Demon Slayer Free Update #2: Launch Schedule for Yahaba and Susamaru

When CyberConnect2 and Sega launched Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, The Hinokami Chronicles, competitive arena-fighter fans immediately noticed a glaring absence: demons were unplayable in Versus Mode. The developer pledged to fix this through a three-wave post-launch rollout, building momentum with Rui and Akaza before focusing on the explosive Asakusa Arc antagonists. As first detailed in a Siliconera Report, the production team slated the second wave of free downloadable content to bring Susamaru, the infamous Temari Demon, and her partner Yahaba directly to player rosters.

The rollout marked a turning point for the title's technical performance and combat variety. Arriving in late November 2021, Free Update #2 delivered distinct Blood Demon Art projectile dynamics and introduced a high-framerate mode that transformed the competitive experience on modern hardware.

📌 Key Takeaways:

• The Core Launch: Free Update #2 officially deployed on November 23, 24, 2021, adding Susamaru and Yahaba as fully playable Versus Mode fighters across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
• Technical Milestone: Alongside the new demons, the patch delivered a dedicated 60 FPS performance mode for gameplay on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Steam, resolving early community complaints about input latency.
• Meta Disruption: Susamaru introduced aggressive long-range zoning via her spinning Temari ball projectiles, forcing players to adapt to projectile-heavy neutral play previously unseen in the slayer-dominated roster.

CyberConnect2’s Staggered Demon Rollout Strategy

The decision to exclude demons from the launch roster generated sharp debate across competitive fighting game communities. CyberConnect2 defended the choice as a matter of mechanical balance. Slayers relied heavily on the two-character assist and switch system, but demons operated entirely solo, balanced instead by rapid health regeneration, specialized light armor, and distinct Blood Demon Art gauges.

Rather than rushing unfinished fighters out the door, the studio chose a three-phase deployment:

Wave 1 introduced Akaza and Rui in late October 2021, establishing baseline rules for demon mobility and zoning. Wave 2 followed four weeks later, spotlighting the Asakusa tag team of Susamaru and Yahaba. Wave 3 closed out the initial free roster roadmap in late December 2021 with Enmu and the combined Yushiro/Tamayo unit. This calculated rollout allowed the development team to isolate player data, patch bugs quickly, and sustain active player counts well into the holiday season.

The Temari Demon’s Arsenal: Susamaru Mechanics and Blood Demon Art

Susamaru functions as one of the most oppressive mid-to-long-range zoners in The Hinokami Chronicles. CyberConnect2 faithfully captured her playful, sadistic personality from the anime's Asakusa encounter, translating her Blood Demon Art into a projectile-heavy toolkit centered on heavy kinetic pressure.

Her moveset revolves around multiple throwing angles with enchanted wooden Temari balls. Players can kick, hurl, and bank projectiles off arena boundaries to trap opponents in unpredictable cross-up situations. When triggering her full power, Susamaru sprouts four additional arms, visibly transforming into her six-armed posture to unleash a relentless barrage of six simultaneous balls.

Unlike slayers who must spend gauge to close distance, Susamaru controls pacing entirely from the perimeter. Her special attacks force opponents to carefully manage their guard gauge or risk shield breaks from sustained physical impacts. However, her reliance on projectile arcs creates distinct vulnerabilities: aggressive rushdown characters like Inosuke Hashibira or Shinobu Kocho can slip through her recovery frames if her throws lack precision.

Complete Platform Rollout and Patch Deployment Timeline

The deployment of Free Update #2 required coordinated server updates across console ecosystems and digital storefronts. Players gained access simultaneously across major regions, though local time zone differences placed availability between November 23 and November 24, 2021.

Because the update arrived as free patch data rather than a manual storefront purchase, systems downloaded the files automatically. Once installed, Susamaru and Yahaba populated the Versus Mode character selection screen immediately without requiring story mode completion or in-game Kimetsu Point purchases.

The 60 FPS Performance Mode Upgrade

Free Update #2 was far more than a character drop. For dedicated arena fighter players, the highlight was the surprise implementation of a 60 FPS performance mode for ninth-generation consoles and PC.

At launch, The Hinokami Chronicles drew sharp criticism for locking all console gameplay to 30 frames per second. In an arena fighter where reacting to tracking dashes and whiff punishes requires razor-thin timing, the lower frame rate caused noticeable input sluggishness. The November 2021 patch adjusted core rendering pipelines on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, allowing active battles to run at a fluid 60 FPS. Story mode exploration sections and cinematic Ultimate Arts finishes remained locked at 30 FPS to preserve cinematic visual fidelity, but the fighting gameplay gained the split-second responsiveness required for tournament-level competition.

Competitive Impact: How Susamaru Shifted the Versus Mode Meta

Susamaru’s arrival fundamentally altered online ranked matches. Prior to Update #2, competitive play was heavily dominated by Water Breathing variants, particularly Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomioka, whose tracking strikes and defensive dead-calm counters dictated match tempo.

Susamaru completely disrupted that flow:

Her Temari ball projectiles broke through linear dashes, forcing slayer mains to abandon predictable gap-closers. Players fighting Susamaru had to master parry timings, sidestep discipline, and air-dash angles to bypass her wall of bouncing leather. Because demons cannot summon assist characters to interrupt combos, players selecting Susamaru had to adopt self-reliant defensive habits, utilizing push-blocks and demon evasion dashes rather than relying on an assist bailout.

Her pairing alongside Yahaba, who manipulated directional vector arrows, created a potent ranged duo that defined online matchmaking throughout late 2021 and early 2022. While Yahaba required meticulous trap setup, Susamaru delivered raw, immediate projectile suppression.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Do I need to pay real money or grind in-game currency to unlock Susamaru?
A1: No. Susamaru was released as part of Free Update #2. As long as your game copy is patched to the latest version, she is instantly selectable in Versus Mode without spending real currency or Kimetsu Points.

Q2: Can Susamaru be played in the single-player Story Mode campaign?
A2: No. Susamaru is restricted to local and online Versus Modes. The single-player Adventure Mode follows the canonical story through the Mugen Train Arc, where she appears strictly as a scripted boss fight during Tanjiro’s visit to Asakusa.

Q3: Does the Nintendo Switch version require an additional download to play Susamaru?
A3: No. When Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles launched on Nintendo Switch in June 2022, all six post-launch demons from Updates #1, #2, and #3, including Susamaru and Yahaba, were already integrated into the base game data.

The Legacy of Asakusa's Demons in Hinokami Chronicles

The arrival of Susamaru and Yahaba in late 2021 proved that CyberConnect2's arena mechanics could support varied archetypes beyond basic swordplay. By turning the Temari Demon’s signature Blood Demon Art into a kinetic, ricocheting projectile system, the development team expanded the title from a standard anime tie-in into a competitive arena fighter with genuine tactical variety. Paired with the essential 60 FPS update, the release stands as the most mechanically influential post-launch patch the game ever received.