WayForward Sets Seventh Shantae Game for 2027, Unveils New Teaser Image

Q: With Shantae's new look, will the series abandon its signature transformations for a fresh gameplay approach?

No one knows yet. WayForward has only confirmed that the seventh Shantae game is in development, shown a redesigned teaser image, and set a 2027 release window. It has not revealed any gameplay details, so there is no official indication that the series is dropping its signature transformations. The redesign has fueled fan speculation because Shantae’s new hair and accessories could hint at a stronger focus on hair-based combat. But that remains speculation, not evidence from the developer. The teaser does not confirm any mechanical shift. There is precedent for change in this series. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse largely replaced transformations with pirate gear, and many players regarded that experiment as successful. Other entries, including Half-Genie Hero and Seven Sirens, kept transformations central even while changing structure and pacing. That history shows WayForward is willing to rethink core systems without permanently abandoning the franchise’s identity. What can be said with confidence is that transformations remain one of Shantae’s defining features across the series, and WayForward has not announced their removal. Until the studio shares more than a teaser image, the safest reading is that the new look suggests possible evolution, not confirmed abandonment.

Q: Will voice actress Cristina Vee perform another theme song for the upcoming Shantae game, continuing her musical legacy?

It is not yet possible to confirm that Cristina Vee will perform a new theme song for the upcoming Shantae game. WayForward’s Anime Expo 2026 update only established that the seventh Shantae game is in development and scheduled for 2027, alongside a teaser image. The studio did not announce any music details, voice cast updates, or theme-song plans. What is clear is that Vee has a strong track record with the series. She voices both Shantae and Risky Boots, and she previously performed “Dance Through the Danger” for *Shantae: Half-Genie Hero* and “Rise and Shine Shantae” for *Shantae and the Seven Sirens*. That history makes her involvement plausible, especially given her long association with the franchise. Still, plausibility is not confirmation. No official statement from WayForward in the material provided says Vee will sing for the 2027 game, and there is no reported announcement about a soundtrack, composer lineup, or opening theme. The safest reading is that fans have reason to speculate based on precedent, but there is no verified evidence yet that her musical role will continue in this installment.

3 articles · Updated · Nintendo Life · Jul 5

WayForward said the next Shantae game—the series' seventh entry—is slated for release in 2027, marking the first timing update since the project was announced last October.
Anime Expo 2026 brought the only new material so far: a fresh teaser image, with the studio saying the game remains in development and offering no title or gameplay details.
Shantae began on Game Boy Color in 2002, and WayForward last year revived the canceled GBA project Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, extending the franchise ahead of the new installment.