Random JRPG News Thread

[Jonathan "Zee Nekomimi]

Super Mario RPG™ (remake) got released, sadly only switch
also
Persona 5 Tactica

can't wait for korone to play.

 

[Elttharion]

 

[911 Jumper]

Square Enix’s president says it will be ‘aggressive in applying’ AI

Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu says the company will be “aggressive in applying” AI in its development and publishing efforts in the future.

Kiryu, who was appointed as the Final Fantasy firm’s new boss in June 2023, made the comments in its traditional New Year’s Letter from the president.

In the letter, the exec explains the new initiatives he has put in place since his appointment, including vetting games in development and accelerating a plan to provide more resources to its internal teams.

Kiryu also said Square Enix was expanding knowledge sharing with the goal of standardizing its processes and “enhancing our efficiency”, as well as encouraging closer collaboration between its content and publishing teams.

 

[Arthandas]

the company will be “aggressive in applying” AI in its development

"Will be"?! Are you telling me Forspoken and Stranger of Paradise were written by actual human beings?

 

[Reinhardt]

the company will be “aggressive in applying” AI in its development

"Will be"?! Are you telling me Forspoken and Stranger of Paradise were written by actual human beings?

yes. ai is not THAT retarded

 

[deuxhero]

Given SE's track record with AI, I think it's entirely possible for AI to be that stupid

 

[Viata]

Amazing, the game looks far more ugly than the PC-6001 version.

 

[Abu Antar]

Kadokawa are now the proud owners of Acquire.

On one hand, this makes me very sad, because Octopath Traveler series might be dead. On the other hand, maybe Octo dies so that either Tenchu or Way of the Samurai gets revived.

 

[Viata]

either Tenchu or Way of the Samurai gets revived

 

[Sentinel]

Kadokawa are now the proud owners of Acquire.

On one hand, this makes me very sad, because Octopath Traveler series might be dead. On the other hand, maybe Octo dies so that either Tenchu or Way of the Samurai gets revived.

Acquire were co-developers of Octopath, they weren't the main drive. Square Enix announced last year that they're bringing their outsourced projects in-house.

 

[deuxhero]

Kadokawa are now the proud owners of Acquire.

On one hand, this makes me very sad, because Octopath Traveler series might be dead. On the other hand, maybe Octo dies so that either Tenchu or Way of the Samurai gets revived.

Was it ever mentioned explicitly if Acquire's IPs were bought with them?

 

[Abu Antar]

Kadokawa are now the proud owners of Acquire.

On one hand, this makes me very sad, because Octopath Traveler series might be dead. On the other hand, maybe Octo dies so that either Tenchu or Way of the Samurai gets revived.

Was it ever mentioned explicitly if Acquire's IPs were bought with them?

It wasn't.

 

[911 Jumper]

Octopath Traveler Studio 'Acquire Corp.' Bought By FromSoftware Owner

From Software owner Kadokawa has purchased Japanese development studio Acquire for an undisclosed sum.

The Tokyo-based studio is the developer behind Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler games, as well as the Tenchu, Way of the Samurai and Abiba series.

It was founded in 1994 and employs 148 people, according to its website.

“To strengthen the ability to create IP in games as part of our game business strategy, we have made Acquire Corp. into a wholly owned subsidiary,” Kadokawa said in a quarterly earnings report published on Thursday.

“By acquiring the company, which has produced million-seller hit titles, we expect to generate synergies with our existing game-related subsidiaries, strengthen our planning and development capabilities groupwide, and enhance our line-up of console games.”

Source: VGC

 

[911 Jumper]

Damn, scrolled up and just realised that news story has already been mentioned. Sorry about that!

It is interesting to see Acquire close to From Software, especially as they both have links to Tenchu.

 

[911 Jumper]

From Software has acquired the Elden Ring trademark from Bandai Namco

From Software has acquired full rights to the Elden Ring trademark from Bandai Namco.

According to a recently unearthed US Patent and Trademark Office assignment document, ownership of the trademark switched between the companies in March 2023, about 13 months after the blockbuster game’s release.

“Assignor [Bandai Namco] hereby assigns to assignee [From Software] all right, title and interest in and to the trademark, together with the goodwill of the business symbolised by the trademark and the identified registration therefor, and with all claims arising out of or relating to the use of ownership of the trademark,” it reads.

Elden Ring was released in February 2022 and sold 20 million copies within its first year, according to From Software and Bandai Namco.

While developer From Software also published Elden Ring in its native Japan, fellow Japanese company Bandai Namco published the game internationally.

In August 2022, From Software owner Kadokawa Corporation announced plans to sell shares to Sony and Tencent which would result in the pair owning a combined 30% of From Software.

It said the move would enhance From Software’s development capabilities and potentially help it to publish its own games globally.

“Through the implementation of the fund procurement, FromSoftware will aim to proactively invest in development of more powerful game IP for itself to strengthen FromSoftware’s development capabilities and will seek to establish a framework that allows the expansion of the scope of its own publishing in the significantly growing global market,” it said.

An Elden Ring expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, was announced three days after the title’s first anniversary, although few details about the DLC have been confirmed in the year since.

Source: VGC

 

[911 Jumper]

The Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea has rated “Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.” (Update 1:54 a.m.: The rating has been removed.)

According to the description, it is a complete edition of Shin Megami Tensei V with improvements and additional content.

Shin Megami Tensei V first launched for Switch on November 11, 2021 in Japan and November 12, 2021 worldwide. Rumors of a “Complete Edition” surfaced in June 2023.

 

[Abu Antar]

The Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea has rated “Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.” (Update 1:54 a.m.: The rating has been removed.)

