PR: Atlus USA Makes Statement About Studio Zero and Project Re Fantasy

We got some exciting news recently about a new fantasy Japanese RPG project from Atlus, dubbed “Project Re Fantasy” and featuring Atlus’s very talented trio of creators (artist Shigenori Soejima, composer Shoji Meguro, and director Katsura Hashino). Forming a new studio for this project, Studio Zero, Atlus aims to challenge the conventions behind traditional Japanese RPGs by hearkening back to an era where fantasy RPGs were completely dominant, and games with modern settings like Shin Megami Tensei were fewer and far between. How this will be accomplished remains to be seen, but the prospect is intriguing. Atlus also points out that the formation and work that will happen with Studio Zero and Project Re Fantasy shouldn’t have a significant impact on P-Studio, the studio behind the Persona games. You can read the full press release from Atlus USA below.

IRVINE, Calif. — Dec. 23, 2016 — ATLUS, the developers behind the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series, and Katsura Hashino – director of ATLUS titles including Persona 5, Catherine, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, and others – are launching a new internal studio called Studio Zero. Within the studio’s new logo is a story in and of itself: The number 0 is the “Fool” arcana for tarot cards – the void from which all other things begin – and punctuated with the imagery of a young child on a journey.

For the game itself, though not much information is available as it is in the earliest of stages of development. But a few things are apparent from the outset – it will be a complete departure from the SMT and Persona series, and a return to the roots of where the Japanese games industry began with fantasy role-playing games. However, as ATLUS has always challenged the prevailing styles of RPG design, it is at the core of Studio Zero’s mission to do this again, imbuing the traditional fantasy RPG with a distinctively ATLUS flavor. Hashino is tapped to be the game’s director, along with other legendary ATLUS names. Along on the journey will be Shigenori Soejima from the ATLUS Artwork Team, responsible for creating the character art of the denizens of this new fantasy world, and Shoji Meguro from the ATLUS Sound Team, who will breathe life and depth into the new world as music composer.

“We take seriously this goal of creating a game with the care and detail expected by the people who love ATLUS games and home console games,” said Hashino. “We haven’t determined yet what platform our new game will be, and I imagine this project will take a long time until completion. But we’ll be working hard at this challenge to truly deliver something new and incredible for all our fans.”