Summary:
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections has received a substantial version 1.70 update on August 20, 2026, bringing Nanashi Uchiha into the playable roster at no additional cost. Nanashi played a central role in the game’s original Special Story, so seeing her finally become a selectable fighter is easily the headline addition. Her arrival also comes with costumes, giving players another reason to return to the character after experiencing her story alongside Boruto.
There is much more packed into version 1.70 than a new fighter. CyberConnect2 has adjusted the overall battle system by increasing Guard Durability while simultaneously raising the Guard damage inflicted by Ninja Dash, Chakra Dash and Charge Chakra Dash. Several individual characters have also been adjusted, including Kabuto Yakushi in Sage Mode and multiple puppet users such as Kankuro, Chiyo and Sasori.
Outside of combat, the update expands the game’s recurring activities and progression. Ninja Battle and Proficiency Events will be held regularly, Wanted Players have been introduced, and new Special Challenges let players work toward an additional title. The maximum Proficiency Level has also increased to 130, accompanied by new items, new titles and smaller bug fixes. Better still, this isn’t being positioned as the final surprise. Bandai Namco has confirmed that further updates are planned for winter and next spring, suggesting that Storm Connections still has more waiting in the shadows.
Naruto x Boruto Update 1.70 Adds Nanashi Uchiha as a Free Playable Character
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is getting an unexpected shot of fresh chakra with version 1.70, which releases on August 20, 2026. The biggest addition is undoubtedly Nanashi Uchiha, who joins the playable roster as part of the free update rather than arriving through a separate paid character pack. Considering how important Nanashi is to the game’s Special Story, her absence from the playable lineup has always felt a little unusual. That changes with this update. Players can finally take control of her directly in battle instead of seeing her participation largely confined to the story surrounding Boruto, Merz and the events at the heart of Connections’ original narrative. Version 1.70 also adds costumes for Nanashi, ensuring her introduction feels like a proper roster addition rather than a small novelty tucked into an otherwise routine patch.
Nanashi Uchiha Finally Steps Into the Playable Roster
Nanashi is particularly interesting because she isn’t simply another familiar face borrowed from the Naruto or Boruto anime. She was created specifically for Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections and became one of the most important characters in its Special Story. That makes her new playable status feel more closely connected to the identity of Connections itself. Players who finished that storyline already know why she’s memorable, while anyone who has yet to complete it may now have an extra incentive to see where she fits into Boruto’s adventure. Her addition also gives CyberConnect2 an opportunity to translate the abilities associated with Nanashi into the fast, spectacle-heavy combat that defines the Ultimate Ninja Storm series. For fans who wondered why such a prominent original character wasn’t playable from the beginning, version 1.70 finally provides the answer they were waiting for: now she is.
Update 1.70 Makes Guarding More Durable Across Battles
Nanashi may steal the spotlight, but version 1.70 also makes meaningful changes to the basic rhythm of combat. Guard Durability has been increased across the game, making it more difficult for opponents to trigger a Guard Break when someone is defending against ninjutsu and comparable attacks. It sounds like a straightforward adjustment, but changes to universal defensive mechanics can ripple through almost every matchup. A stronger guard gives defending players slightly more breathing room and may reduce situations where sustained pressure tears through defenses too quickly. At the same time, CyberConnect2 clearly doesn’t want matches to turn into two ninjas staring at one another from behind permanently raised guards. The surrounding balance changes therefore attempt to preserve the effectiveness of movement-based tools that players already use to pressure opponents and threaten their defenses.
Ninja Dash and Chakra Dash Keep Their Guard-Breaking Strength
To compensate for the increased Guard Durability, several dash techniques now inflict additional Guard damage. Ninja Dash, Chakra Dash and Charge Chakra Dash have all been adjusted so their effectiveness at breaking an opponent’s defense remains similar to how it behaved before version 1.70. In other words, stronger guards don’t automatically mean that offensive pressure has been pushed into the background. The developers appear to be balancing both sides of the equation rather than simply giving defensive players a blanket advantage. That’s an important distinction for a game built around rapid movement and aggressive exchanges. Chakra Dash in particular is fundamental to closing distance and continuing pressure, so dramatically weakening its ability to challenge guarding opponents could have changed the feel of battles. Version 1.70 instead tries to make guarding sturdier against other attacks while keeping these core approach tools threatening.