According to the description, it is a complete edition of Shin Megami Tensei V with improvements and additional content.

Shin Megami Tensei V first launched for Switch on November 11, 2021 in Japan and November 12, 2021 worldwide. Rumors of a “Complete Edition” surfaced in June 2023.

https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads/shin-megami-tensei-v-is-nintendo-switch-exlusive.118834/

We were speculating in the official thread.

 

[911 Jumper]

The Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea has rated “Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.” (Update 1:54 a.m.: The rating has been removed.)

According to the description, it is a complete edition of Shin Megami Tensei V with improvements and additional content.

Shin Megami Tensei V first launched for Switch on November 11, 2021 in Japan and November 12, 2021 worldwide. Rumors of a “Complete Edition” surfaced in June 2023.

https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads/shin-megami-tensei-v-is-nintendo-switch-exlusive.118834/

We were speculating in the official thread.

Just noticed that. Looks like a new version of SMT V is on the way despite the rating information removal.

 

[deuxhero]

Gundam Breaker 4 announced. Everyone thought this series was dead after New Gundam Breaker was horrible and ruined everything and the casino shut down to make room for new Gundam casinos. Not only does this exist, it's being ported to more systems including PC (official website confirms Steam) and actually released in the west (to the point of using "Burning Gundam" in the trailer).

Official website promises over "250 base kits", which is a lot considering 3 only had something like ~170 is not a lot given after DLC 3 had 225 (though this is counting variants like Zaku/Char Zaku, Astray Red Frame/Red Frame with flight unit). The confirmed stuff that isn't from IBO/WFM/Seed movie (those all came out after 3) I'm aware of are 00's Kyrios (seen in English trailer), and Wing's Leo (seen in the Japanese version of trailer which is identical except for the menu footage)

 

[911 Jumper]

Digimon Game Producer Kazumasa Habu Has Left His Role After 12 Years

Kazumasa Habu, game producer for the Digimon franchise, has announced that he has left his role after 12 years. Starting with Digimon Story: Lost Evolution, he went on to produce a number of entries in the series before finishing with Digimon Survive in 2022.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) and subsequently reported by Gematsu, Habu announced that he has not been in the role since April 2023, and has been "quietly passing the baton" ever since.

In full, the post reads:

“Due to personnel changes within Bandai Namco Entertainment, I will no longer be the producer of Digimon games. In fact, I have not been in that role since last April, and I have been quietly passing the baton. Please rest assured that the new Digimon Story game continues to be in development under its trusted director and team.”

Souce: NintendoLife

 

[911 Jumper]

Reynatis Announced for PlayStation and Switch; July 2024 Release (in Japan)

During the Japanese broadcast of the Nintendo Direct Partners Showcase, developer Furyu announced a brand-new action RPG, titled Reynatis. The game will be releasing on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam on July 25th, 2024. As of the time of writing, it is unknown whether the game will come west.

Reynatis takes place in modern-day Tokyo, Shibuya. There, magicians, who are feared by the people because of their great power, are active. Marin Kirizumi, a young boy, goes to Shibuya in search of freedom. Sari Nishijima, a magician in charge of the police, patrols Shibuya, believing in justice. When these two protagonists from different backgrounds meet, the story begins to unfold. Reynatis allows players to switch between two modes: Supression and Release. Suppresion Mode allows you to hide your identity while exploring the overworld. If you are spotted however, the M.E.A. will immediately rush to their aid.

There will be two editions to the game according to the official website. The Liberators’ Edition and the Standard Edition, with the former including a DLC pack containing an EXP boost item, and collaboration items with Caligula and Monark, two other titles from Furyu. Furthermore, alternative costumes will also be included. Physical copies of the game will also include a soundtrack CD as a pre-order bonus.

The official website also reveals the staff behind the game. The scenario is written by Kazushige Nojima and the soundtrack is composed by Yoko Shimomura. Character design is handled by Yasutaka Kaburaki, with the key art by Yusuke Naora. The pre-rendered movies will be handled by StudioGOONEYS Inc. Takumi Isobe is the director and Natsume Atari Co. is the developer.

Trailer


Source:
noisypixel.net

Interesting that's there's no confirmation of a Western release.

 

[deuxhero]

That "young boy" looks pretty old.

 

[Abu Antar]

Not Final Fantasy Not Versus XIII

 

[kaisergeddon]

QUESTER OSAKA released in early access with a small sale for adopters. It's in Japanese currently, but an English patch is scheduled for later. It should be in EA for about two months according to the dev team.

 

[911 Jumper]

Miyazaki says there’s a ‘high possibility’ he delegates directing for future Souls games

Elden Ring and Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki has said that there’s “a high possibility,” that he would delegate the role of director on future Souls games.

Speaking to IGN, Miyazaki said there “is a high possibility that we would delegate the responsibility of director to those other Souls-ish games going forward.”

He continued “I think it’s very likely that we’ll see new directors going forward. And I think if we do that, I’d like to step away from that supervisory role and give them full direction and full control over those projects.

“I think really this is the best way and the easiest way for them to flourish within that environment and with those new projects.”

So far, the only original Souls project that Miyazaki hasn’t directed is Dark Souls 2. While Dark Souls 2 was met with mixed reaction from players, Miyazaki looks back on it fondly.

“In regards to Dark Souls 2, I actually personally think this was a really great project for us, and I think without it, we wouldn’t have had a lot of the connections and a lot of the ideas that went forward and carried the rest of the series.”

Dark Souls 2 implemented semi-open world sections that would form the basis for much of the level design in FromSoftware‘s seminal Elden Ring.

“We were able to have that different impetus and have those different ideas and make those different connections that we otherwise might not have had,” he concluded.

Source: VGC