NTE Reveals Blackbird Combat Showcase Ahead of Version 1.4 Launch on September 30

NTE: Neverness to Everness has put Blackbird back in the spotlight ahead of her playable debut with an official Combat Showcase published on September 23, 2026. The video is the latest dedicated gameplay material for the new Limited S-Class character arriving with Version 1.4, “For Whom the Verses Mourn,” on September 30.

Blackbird is not the update's only new character. Version 1.4 also introduces Akane Rin, with the two split across different phases: Blackbird headlines the first half alongside a Lacrimosa rerun, while Akane Rin follows in the second. Beyond characters, the update adds the new Main Episode “The Witch,” St. Arbor, Pukaland, new events, outfits and another wave of Porsche content.

Quick Summary

• Game: NTE: Neverness to Everness
• Developer: Hotta Studio
• Global publisher: Perfect World Games
• Game type: supernatural urban open-world action RPG
• Character: Blackbird
• Japanese name: クロバネ
• Rarity: Limited S-Class
• Esper system / attribute: Psyche
• Japanese attribute name: 魂
• Japanese CV: Mamiko Noto / 能登麻美子
• Latest material: official Combat Showcase
• Combat Showcase date: September 23, 2026
• Video platform: YouTube
• Video status: prerecorded / non-live
• Official account: NTE Global / @NTE_GL
• Version: 1.4
• Global Version 1.4 title: For Whom the Verses Mourn
• Japanese Version 1.4 title: 名もなき祈歌
• Update date: September 30, 2026
• Blackbird: arrives in the first half
• Akane Rin: arrives in the second half
• Blackbird combat characteristic: Instant Cycle
• Combat focus: damage output
• Other announced combat feature: damage-output buff
• Exploration ability: can transform into a crow
• Exploration mobility: can fly quickly through the city
• Blackbird Limited Board: Foretold Finale
• Japanese Limited Board name: 終局のオラクル
• Japanese Blackbird Board period: after the September 30 update through October 21, 2026 at 6:59 AM JST
• First-half rerun: Lacrimosa
• Lacrimosa Board: Fading Reverie
• Japanese name: 永き夢の目覚め
• Second-half Limited S-Class: Akane Rin
• Akane Rin Board: Dazzling Star
• Japanese name: 一番星
• Japanese Akane Rin Board period: after the October 21 update through November 11, 2026 at 6:59 AM JST
• New Main Episode: The Witch
• Japanese title: 魔女
• Story trigger: a mysterious plea-for-help letter reaches Blackbird
• New Location Anomaly: St. Arbor
• Japanese name: セントアルボ村
• New area: Pukaland
• Event: Pukaland Travelogue
• Pukaland Travelogue period: September 30–November 11, 2026
• Blackbird outfit: Wandering Stars
• Blackbird outfit: Rouge et Noir
• Blackbird outfit: Unfazed Denim
• Roostfeather Special Arc Research: available through October 21
• Blackbird in Going, Going, Gone!: added as an Auction Assistant
• Platforms: PS5, PC, iOS, Android
• Steam release: July 7, 2026
• Steam model: free-to-play
• Current status: Combat Showcase available; Version 1.4 has not yet launched

Blackbird Combat Showcase and Version 1.4

The Combat Showcase Finally Puts Blackbird's Battle Style Front and Center

The September 23 material differs from the profile posts and promotional artwork that had already established Blackbird's visual identity. This time, the focus is squarely on how Blackbird moves and fights in the field.

Its presentation retains the character's strong crow, dark-feather, witch and supernatural motifs. The showcase gives players a more concrete look at her attack tempo only days before she becomes playable on September 30.

NTE Global also frames the showcase with two character lines. Blackbird says that most pieces in her collection hold a history, a story and “a certain longing,” before teasing that the meaning behind them may become clear someday.

With Version 1.4 now only days away, the video serves as a practical final showcase following the earlier profile material and update preview.