Kabuto Yakushi Receives Support Recovery Adjustments
Kabuto Yakushi in Sage Mode is among the individual characters receiving attention in the update. His Sage Art: Scattering Rage Jutsu and Snake Confinement ninjutsu have both been adjusted when Kabuto is being used as a support character. The recovery associated with these support actions has been slowed, meaning players won’t be able to cycle back to the same assistance quite as quickly as before. Support characters are an enormous part of Ultimate Ninja Storm combat because they can interrupt attacks, extend pressure, create openings or rescue players from uncomfortable situations. Even a seemingly modest recovery adjustment can therefore affect how frequently a particular support option appears during a match. Players who regularly build teams around Sage Mode Kabuto may need to become a little more deliberate about when they call him rather than treating his abilities as tools that will quickly become available again.
Puppet Users Get Targeted Chakra Dash and Throw Changes
Several puppet-based characters have received closely related adjustments in version 1.70. Kankuro, Chiyo, Sasori, Kankuro from Part 1 and Kankuro from Boruto can no longer immediately follow a guarded Chakra Dash with actions such as a Throw or Shuriken. This creates a clearer restriction after an opponent successfully blocks the approach and should make the interaction easier to read for both sides. Regular Kankuro, Chiyo, Sasori and the Boruto version of Kankuro also receive increased Throw damage, giving those characters something in return while tightening what they can do immediately after a blocked Chakra Dash. Rather than simply weakening the characters across the board, the changes seem designed to address a particular sequence while maintaining the usefulness of their throw options. Players accustomed to autopiloting the same pressure pattern may have to rethink their timing once the new restrictions become familiar.
Ninja Battle, Wanted Players and Special Challenges Expand the Game
Version 1.70 isn’t only concerned with who wins when two characters start throwing chakra at each other. The update also gives returning players more activities to engage with. Ninja Battle and Proficiency Events are now scheduled to take place regularly, helping these modes become a more consistent part of the experience rather than something players may only encounter occasionally. Wanted Players have also been added to Ninja Battle, introducing another wrinkle to the event structure. On top of that, Special Challenges provide specific tasks to complete in exchange for a new title. These additions might not transform the game as dramatically as a new playable character, but they matter for anyone who already completed the major story modes and wants reasons to keep coming back. Fighting games live on repetition, after all, but giving that repetition fresh goals can make the difference between another match feeling routine and feeling worthwhile.
Proficiency Level 130, New Items and Additional Titles Add More Progression
Players who enjoy building up their favorite characters also have a much taller mountain to climb. Version 1.70 increases the maximum Proficiency Level to 130, extending the progression system beyond its previous ceiling. Proficiency is effectively a reflection of how much time you’ve spent using individual fighters, so raising the cap gives dedicated players another long-term target. It also fits neatly alongside the introduction of additional items and titles, providing more rewards and collectible goals beyond simply winning matches. Not everyone is going to race toward level 130 immediately, of course, but that’s the beauty of this sort of progression. It can quietly tick upward while you’re experimenting with teams, learning Nanashi or revisiting characters you haven’t touched for months. The patch also includes fixes for smaller bugs, rounding out the update with the kind of housekeeping that rarely earns a flashy trailer but still contributes to a smoother overall experience.
