A surprise speedrun: Copen zips into Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 with CONNECT iX

There’s a small, electrifying update buzzing through the Gunvolt community this week: Inti Creates has pushed a free update to Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced that injects a fresh, high-octane mode into Azure Striker Gunvolt 3. Called “CONNECT iX,” it hands players control of Copen — the rival-turned-standout from the Luminous Avenger iX subseries — and turns Gunvolt 3 into a compact speedrun playground built for chaining movement, scoring, and personal bests.

Why this matters beyond a new costume

On paper, it’s a single new mode. In practice, CONNECT iX does a lot of heavy lifting:

• It bridges two branches of Inti Creates’ action catalog (the main Gunvolt numbered series and the iX spin-offs) in a playable, mechanical way.
• It reframes Gunvolt 3’s stages as speedrun courses, highlighting movement tech and risk/reward scoring rather than long-form story progression.
• It gives fans of Copen — and players who like fast, precise platform-action — a distilled, replayable challenge without needing to jump to a different game.

If you’ve played any Gunvolt title, you know the series is about rhythm: dash, lock, chain, and keep momentum. CONNECT iX takes that rhythm and accelerates it.

What CONNECT iX actually does

Based on the patch notes and coverage:

• CONNECT iX is a “Speedrun” mode added to Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 (accessible from the main menu).
• You play as Copen from Luminous Avenger iX 2 across five stages and bosses, aiming for the highest score and fastest time. (gematsu.com)
• Gameplay highlights:
  • Bullit Dash mobility lets Copen zip through the air and lock onto enemies rapidly.
  • Access to the seven EX Weapons (Lola’s special equipment) from iX 2 enables different strategies and loadouts.
  • An Overdrive mechanic triggers when Kudos (score) is high enough, powering Copen up and invoking Lola’s support via song. (gematsu.com)

These changes make CONNECT iX feel like a curated best-of: short runs, explosive movement, and a focus on optimizing routes and weapon use. It’s competitive-friendly without being punishing to newcomers who want to experiment.

A bit of context: where CONNECT iX fits in the trilogy

Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced launched as a bundled, polished package of the three main Gunvolt games (Gunvolt 1, 2, and 3) with added quality-of-life, music, and library content — released digitally for Nintendo Switch and PS5 on July 24, 2025 (with PC presence via storefronts like Steam). This update continues the “Enhanced” ambition: keep the trilogy current, add modes that broaden playstyles, and reward fans with new reasons to return to familiar stages. (nintendolife.com)

Inti Creates has a history of cross-pollination between its franchises (guest characters, crossover tracks, spin-offs). CONNECT iX is a neat design move: rather than just dropping Copen in as a palette swap, the mode adapts his iX toolkit and movement into a distinct scoring loop inside Gunvolt 3.

How players and speedrunners might react

• Casual players: A fun, bite-sized diversion. Five-stage runs = quick sessions, perfect for practicing movement and learning Copen’s feel without committing to a full campaign.
• Completionists: New leaderboards and high-score chasing will add another layer to platinuming or completion runs.
• Speedrunners: CONNECT iX’s short-run structure is tailor-made for route optimization and leaderboard competition. Expect communities to form new categories or integrate these runs into existing Gunvolt speedrun sets.

Because the mode leans on iX-specific tools (Bullit Dash, EX Weapons, Overdrive), mastering it will also teach transferable skills for other iX-related content and fan-made challenges.

What this update says about Inti Creates’ approach

• Iterative value: Inti Creates continues to support the Trilogy Enhanced edition post-launch, not just with balance tweaks but with meaningful content that changes how the games are played.
• Franchise cohesion: Bringing Copen into Gunvolt 3 winks at long-term fans while remaining approachable to newcomers.
• Community-first design: Short, score-driven modes encourage replayability and social competition, which helps sustain interest long after the initial release window.

Quick takeaways

• CONNECT iX is a free speedrun mode in Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 that makes Copen playable across five fast stages. (gematsu.com)
• The mode emphasizes aerial mobility (Bullit Dash), EX Weapon variety, and an Overdrive scoring mechanic tied to Kudos. (gematsu.com)
• It’s a smart crossover that rewards both casual replay and competitive speedrunning, while reinforcing the Trilogy Enhanced package as a living product. (nintendolife.com)

My take

CONNECT iX is the kind of update that tells you a studio understands its audience: it’s quick to pick up, mechanically deep, and gives players a reason to reconvene around leaderboards and clips. It doesn’t rewrite the series’ identity, but it sharpens one of its most appealing facets — fluid, expressive movement — and packages that into a mode that’s both streamable and addictive. For anyone who loves action games where graceful movement meets scoring optimization, this is exactly the sort of bite-sized content that keeps a trilogy feeling fresh.

Sources

• Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced ‘CONNECT iX’ Copen mode update now available – Gematsu
  https://www.gematsu.com/2026/02/azure-striker-gunvolt-trilogy-enhanced-connect-ix-copen-mode-update-now-available

• Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced – Gematsu game page
  https://www.gematsu.com/games/azure-striker-gunvolt-trilogy-enhanced

• Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced has been updated to Ver.1.3.1. · SteamDB
  https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/21658907/

• Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced announced for Switch – NintendoLife
  https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07/azure-striker-gunvolt-trilogy-enhanced-announced-for-switch

• Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced free update adds new mode, makes Copen playable – GoNintendo
  https://gonintendo.com/contents/57272-azure-striker-gunvolt-trilogy-enhanced-free-update-adds-new-mode-makes-copen