Atlus have revealed the first few tidbits of information about their new fantasy RPG project, known as Project Re;Fantasy, in this week’s issue of Weekly Famitsu. The game has no release date, price or platform revealed yet, and likewise is set in a fantasy world, not a modern world like in the recent Shin Megami Tensei and Persona games. The title is in development at the brand new Studio Zero at Atlus, which includes well known stuff members such as the Persona composer Shoji Meguro.
If you’re interested and can understand Japanese, there will also be a live stream on 23rd December at 20:00 JST that can be watched here. Following that, mass recruitment will start for this project.
Some other tidbits were also released. Shigenori Soejima is part of the new “Atlus Network Team” and Studio Zero’s logo consists of a boy on a journey holding a tarot card with a “0” on it, which means “fool.” There is the presense of the three imageboards being present in the magazine. They are – a group of soldiers confronting a dragon to illustrate “building new ideas based on things from the past”; four people and a dog riding in a carriage to illustrate “bonds”; and a red-haired elf girl with a blonde boy on a horse to illustrate a “journey.” Finally, the platform is currently not decided, however they are making the game for Atlus fans as well as home console gamers.
Finally, the interview in Weekly Famitsu has been transcribed by Gematsu:
Regarding the goal of establishing a new studio
Hiraoka: “Originally, as a mid-term plan of Atlus, we had wanted to establish a studio with the goal of creating a new IP and aim even higher. In these several years, the people whom we could entrust with it always seemed to be busy, but we wondered if we can trust it to Hashino, who finished up Persona 5.”
Regarding Soejima and Meguro’s involvement on the project
Hiraoka: “Soejima is an indispensable member of the Persona series staff, but we don’t want his work to stop there. Meguro is the same. Both will continue to participate in the Persona series in the future.
“We’re steadily developing other titles behind the scenes, including the Persona series. We plan to announce future titles in the new year, without keeping you waiting too long.”
Why did Studio Zero decide to take on the fantasy genre?
Hashino: “Until now, since the time fantasy went mainstream, Atlus has dared to create series set in contemporary times and cherished its stance of aiming to counter the typical. The series works from Persona 3 an onwards are the exact products of such thought. I had always held the thought that I someday want to challenge the traditional genre and deliver a title uniquely Atlus.”
Can you give us a hint about the visual you unveiled?
“The visual we released at this time is concept art to share our frame of mind. The character in the illustration made for the cover isn’t necessarily the protagonist either.”
Project Re;Fantasy is currently in development.