What Version 1.70 Could Mean for Returning Storm Connections Players
The interesting thing about update 1.70 is how many different reasons it gives players to reinstall or reopen Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. Some will return specifically because Nanashi is finally playable. Competitive-minded players are more likely to focus on the universal Guard Durability changes and character-specific adjustments, while completionists suddenly have another Proficiency milestone, fresh titles and Special Challenges waiting for them. That mixture is valuable because a mature fighting game needs more than one hook when trying to bring its audience back. A single new character can be exciting for an evening, but combining that character with mechanical adjustments and recurring activities creates a broader reason to stick around. Version 1.70 therefore feels less like someone quietly flicked a light switch back on and more like CyberConnect2 has opened several doors at once, inviting different kinds of Storm players to find something worth checking out.
Nanashi’s Arrival Gives the Special Story More Lasting Importance
There is also something satisfying about seeing an original story character graduate into the regular roster. Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections was built partly around celebrating the long history of the Storm series, but its Special Story attempted to give the game an identity of its own. Nanashi was central to that effort, so allowing players to use her freely gives that original storyline a longer life beyond its ending. Once a character becomes playable, they stop being tied exclusively to scripted encounters. You can build teams around them, test matchups, discover combinations and create fights that never occurred in the story. It’s the difference between watching someone stand on the other side of the arena and finally getting the controller handed to you. For Nanashi fans in particular, that change is likely to be the feature that matters most, regardless of how many balance adjustments or progression rewards accompany her.
More Naruto x Boruto Storm Connections Updates Are Already Planned
Perhaps the most intriguing detail surrounding version 1.70 is that Bandai Namco isn’t treating it as the end of the road. The Naruto Video Games account has confirmed that additional updates are planned for winter and next spring. No specific characters, modes or features have been announced for those later updates yet, so anything beyond that would be speculation. Still, the roadmap is notable because it gives players a reason to keep watching after Nanashi’s debut rather than assuming this is a one-off return. Storm Connections launched back in 2023, making renewed support particularly interesting several years later. Whether those future updates focus on more characters, balance work, events or something completely different remains to be seen. For now, the important part is simple: version 1.70 isn’t being framed as the final chapter, and there is already more confirmed activity waiting beyond it.
Conclusion
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections version 1.70 gives the game a surprisingly substantial boost. Nanashi Uchiha’s arrival as a free playable character is the obvious headline, especially given her importance to the Special Story, but the patch reaches considerably further. Increased Guard Durability changes a fundamental defensive mechanic, dash attacks have been rebalanced to compensate, and characters including Sage Mode Kabuto, Kankuro, Chiyo and Sasori receive individual adjustments. Regular Ninja Battle and Proficiency Events, Wanted Players, Special Challenges, a Proficiency Level cap of 130, new items and additional titles give players plenty to chase outside individual matches as well. Most importantly for anyone wondering whether Storm Connections is winding down, Bandai Namco has already confirmed further updates for winter and next spring. Nanashi may be the reason many players return on August 20, but she clearly won’t be the last reason to keep an eye on the game.
FAQs
- When does Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections update 1.70 release?
- Version 1.70 releases on August 20, 2026. The update includes Nanashi Uchiha as a playable character alongside balance adjustments, new event features, progression changes, new items, titles and minor bug fixes.
- Is Nanashi Uchiha free in Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections?
- Yes. Nanashi Uchiha is being added as a playable character through the free version 1.70 update, and her costumes are included as part of her addition.
- What battle changes are included in version 1.70?
- The update increases Guard Durability while raising the Guard damage of Ninja Dash, Chakra Dash and Charge Chakra Dash. Sage Mode Kabuto and several puppet users also receive individual balance adjustments.
- What is the new maximum Proficiency Level?
- The maximum Proficiency Level increases to 130 with update 1.70, giving players additional progression to work toward with the characters they use regularly.
- Will Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections receive more updates?
- Yes. Bandai Namco has confirmed that more updates are planned for winter and next spring, although the specific characters, features and balance changes included in those updates have not yet been revealed.
Sources
- Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections recebe atualização com Uchiha Nanashi, PSX Brasil, August 19, 2026
- Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections si aggiornerà domani alla versione 1.70, MondoEventGaming, August 19, 2026