Psyche and Instant Cycle Define Blackbird's Combat Identity

The Version 1.4 preview identifies Blackbird as an S-Class Esper using the Psyche / 魂 system.

Official preview material also highlights Instant Cycle, primary offensive output and damage-output support among her combat characteristics. Blackbird is therefore being introduced with a clear gameplay identity rather than relying only on her witch and crow aesthetic.

The new Combat Showcase offers the opportunity to see those ideas translated into actual animation, including her attack rhythm and the presentation that differentiates Blackbird from already available Espers.

While the previews establish the direction of her kit, final multipliers, real-world performance and optimal team compositions should not be judged solely from promotional footage. Those details can be tested properly once Version 1.4 is live.

Blackbird Can Transform Into a Crow for City Travel

One of Blackbird's defining features extends beyond combat.

The Japanese Version 1.4 preview confirms that Blackbird can transform into a crow and fly through the city at high speed.

Character-specific exploration abilities have repeatedly helped NTE distinguish its Espers. In Blackbird's case, the crow motif embedded throughout her design gains a direct gameplay function instead of remaining purely decorative.

The ability also fits Hethereau's vertically structured open city, where buildings, roads and activities are spread across many different locations.

Exactly how freely Blackbird can fly, what restrictions apply and how her speed compares with other traversal options should become clearer once the live version is available.

Foretold Finale Opens Version 1.4's First Half

Blackbird will headline the first phase of Version 1.4 through the Limited Board Foretold Finale.

In Japan, the Board is titled 「終局のオラクル」 and is scheduled to run after the September 30 update until October 21 at 6:59 AM JST.

She will not be alone during that period. Lacrimosa returns through the Fading Reverie / 永き夢の目覚め rerun.

The second half then shifts to Akane Rin, the update's other new Limited S-Class character. Her Dazzling Star / 一番星 Board is scheduled in Japan from after the October 21 update until November 11 at 6:59 AM JST.

Perfect World Games has also announced that Version 1.4's Limited Boards share the same S-Class pity counter, Points Gift progress and Board Modification progress. Skin Perks remain board-specific, although progress carries over when a Board with the same name returns.

The Witch Main Episode Puts Blackbird at the Center of the Story

Blackbird's playable debut arrives alongside a new Main Episode titled “The Witch,” or 「魔女」 in Japanese.

Its opening premise begins when a mysterious letter asking for help reaches Blackbird. The story then leads toward the new Location Anomaly, St. Arbor / セントアルボ村.

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That means Version 1.4 is not simply placing Blackbird on a banner while keeping her separate from the main narrative. She becomes one of the central characters driving the first half of the patch.

The “The Witch” title also aligns directly with Blackbird's established visual identity, although the sender of the letter, the central conflict and the episode's full direction remain undisclosed until the update opens.

The second half later adds “To Us, Back Then / あの日の私たちへ,” a spinoff storyline that shifts attention toward Akane Rin and a band performance during Claymon's founding festival.

Pukaland, New Outfits and Porsche Content Also Arrive in Version 1.4

Version 1.4 brings considerably more than two new characters.

Pukaland opens as a new amusement-park area and serves as the center of Pukaland Travelogue, which runs from September 30 through November 11. Additional mini-games and activities are scheduled throughout the version.

Blackbird receives three outfits. Wandering Stars is available through the Mall, Rouge et Noir is tied to accumulated Skin Perks rolls, and Unfazed Denim unlocks upon reaching Bond Level 10 with Blackbird.

She is also added as an Auction Assistant in Going, Going, Gone!, alongside new collectibles.

On the vehicle side, the update continues the Porsche collaboration with the Porsche 911 Turbo (930) and Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package, plus the Porsche Club and Salzburg livery.

Why This Matters

1) Blackbird finally has dedicated combat footage

Profiles and artwork had already established her identity, but the Combat Showcase provides a direct look at Blackbird in active gameplay.

2) Her crow motif has a gameplay function

Blackbird does not simply use crows as visual decoration; she can transform into one for high-speed traversal around Hethereau.

