Hotta Studio has confirmed two new playable characters for the next major update to Neverness to Everness. Shinku and Iroi will both join the roster in version 1.2, and each arrives as an S-Rank agent with a different Esper element. Both belong to the same in-game unit, the Containment Strike Unit 2 of the Bureau of Anomaly Control.
Quick answer: Shinku is an S-Rank Cosmos agent and Iroi is an S-Rank Anima agent. Both are from CSU-2, and both are set to release in NTE version 1.2, which is expected in July 2026.
Shinku and Iroi in NTE 1.2: Rank, element, and affiliation
The two reveals share the same faction but split across elements and combat identities. The table below lays out what is currently confirmed for each character.
| Character | Rank | Element | Affiliation | Notable detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shinku | S-Rank | Cosmos | CSU-2 (BAC) | Second limited Cosmos unit after Hotori |
| Iroi | S-Rank | Anima | CSU-2 (BAC) | Second limited Anima unit after Nanally |
Shinku: S-Rank Cosmos agent from CSU-2
Shinku was revealed first, which points to her likely being the opening banner character of the 1.2 cycle. She is a core member of Containment Strike Unit 2, the same division that includes Mint. As an S-Rank Cosmos agent, she becomes the second limited-time character to carry the Cosmos attribute, following Hotori.
Iroi: S-Rank Anima agent and CSU-2 member
Iroi is the second character confirmed for the update and is expected to arrive after Shinku. She is also part of Containment Strike Unit 2, lining up alongside Shinku and Mint. Her Esper ability uses the Anima element, which makes her the second limited Anima character after Nanally.
Iroi appeared during the closed beta test of the game, but the official artwork released for her 1.2 confirmation shows an updated design. The developers changed her look from that earlier build.
NTE 1.2 release window
Both Shinku and Iroi are tied to version 1.2, which is expected to launch in July 2026. No exact release date or time has been confirmed, and the full kits, including weapon types, combat roles, and signature Arcs, have not been detailed yet. Hotta Studio is set to share more on the update in the days ahead.
Until then, version 1.1 remains the live update. It features Chaos and Lacrimosa as its two new characters, so the Shinku and Iroi banners belong to the patch that follows the current one.