https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/ AUTOMATON is a website that covers the Japanese gaming world. We bring you the news on video games from Osaka and Tokyo. Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:23:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-automaton-sitelogo-120x120-1-32x32.png https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/ 32 32 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/open-world-pirate-game-windrose-is-a-souls-lite-survival-adventure-made-by-a-group-of-hardcore-gamers-producer-talks-about-the-games-orig/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/open-world-pirate-game-windrose-is-a-souls-lite-survival-adventure-made-by-a-group-of-hardcore-gamers-producer-talks-about-the-games-orig/#respond Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=64953 We talk to the developers of open-world pirate survival game Windrose ahead of the title's Early Access launch.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/open-world-pirate-game-windrose-is-a-souls-lite-survival-adventure-made-by-a-group-of-hardcore-gamers-producer-talks-about-the-games-orig/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/blue-reflection-quartet-is-a-weird-game-for-weird-gamers-whose-development-was-kicked-off-with-a-team-wide-fetish-meeting-according-to-mel-kishida-a-culmination-o/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/blue-reflection-quartet-is-a-weird-game-for-weird-gamers-whose-development-was-kicked-off-with-a-team-wide-fetish-meeting-according-to-mel-kishida-a-culmination-o/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:30:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=64879 AUTOMATON recently interviewed Blue Reflection artist Mel Kishida, who told us more about how the game was developed.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/blue-reflection-quartet-is-a-weird-game-for-weird-gamers-whose-development-was-kicked-off-with-a-team-wide-fetish-meeting-according-to-mel-kishida-a-culmination-o/feed/ 2 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/nier-automata-inspired-indie-studio-behind-homura-hime-gets-candid-feedback-from-yoko-taro-and-takahisa-taura-leading-to-last-minute-improvements/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/nier-automata-inspired-indie-studio-behind-homura-hime-gets-candid-feedback-from-yoko-taro-and-takahisa-taura-leading-to-last-minute-improvements/#respond Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=62510 Three-way interview with Homura Hime developer Crimson Dusk and NieR series creators Yoko Taro and Taura Takahisa.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/nier-automata-inspired-indie-studio-behind-homura-hime-gets-candid-feedback-from-yoko-taro-and-takahisa-taura-leading-to-last-minute-improvements/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/arknights-endfields-factory-systems-will-diversify-rather-than-become-more-complex-developers-say-if-things-feel-difficult-theres-no-need-to-rush/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/arknights-endfields-factory-systems-will-diversify-rather-than-become-more-complex-developers-say-if-things-feel-difficult-theres-no-need-to-rush/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=61693 Interview with Arknights: Endfield level designer RUA and lead planner Ryan about the game's extensive factory building and automation gameplay.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/arknights-endfields-factory-systems-will-diversify-rather-than-become-more-complex-developers-say-if-things-feel-difficult-theres-no-need-to-rush/feed/ 1 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-7-remake-trilogys-third-entry-is-progressing-very-smoothly-we-ask-director-naoki-hamaguchi-why-the-team-chose-not-to-switch-to-unreal-engine-5/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-7-remake-trilogys-third-entry-is-progressing-very-smoothly-we-ask-director-naoki-hamaguchi-why-the-team-chose-not-to-switch-to-unreal-engine-5/#respond Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=60720 Interview with Final Fantasy VII Remake series director Naoki Hamaguchi about the development of the trilogy's third and final instalment.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-7-remake-trilogys-third-entry-is-progressing-very-smoothly-we-ask-director-naoki-hamaguchi-why-the-team-chose-not-to-switch-to-unreal-engine-5/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-developer-gust-is-shifting-from-a-top-down-hierarchy-back-to-the-team-led-development-style-of-its-early-days-and-the-results-have-been-positive-producer-says/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-developer-gust-is-shifting-from-a-top-down-hierarchy-back-to-the-team-led-development-style-of-its-early-days-and-the-results-have-been-positive-producer-says/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=60206 AUTOMATON interviewed Atelier series producer Junzo Hosoi about the recent changes in Studio Gust's organizational structure. