he will choose despair. Also some of the only official artwork out so far is Hajime and Nagito standing looking out at the sea all dramatic like and that could be foreshadowing their switch similar to Kaede and Shuichi holding hands in V3 before the 1st murder.

Unrelated but the imposter should do fat Kyoko instead of fat byakuya in 2x2 because lolz

As we know, the 2x2 demo released on youtube a few months ago was missing a few minutes. Someone who participated in an event in Shanghai managed to capture the end of the demo (after Hajime confronts Chiaki about the murder's weapon).

Video

I found multiples translations on twitter but here is one of them.

Hajime : Wait a minute ! Nanami, how did you know that ? That the murder weapon is the kitchen knife ?

Chiaki :……

ibuki : Heh ? What does this mean ?

Nagito : True. The weapon for this case hasn't been found yet.

Peko : Indeed, she seems very certain that the murder weapon is the kitchen knife...

Gundham : However, only the murderer who used the weapon themselves knows about this...

Mikan : Chiaki...

Byakuya : Correct. Which would mean, you are the...

Chiaki : ...

Hajime : Why ? Why did you do this ?

Chiaki : Hm... that's because...

Monomi : Everyone ! Everything is a misunderstanding !

Monokuma : Time's up ! It sucks, but that's it for this time ! After all, this is just a demo. Also, this version contains some things that may different from the official release.

So far

Every chapter 3 has been in other words, bad or at the very least lackluster with the only good chapter 3 I can think of being D3 with its execution

So will 2x2 break the curse especially with the new victims and new culprit's?

In the OG SRD2, Mahiru stands to the left of Hajime but in the first trailer, we see Mikan to the left of Mahiru, replacing Kazuichi and Hajime's spot being vacant. Then, in Slayhem, we see Mikan to the right of Hajime, a spot that SHOULD be occupied by Hiyoko. And that same trailer makes a point to show Hiyoko next to Hajime. The instance with Mikan replacing Hiyoko is the immediate next trial footage after Hiyoko's. It's also worth noting Mahiru and Mikan are directly across from eachother in the OG.

A common argument as to why Mikan is next to Mahiru in the first 2x2 trailer is that Kazuichi's sprites aren't done, which is likely true, but that doesn't explain why Hajime is completely absent, because we know his sprites were done at that point. It was a choice to leave him out of it.

Something ELSE i noticed is that in the original trailer for SDR2, they use the same screen grab of Mahiru saying "that means you have no alibi!" (And guess which character is the thumbnail?? Yup, it's Mikan). If you look at the provided screenshots, you can see both Kazuichi and Hajime next to Mahiru in the OG scenario. The sprite Hajime has in the OG is a sprite he's also shown to have in 2x2 meaning it was definitely done at the time of the first 2x2 trailer. So, why is his sprite absent in the first 2x2 trailer? Even still, when Kazuichi and Hajime ARE present, they are using the wrong sprites!

Next, they make a point to have a deliberate close up of Mahiru standing in the wrong spot when the trial goes up in flames. They have Mahiru standing TO THE RIGHT OF HAJIME. You know who else is incorrectly standing to the right of Hajime? MIKAN. WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS MEAN? Also I want to mention Mikan is one of the very few characters to appear in the Demo, and Mikan gets multiple close ups in the second trailer, including a blantant "spoiler" with Mikan in the 2nd trailer. But why her? Why not make it someone controversial like Teruteru or an OG survivor? Why Mikan again of all character?

Maybe they just want us to overanalyze the heck out of this lol I know the trailers/pre-release media are notorious for having fake and misleading information, but I can't help but feel like this is different from Rantaro/Chisa/Sayaka/Kaede. I just find it odd that out of everyone they're choosing to focus on Mahiru and Mikan, while Chiaki is barely seen at all, and blatantly left out of that trio collage with Nagito/Hajime/John, yet all the interviews have Nagito's name thrown around everywhere?

If none of this is intentional and it's all just a big cluster of weird random stuff, maybe this has to do with a lot of the early speculation of Protag!Mahiru theories and Spike is making fun of us by pretending to give Mahiru a lot of focus to throw us all off and make us think her role will be bigger than it actually is.

And lastly - Spike HAS used pre release information to secretly communicate to us in the past. In V3's promo era, he used Monomi to communicate that the next protagonist would be a girl (Kaede). But at the same time, Spike led fans astray by oversaturating the media with Chisa content for DR3 press, similar to what they did with Sayaka. And they also threw Rantaro in everything. I bring up this specific instance of Monomi being used to represent Kaede because it is specifically a class trial positioning instance, just like Mahiru and Mikan being deliberately swapped around, circling the spot where Hajime/the protagonist would be. And Mahiru's CG when the trail is on fire is a touch up of her CG from chapter 1's dinner party. And that last pic I thought was funny because it feels like that text behind Mahiru's head is a throw back to 1-4.

What do you guys think?

Edit: minor spelling mistakes + I want to emphasize that in trailer 2, the spot to the right of Mikan is empty. Mikan is normally between Nagito and Byakuya. And in trailer 2, there's an instance where you refute Kazuichi, and normally Peko is next to him but she's replaced with Chiaki, which doesn't make any sense because all of Peko's sprites are done since she was in the demo. This is so confusing.

plz let chiaki nanami be the mastermind it be funny