Naruto Sequel Update: New Official Release Set for July 9

Naruto remains one of the most recognizable anime and manga brands on the planet, even years after the original story wrapped. Its central hero, Naruto Uzumaki, is still treated like an icon by fans everywhere. The manga finished in 2014, and the anime followed with its own ending in 2017. Even so, the franchise hasn’t gone quiet—its sequel, Boruto, continues the overall universe, and that lingering nostalgia for the classic series still hits hard. With the original creator’s chapter closed, the franchise keeps finding new ways to keep players and viewers engaged, including a steady stream of new announcements.

While everyone waits for the next return of the Naruto anime, the franchise has just revealed a brand-new project aimed directly at gamers: an announced collaboration with the popular shooter PUBG. The crossover is set to arrive on July 9, 2026, and as of now there are 9 confirmed Naruto-themed skins that players can look forward to.

Naruto X PUBG Collab Officially Announced For July 9, 2026

Naruto sits among the biggest anime and manga properties worldwide. The series began as a manga created by Japanese author Masashi Kishimoto, published in the widely read magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. Its official launch arrived in Issue #43 on September 21, 1999, and from there the franchise grew into a global phenomenon with a cultural reach that many series struggle to match. Later, the anime adaptation produced by Studio Pierrot premiered in 2001, helping push the story even further into mainstream popularity.

The manga concluded in 2014. After that, Studio Pierrot wrapped up the Shippuden storyline in 2017, shortly after the Naruto vs Sasuke showdown. It has been a while since the final episodes aired, but Naruto still pops back up from time to time through new projects meant to keep fans engaged. Naruto has also been involved in video game crossovers before, and this next one is already looking like one of the most exciting yet. PUBG: Battlegrounds, the 2017 battle royale title from PUBG Studios, announced on July 1, 2026 that it would team up with the Naruto franchise—and the announcement came with a fully animated teaser.

The teaser hit on July 1, 2026, and it was animated by the same team behind the Naruto anime. In the short animation, viewers see the signature Naruto trio—Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno—alongside other major characters such as Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade showing off their presence in action. The clip has already boosted interest across the community, and it’s described as something fans can watch as the event builds.

Naruto and Sasuke are facing a major challenge as they return to the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex storyline.

Naruto And PUBG Collab Debuts July 9 With 9 Confirmed Skins

The new collab trailer is already generating hype for what’s next, especially for Naruto fans who also play PUBG. The good news is that the crossover is arriving very soon. Through the teaser, PUBG has confirmed that the Naruto collab will launch on July 9, 2026—which is just around the corner—and it will be part of version 4.5 of the game. The contents are also fairly clear: the event will primarily revolve around skins themed after Naruto characters. For the initial release next week, 9 skins are slated to be added, allowing players to battle across the map while playing as their favorite characters from the series.

The Mangekyo Sharingan is a dangerous, high-impact Uchiha technique, and in Boruto it’s also being described as receiving an upgrade in power.

First up is Naruto Uzumaki, who will be the centerpiece of the crossover. However, he won’t arrive in his standard base look. Instead, his playable skin uses his Six Paths Mode—the form associated with a bright orange appearance and floating orbs. Sasuke Uchiha is also included, arriving as the series’ deuteragonist in his familiar Shippuden outfit and style. To complete the core trio, Sakura Haruno will receive a playable skin as well, also using her Shippuden design.

Beyond the trio, players will also get Kakashi Hatake, the group’s mentor and guide. The collab will further add two members from the legendary Sannin lineup as skins: Tsunade Senju, the 5th Hokage of Konoha, and Jiraiya, the trainer who guided Naruto during the time skip era. Also included is Gaara, described as a former antagonist who later becomes an ally and is now the new Kazekage of the Sand Village, shown in a Shippuden-style look. There’s also Hinata Hyuga, a member of Team 8 and Naruto Uzumaki’s future wife. And rounding out the roster is the legendary antagonist Madara Uchiha, who caused massive destruction during the 4th Great Ninja War when he was revived for the final conflict.

There are other characters many fans would like to see, but the confirmed list currently covers the key inclusions mentioned above. One notable omission is Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke’s older brother and a legendary member of the Akatsuki. Kaguya Otsutsuki, the franchise’s final villain, is also absent from the current set despite being a potentially striking addition with her standout visual design. Fans may also hope for Orochimaru to complete the Sannin lineup, though that isn’t confirmed as part of this initial batch. A future update could potentially expand the collab by adding Orochimaru and other characters as additional skins to the PUBG battlefield. To obtain the available costumes, PUBG will use the usual collab approach, including systems like the Prize Path and the Lucky Spin. Additional information on exactly how to unlock each skin should be revealed closer to the release date.

Sign in to claim your place on the leaderboard!

Naruto Will Continue To Get New Releases With Gaming Collabs

The Naruto and PUBG crossover is being treated as a pleasant surprise that highlights just how massive the Naruto franchise has become, along with its influence beyond Japan. Even with this collab being a big deal for both PUBG and Naruto, it isn’t the first time Kishimoto’s story has been used in a major gaming context. On November 16, 2021, during Chapter 2 Season 8, Naruto was added to Fortnite—arguably one of the most prominent battle royale games of all time. The Naruto and Fortnite collab brought in a variety of fan-favorite characters as skins.

In the Fortnite event, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Kakashi Hatake, Gaara, Hinata Hyuga, Itachi Uchiha, and Orochimaru were all added. After the initial launch, the crossover didn’t stop there—updated skins were introduced later, including designs tied to Boruto, as well as younger versions of certain characters.

Both the Fortnite and PUBG collaborations are described as major moments, and there’s hope that more Naruto-themed content like this continues to appear in the future. That momentum matters even as fans look ahead to the planned return of the anime with four special episodes, and the continued rollout of the Boruto anime with Two Blue Vortex. The Naruto franchise still has room to grow, and more crossovers could help it reach even more players around the world.

PUBG is available to play on Mobile.