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-developer-gust-is-shifting-from-a-top-down-hierarchy-back-to-the-team-led-development-style-of-its-early-days-and-the-results-have-been-positive-producer-says/feed/ 1 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/we-ask-final-fantasy-vii-remake-director-naoki-hamaguchi-about-the-switch-2-versions-hair-problem-why-does-it-happen-and-can-it-be-avoided/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/we-ask-final-fantasy-vii-remake-director-naoki-hamaguchi-about-the-switch-2-versions-hair-problem-why-does-it-happen-and-can-it-be-avoided/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=58787 FInal Fantasy VII Remake series director Naoki Hamaguchi gives detailed explanation of why Cloud's hair sometimes looks jagged on Switch 2.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/we-ask-final-fantasy-vii-remake-director-naoki-hamaguchi-about-the-switch-2-versions-hair-problem-why-does-it-happen-and-can-it-be-avoided/feed/ 1 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-ryzas-voluptuous-figure-was-a-result-of-extensive-market-research-conducted-by-gust-we-wanted-her-to-be-in-the-middle-of-the-cultural-and-economic-trend-spectrum-at-the-time/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-ryzas-voluptuous-figure-was-a-result-of-extensive-market-research-conducted-by-gust-we-wanted-her-to-be-in-the-middle-of-the-cultural-and-economic-trend-spectrum-at-the-time/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=58790 We asked producer Junzo Hosoi about how Gust came up with Atelier Ryza's distinctively "voluptuous" character design.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-ryzas-voluptuous-figure-was-a-result-of-extensive-market-research-conducted-by-gust-we-wanted-her-to-be-in-the-middle-of-the-cultural-and-economic-trend-spectrum-at-the-time/feed/ 26 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-series-developers-intend-to-keep-its-uniquely-japanese-concept-the-same-amidst-global-expansion-efforts-we-have-no-intentions-to-neglect-our-domestic-player-base/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-series-developers-intend-to-keep-its-uniquely-japanese-concept-the-same-amidst-global-expansion-efforts-we-have-no-intentions-to-neglect-our-domestic-player-base/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=58314 We interviewed Atelier producer Junzo Hosoi about recent feedback from overseas players, and his plan for the series going forward.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-series-developers-intend-to-keep-its-uniquely-japanese-concept-the-same-amidst-global-expansion-efforts-we-have-no-intentions-to-neglect-our-domestic-player-base/feed/ 5 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-7-remakes-nintendo-switch-2-release-was-from-a-technical-standpoint-only-possible-with-game-key-cards-director-naoki-hamaguchi-explains-why/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-7-remakes-nintendo-switch-2-release-was-from-a-technical-standpoint-only-possible-with-game-key-cards-director-naoki-hamaguchi-explains-why/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=58303 Final Fantasy VII Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi addresses concerns about the Switch 2 edition using Game-key cards.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-7-remakes-nintendo-switch-2-release-was-from-a-technical-standpoint-only-possible-with-game-key-cards-director-naoki-hamaguchi-explains-why/feed/ 7 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/we-ask-kojima-productions-why-theyve-stuck-to-decima-for-nearly-ten-years-chief-technology-officer-on-what-makes-death-stranding/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/we-ask-kojima-productions-why-theyve-stuck-to-decima-for-nearly-ten-years-chief-technology-officer-on-what-makes-death-stranding/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=56947 Interview with Kojima Productions chief technology officer Akio Sakamoto about the studio's use of the Decima game engine.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/we-ask-kojima-productions-why-theyve-stuck-to-decima-for-nearly-ten-years-chief-technology-officer-on-what-makes-death-stranding/feed/ 5 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/former-idolmaster-directors-new-bishojo-visual-novel-doesnt-water-down-its-japanese-aesthetics-for-overseas-audiences-aiming-for-a-fresh-experience-crossi/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/former-idolmaster-directors-new-bishojo-visual-novel-doesnt-water-down-its-japanese-aesthetics-for-overseas-audiences-aiming-for-a-fresh-experience-crossi/#respond Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=56761 Valkyrie Tune: Synthesis of Souls producer Akihiro Ishihara talks to AUTOMATON about what overseas players can expect from the game.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/former-idolmaster-directors-new-bishojo-visual-novel-doesnt-water-down-its-japanese-aesthetics-for-overseas-audiences-aiming-for-a-fresh-experience-crossi/feed/ 0