Serial Experiments Lain Universe Expands with Authorized New Spinoff
In a surprise announcement that has electrified anime fans worldwide, a new spinoff of the critically acclaimed cyberpunk series Serial Experiments Lain has been officially authorized by the rights holders, nearly 26 years after the original series first aired in 1998.
Team MJM will launch //signal. — an “occultic role-playing game” that is an officially authorized spinoff from the Serial Experiments Lain anime — on the Steam and itch.io services on April 30. The Windows and macOS game will cost 1,000 yen (about US$7) for the digital version, or 1,700 yen (about US$11) for the limited-edition CD-ROM release.
The news was confirmed during a press event hosted by NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan, which owns the rights to the original series. The project, described as an “authorized continuation and reimagining” of Serial Experiments Lain, is being developed with the full backing of the original production company, Triangle Staff, and several members of the original creative team are reportedly involved in advisory roles.
While plot details remain tightly under wraps, insiders suggest the spinoff will explore new characters and themes set within the same universe, focusing on the blurred boundaries between digital consciousness and reality—a core concept that helped Lain achieve its cult status.
The original Serial Experiments Lain was a 13-episode anime series that became a landmark in psychological science fiction and cyberpunk storytelling. Its unconventional narrative structure, haunting visuals, and philosophical themes have influenced a generation of creators and remain relevant in today’s digital age.
“This is not just a sequel—it’s a reawakening,” said producer Kenji Yamamoto during the announcement. “The world of Lain is more relevant now than ever, and we believe it’s time to explore it through a modern lens.”
The spinoff will reportedly be a limited series, with production set to begin later this year. A tentative release window has been set for late 2026, with international distribution plans being negotiated.
No casting decisions or animation studio partnerships have been announced yet, but fans can expect more details in the coming months as production ramps up.
Online communities dedicated to Lain have already begun speculating about potential storylines and creative leads. The announcement has also sparked renewed interest in the original series, which is now trending on major streaming platforms in both Japan and the United States.
As the world reconnects with Lain and the Wired once more, one thing is clear: the boundary between reality and cyberspace is once again poised to be challenged.
his new game is authorized under guidelines that NBCUniversal Entertainment published for residents of Japan to make derivative works of the anime from 2019 and 2028. The game’s staff emphasized this by posting a letter that is essentially a positive blurb from the anime’s scriptwriter Chiaki J. Konaka.
The game has the player interacting with characters from the anime, assembling emails and event logs from the past, and piecing together broken bonds again. Through this, the player can uncover “a new facet” of the character Lain Iwakura — and by extension, Serial Experiments Lain itself.
