Log Horizon is a science fiction and action series that first met with the audience as an anime in the fall of 2013 but was known as a novel series long before that. The first season, created by Satelight who is also the creator of Cannon Busters, managed to make a sound worldwide and found its place on many platforms like Funimation and Crunchyroll. The last season of the series was created by Studio Deen, as in the second season. Log Horizon, which came out from the studio of KonoSuba, one of the best anime of recent years, which is at the top of the list, completed its third season on March 31, 2021. Half the length of previous seasons, the third season is not enough for many fans, and a fourth season is eagerly awaited. So has the anime been renewed for a fourth season? Let’s remember the series and look at all the details about the new season together.
What is the plotline of Log Horizon?
The story tells about the layout of the new game world and the adaptation of new adventurers (players) to that world. Elder Tales is a worldwide popular online role-playing (MMORPG) game. But when the twelfth update package called “Cultivate the Noosphere” is released, thirty thousand players in Japan get stuck inside the game. Many players who find themselves clad in the avatars they use in the game are in great surprise and shock. They don’t know what is going on and how to get out. Moreover, there have been significant changes in the game world with the upcoming update. NPCs, players who are managed by computers in the game, now have real emotions, and the players are called “Adventurers”. One of them, Shiroe, is a graduate student who doesn’t have strong social relations. Shiroe is calmer and saner than other Elder Tale players. Soon after meeting with his friend Naotsugu from the game, Shiroe starts to get to know the world of Elder Tale closely by making a new friend whose character is a ninja, and his nickname is Akatsuki. After helping some old friends, he forms an alliance called “Log Horizon” to survive in a world full of monsters. Shrioe must learn to live in this new world, lead others, and negotiate with NPC “natives” to bring stability to the virtual city of Akihabara. Players have to figure out what’s going on in this world and adapt to survive in this world.
Will there be a fourth season of Log Horizon?
Log Horizon’s third season met with the audience between January 13, 2021, and March 31, 2021. As of June 6, 2022, there has not yet been a renewal for the fourth season. It can sometimes take a long time for animes to be renewed for a new season. Log Horizon’s second season aired in 2015, and the third season came about six years later. Licensees and creators have not yet shared a clue as to whether the anime will have a new season, but whether an anime will have a new season can be predicted by considering some main criteria. Key factors such as popularity, disc sales, and light novel status are the main criteria for the new season’s speculation. Let’s see together.
Light Novel status of the anime
The anime of Log Horizon is based on the light novel series written by Mamare Touno and illustrated by Kazuhiro Hara and Mochichi Hashimoto. The series, published by Kadokawa, first met its readers in 2011. However, the series is no longer ongoing. Unfortunately, the light novel series brought its final volume to the readers on March 20, 2018. However, this does not mean that the source material for anime is limited. Because the series has been going on since the first day it was published as a web novel series. It has been announced that the 15th and 16th volumes of the 14-volume web novel series will meet with the readers. These two volumes were previewed at the “Re: Fraction” event, but have not been released yet.
The first 3 seasons of the Log Horizon anime cover till 12th volume of the series, which has consisted of 14 volumes so far. The part that is not adapted does not seem to be enough for a new season yet, and the slow progress of the series and the fact that it is not yet certain next publish date leave questions for the fourth season partially unanswered. So, it seems that there is not enough source material for a new season, and even if it is published soon, it will take a serious time to adapt it to anime.
The disc sales and the popularity
Disc sales of the anime took place in the second week of June 2021. When we look at the disc sales figures, we see that it only sold 1090 units. Although disc sales have been on a general decline in recent years, this amount of sales can not meet expectations financially. Disc sales were quite popular in 2015. However, the second season of Log Horizon sold 2438 units on average in this period, and despite these bad sales figures, the third season had been renewed.
Although disc sales figures are not good enough, Log Horizon is the 116th most popular anime of all time, according to Myanimelist data, and that’s really good popularity. When we look at Google searches, we see that it has an average search volume. It is currently followed by 15k people on Twitter which is below average. When we look at its global popularity, the new season seems a bit risky, but the fact that the series has been approved for a new season twice before indicates that it can get a new season. It’s always easier for multi-season anime to get new season approvals.
When is the fourth season of Log Horizon?
In summary, there has been no confirmation for a new season of the anime. We do not expect a new season for a long time due to the lack of source material. However, the popularity of the series seems sufficient for a new season. As the new volumes of the web novel are released, the source material for the new season will be created. However, this is a long period that is difficult to predict. It isn’t easy to see a new season of Log Horizon before 2025. Stay tuned for updates.
| Seasons | Release Date |
| Season 1 | October 5, 2013 |
| Season 2 | October 4, 2014 |
| Season 3 | January 13, 2021 |
| Season 4 | 2025 |
What can be the plotline of Log Horizon Season 4?
The last time we watched Log Horizon, Shiroe’s party, Akiba Guild Hall Raid, won Monk Lelia and Druid Litka. Princess Raynesia was preparing to embark on a mission on the Chinese server to save Krusty by killing Genius Bucaphi. Meanwhile, Westelande and Plant Hwyaden were in the middle of a civil war. Iselus, the younger brother of Risselthea and Raynesia, was on his way to Westelande.
Kanami’s story will rebound in Volume 15: Coppelia, with Layered Island. The two stories are expected to begin to merge as Raynesia will have to face Susabo, the Genius of Travels. Known as the Ocean Barrier, Susabo blocks ocean travel between servers. Therefore, Raynesia’s group (or Kanami’s) will need to defeat Susabo so they can eventually reunite with Krusty.
Speaking of reunions, Volume 16: Thelsdesia’s Friday will feature the return of Shiroe’s female alternate character, Roe2. A teaser for the Fraction exhibit revealed that Roe2 met his ‘brother’ in his office and hoped to ‘compare the answers’, possibly referring to Catastrophe and/or a method for connecting this world to Earth.