3) Her playable debut is tied directly to a new Main Episode

“The Witch” begins with a mysterious letter sent to Blackbird, making her arrival part of Version 1.4's narrative progression.

4) Version 1.4 splits the spotlight between two new characters

Blackbird opens the update on September 30, while Akane Rin takes over the second half beginning October 21 on the Japanese schedule.

Game and Blackbird Information

For now, the additional important information currently known includes:

• the full game title is NTE: Neverness to Everness
• NTE is developed by Hotta Studio
• its global publisher is Perfect World Games
• the game is a supernatural urban open-world action RPG
• Blackbird is written as クロバネ in Japanese
• Blackbird's Japanese CV is Mamiko Noto
• Blackbird is a Limited S-Class character
• Blackbird's Esper system is Psyche / 魂
• the Version 1.4 preview highlights Instant Cycle as one of Blackbird's combat characteristics
• her combat direction emphasizes primary damage contribution and damage-output support
• the official Combat Showcase was published on September 23, 2026
• an HD version of the Combat Showcase is available through YouTube
• the video is not a livestream
• because the Combat Showcase is the focus of this story, the article uses a 12-frame grid from the video
• Steam remains the store embed because NTE is officially available there
• Version 1.4 is globally titled For Whom the Verses Mourn
• the Japanese version uses the title 名もなき祈歌
• Version 1.4 begins on September 30, 2026
• Blackbird is the new character for the first half
• Blackbird's Limited Board is Foretold Finale
• its Japanese name is 終局のオラクル
• the Japanese schedule lists it through October 21 at 6:59 AM JST
• Lacrimosa receives the Fading Reverie rerun during the first half
• Akane Rin is the new Limited S-Class character for the second half
• Akane Rin's Board is Dazzling Star
• the Japanese schedule places her phase through November 11 at 6:59 AM JST
• all Limited Boards share an S-Class pity counter
• Points Gift progress is also shared across Limited Boards
• Board Modification progress is also shared
• Skin Perks remain tracked independently by Board
• Blackbird can transform into a crow during city exploration
• the crow form can be used for fast aerial travel
• the new Main Episode is titled The Witch
• its Japanese title is 魔女
• the story begins when a mysterious plea-for-help letter reaches Blackbird
• St. Arbor is a new Location Anomaly
• Pukaland is a new area
• Pukaland Travelogue runs September 30–November 11
• Wandering Stars is available through the Mall
• Rouge et Noir is tied to Skin Perks
• Unfazed Denim unlocks at Bond Level 10
• Blackbird is added as an Auction Assistant in Going, Going, Gone!
• Roostfeather Special remains available through October 21
• the two announced new Porsche vehicles are the Porsche 911 Turbo (930) and Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package
• NTE is available on PS5
• NTE is available on PC through the client, Steam and Epic Games Store
• NTE is available on iOS
• NTE is available on Android
• Steam lists Hotta Studio as developer
• Steam lists Perfect World Games as publisher
• the Steam version launched on July 7, 2026
• the Steam version is free-to-play
• Steam supports single-player
• Steam supports online co-op
• official information is available through the NTE Official Website
• global updates are available through NTE Global Official X
• the Combat Showcase was announced through the Blackbird Combat Showcase Official X Post
• the latest profile is available through the Blackbird Official Profile X Post
• the full video is available through the Official Blackbird Combat Showcase
• the Japanese Version 1.4 summary is available through the NTE Official Japan Version 1.4 Post
• the PC version is available through NTE on Steam

Closing

Blackbird's Combat Showcase provides the clearest dedicated look yet at how the new Limited S-Class Psyche character will appear in active play. Her debut is scheduled alongside Version 1.4 on September 30, complete with Foretold Finale, The Witch Main Episode and her crow-form traversal ability.

Although previews and the latest footage have established Blackbird's general combat direction, final live performance, damage values, build requirements and optimal team compositions will be easier to evaluate once the update is actually available. Akane Rin will then continue Version 1.4's new-character lineup in its second half.