StudioBside has revealed COUNTERSIDE: A [ANTEXILIAN] on September 2, 2026 as a reboot of its urban fantasy IP CounterSide, shared first through the new project account on X with a logo and key art. The studio describes the title as a hard boiled urban lane battler that will carry over the real time 2D combat framework of the original, which closed service on August 26, 2026 after a run that began in February 2020.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Project | COUNTERSIDE: A [ANTEXILIAN] |
| Developer | StudioBside |
| Genre | Hard boiled urban lane battler, real time 2D |
| Announcement | September 2, 2026 via new social channels |
| Original service | CounterSide launched February 2020, closed August 26, 2026 |
| Featured units | Hilde, Yoo Mina, Joo Shiyoon and the command ship Gleipnir in first art |
| Platforms and release | To be announced through the new project channels |
Reboot reveal and first artwork
The reveal arrived through freshly opened channels for the reboot, where StudioBside posted a title logo and an illustration that anchors the new identity. The image highlights three central characters, Hilde, Yoo Mina, and Joo Shiyoon, posed alongside the command ship Gleipnir, a visual cue that the command layer and roster focus will remain central. The post used the line Back to the Battlefield in Korean, Japanese, and English, which frames the project as a return rather than a separate spinoff.
That framing lines up with how the studio has talked about the franchise in recent months. The original CounterSide ended live operations on August 26, 2026 after six years, and leadership had earlier indicated the team wanted to rebuild the foundation before expanding the world further. According to coverage of that communication, CEO Ryu Geum-tae reaffirmed plans to continue the IP, positioning this reboot as the next phase rather than a closure point. For readers who track how Korean developers manage long lived service games, the cadence mirrors other titles that pause and relaunch with a refined core, similar to how seasonal competitions keep communities engaged between content cycles as seen at events like FAN EXPO Canada 2026 where legacy favorites draw recurring attention.
StudioBside has not yet detailed monetization, progression, or account transfer for returning players. The announcement instead commits to sharing platform targets and scheduling information through the new channels, which suggests the studio will roll out information in stages rather than opening pre registration immediately. Fans who keep a close watch on service transitions will recognize the pattern from recent mobile RPG updates that announced first, then followed with gameplay breakdowns weeks later, a workflow we tracked in our look at the SNK Card RPG KOF: Legend Begins closed beta on Android that also staged reveals before technical tests.
Combat and story carryovers
On systems, the project keeps the lane combat that defined CounterSide. Official social posts call the reboot a hard boiled urban lane battler and note it will inherit the real time 2D framework of the original. In practice that points to deployment and positioning across lanes, timing for counter units, and ship skills that shape tempo, the core pillars that let CounterSide balance tactical placement with collection and upgrading. The studio has not shown extended gameplay, but the lane description is specific enough to confirm the team is not pivoting to turn based or open field action.
Narrative continuity is also part of the pitch. The reboot is described as an expansion of the central universe after the original service ended, which signals that established factions, the Counter and Corrupted Object conflict, and the administrative structure around the Gleipnir will carry forward. The new art reinforces that through character selection, since Hilde and the early cast were longstanding anchors for story chapters and seasonal events. For players who invested in lore archives and side stories, that continuity keeps existing reading relevant while the team builds new chapters around returning commanders. It also helps returning players parse what is new, since lane battlers often introduce roster refreshes that are easier to learn when the mechanical base stays familiar, a point we have noted when evaluating recent demo launches on Steam where familiarity lowers the learning curve.
What remains unshown are the refinements StudioBside hinted at when it talked about reorganizing the foundation. The lane battler label leaves room for updated pacing, interface clarity, and new commander abilities without abandoning the format that supported CounterSide tournaments and guild play. Until the team shares a gameplay trailer or a developer blog, the safest read is that core deployment stays, while surrounding loops around gearing, ship upgrades, and event structure receive the rebuild.
Service history and what to expect next
The original CounterSide launched in February 2020 and ran through August 26, 2026. That six year window included regional publishing shifts, collabs, and periodic balance updates that shaped lane meta around initiator tanks, siege attackers, and support enablers. The closure marked the end of that live track, but the studio had signaled for months that it intended to reorganize and continue the IP rather than retire it.
The reboot reveal now sets the information pipeline. StudioBside said further details on target platforms and release schedules will come through the new project channels, which means the next milestones to watch are a gameplay overview, platform confirmation for mobile and PC, and a timeline for testing or pre registration. CounterSide operated across mobile and PC in its original form, so readers often ask whether the new project will keep cross platform support. That question is still open, and the studio has not confirmed stores, regions, or whether progress will bridge from earlier accounts.
In the near term, the most reliable updates will come directly from the reboot account that posted the announcement, since that channel will centralize trailers and developer notes. The account already serves as the primary source for the title treatment and first key art, so additional posts there will clarify crew, gameplay scope, and how the urban setting will be presented in the lane format. Until then, the confirmed facts are the title, the genre framing, the returning characters in the first visual, and the plan to share more through those same channels.
What is COUNTERSIDE: A Antexilian
It is a reboot project from StudioBside based on the CounterSide IP, described through its official account on X as a hard boiled urban lane battler that keeps the real time 2D lane combat of the original game.
When did the original CounterSide close
The original CounterSide closed live operations on August 26, 2026 after launching in February 2020, a six year run noted in the reboot announcement.
Who appears in the first artwork
The first illustration shared for the reboot features Hilde, Yoo Mina, and Joo Shiyoon alongside the command ship Gleipnir, highlighting returning central figures from the franchise.
When will platforms and release date be announced
StudioBside said further information about platforms and release plans will be shared through the new COUNTERSIDE: A channels, with no specific date set at the time of the September 2, 2026 reveal.
Please note that when you make a purchase through our links at GameHaunt, we might earn a small commission. This helps us keep bringing you the free journalism you love on our site! And don't worry, our editorial content remains totally unbiased. If you'd like to show some support, you can do so here.
