Following the original AI: The Somnium Files and its sequel nirvanA Initative, Spike Chunsoft’s detective adventure VN series recently got a new midquel spin-off titled No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES. Since the release of its first mainline entry in 2019, the AI series has gained a devoted playerbase and seen significant commercial success, particularly in the US market. However, it wasn’t a hit from day one, Spike Chunsoft tells AUTOMATON.
According to series producer Yasuhiro Iizuka, when creating the original AI: The Somnium Files, Spike Chunsoft and Kotaro Uchikoshi set out to create a brand-new IP that would match the popularity of Zero Escape while bringing something different to the table. However, the game launched to lackluster sales. Why then, did the developers decide to double down with a sequel? Favorable critical reception and long-term sales strategies were the main factors.
“While sales weren’t strong, the reviews were positive, including media reviews. The reaction from players was especially good. That made us think that there had to still be room for the fanbase to grow. We figured that if we could reach more players, the series had the potential to gain more fans. That’s what led us to make nirvanA Initiative.”
Iizuka suggests that to establish a new IP, you need to be patient and be able to see beyond the initial numbers. “Once you’ve gone to the trouble of cultivating your land and planting your seeds, it’s a shame to call it a day just because they didn’t bear fruit right away.” To create AI: The Somnium Files’ sequel, Spike Chunsoft minimized development costs by reusing existing resources like maps and character models wherever available.
Another factor that encouraged the developer to pursue a sequel was the favorable effect they expected Steam discounts to bring. “Since we’d entered the Steam market fairly early, we already had a fanbase there. So we came up with a plan where, when releasing the sequel, we’d also put the previous game on sale to boost its numbers. That’s how we approached nirvanA Initiative.”
Iizuka explains that, “If you only have one title, holding a sale will yield modest results. But if a sequel comes out, the first game is bound to starts selling again. Similarly, now that we have both the first and second games out, when another sequel releases, both 1 and 2 will sell again. That’s a business model that only works because we’ve kept the series going.”
On the other hand, the producer stresses that when deciding whether to turn something into a series, being aware of what players think – positive or negative – is crucial. With development costs becoming higher than ever, it is increasingly difficult to make these kinds of decisions.
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is out now for PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
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