Koei Tecmo recently announced a brand-new mainline entry in the Atelier series: Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian. According to the creators, this new title will bring back classic Atelier-esque mechanics, releasing on September 26, 2025, for PC (Steam), PS5, PS4 and the Nintendo Switch (Note that the PS4 port of the game will only be available in Japan).
Automaton recently had a chat with producer Hosoi Junzo about the Atelier series’ worldwide success and how it has affected his approach to development. The huge gap between Western and domestic demands seems more apparent now, and that requires a more careful approach when it comes to improving their games – However, Hosoi says that the Atelier team is carefully listening to each opinion or comment that fans send their way.
Hosoi shared with us his message to the overseas readers, telling us what he learned about the differences between the series’ Western and Japanese fans while he was on his trip across the ocean. “Recently I went to Europe and North America for the first time, to do some work regarding Atelier Yumia,” he says. “There I could actually feel the contrast between the Asian and Western sentiment, as well as the differences between our way of thinking and the Western players’ demands.”
“For example,” Hosoi adds, “in the West, many players are looking for a ‘more straightforward action-packed gameplay experience. However, in Asia, that kind of direction would be considered ‘too simple,’ and players say they would rather like us to ‘focus on making Synthesis stronger.’ While hearing all these opinions makes me realize how difficult game development actually is, I’d still want players to leave a Steam review or give us any kind of feedback, because it’s really valuable information for us – that’s why I’d want to tell all our players, keep on sharing your opinions with us!”
Although the series is gaining more global popularity, it seems like the Atelier team doesn’t want to simply prioritize the preferences of Western players, but rather, they are determined to reconcile the different demands and find a solution that would be the best for both sides. Contrary to its predecessor Atelier Yumia, which was leaning towards global gaming trends with is open-world map design and real-time action mechanics, Atelier Resleriana will be going back to basics as a classic turn-based RPG, inheriting the spirit of Atelier Sophie 2.
Taking all this into account, it appears that the developers are taking the freedom to make different game design choices for each next game they create, without leaning exclusively towards one market or one group of players. Trying to find a solution that is the best for both sides certainly isn’t easy, but as Hosoi said, keep sending all your opinions and suggestions – that way developers will be able to improve their games and make more content that fans will actually enjoy.
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I don’t get to pro action sentiment here for RPGs or JRPGs rather. Action in games is important. If that’s your driving point, then there are other games for that need. But I don’t want action to be the focus in a JRPG. But rather the story, the side content, gameplay, etc.
Was this from an interview? The source would be appreciated, I’m interested in reading the whole thing.
1. Release the Atelier series on Xbox, including this game and previous titles.
2. When releasing the Atelier series on Xbox, do not exclude Japan.
3. Add Japanese UI, Japanese voices, and Japanese subtitles to the Xbox version.
4. Never pander to political correctness and protect freedom of expression.
Although the series is gaining more global popularity, it seems like the Atelier team doesn’t want to simply prioritize the preferences of Western players, but rather, they are determined to reconcile the different demands and find a solution that would be the best for both sides. Contrary to its predecessor Atelier Yumia, which was leaning towards global gaming trends with is open-world map design and real-time action mechanics, Atelier Resleriana will be going back to basics as a classic turn-based RPG, inheriting the spirit of Atelier Sophie 2.
Taking all this into account, it appears that the developers are taking the freedom to make different game design choices for each next game they create, without leaning exclusively towards one market or one group of players. Trying to find a solution that is the best for both sides certainly isn’t easy, but as Hosoi said, keep sending all your opinions and suggestions – that way developers will be able to improve their games and make more content that fans will actually enjoy.
I’m a Japanese Xbox user, but please release it on Xbox for now. I was happy with the release of Yumia, but I immediately removed the Xbox from the latest Atelier game. If they don’t continue to release games on Xbox, including past titles, I won’t play any of the Atelier series.
i just want english VO
Here’s how: ignore any Western demands. People play Japanese games for a reason. Leave them as is.
As a Westerner, Atelier Yumia was the worst Atelier game ever made. The idea that all westerners want simple, action packed games is false, and I was disappointed when I saw the direction koei was going with this series. Looking forward to going back to a complex synthesis system that actually matters.
It never fails to amaze me how adept executives are at misinterpreting everything meaningful from user feedback. Western audiences want more streamlined action combat, Japanese audience wants deeper crafting and synthesis systems, more RPG. So what does corporate do? Give neither side what they want despite both being easily symbiotic gameplay systems and just go back to boring turned based combat… Why? It addresses nothing mentioned by users.
getting popularity? are you sure its not the opposite? are you ignorant to statistics?
nobody wants their gatcha cheap nonesense, that seen clearly as a day from all the user reviews. they stopped making atelier games to be anything like atelier games and ponder now why those games dont sell.
Lmao the team left Xbox after seeing the horrible sales on it
Man, if only there was a Gust franchise that they could have as their flagship action title so they can keep Atelier focused on traditional RPG and synthesizing elements. They should really think it over for a Night or two. It would be smooth sailing on a deep Azure sea if they can figure something out.