Soul Hackers 2 announced & release date set on August 26 [Update]

Written by. Ryuki Ishii based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2022-02-21 20:19 JST)

[Last updated on 2022/02/21 21:50 JST to add more information]
Atlus has announced Soul Hackers 2 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Windows 10/11). The price is set at 9,878 yen (around $86) for both the digital and physical editions. The physical editions are only available for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions. The game will release globally on August 26, 2022 (August 25 in Japan).

This new reveal follows a mysterious countdown that started on February 17.

The previous title Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is the second game in the Devil Summoner RPG series, which is part of the Shin Megami Tensei series. The first game is set in a technologically advanced Japanese metropolis where characters fight in a virtual world. It came out for the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in the late 90s (initial launch: 1997), and a Nintendo 3DS port was released globally in 2013.

According to Atlus, the newly announced title will retain the DNA of Devil Summoner and Soul Hackers. While the previous game depicted the relationship between technology and people who confront it, the new game will look at human society and its deeds and karma from the perspective of technology. Thus, players take on the role of an AI-like entity.

The game takes place in the mid-21^st century where Devil Summoners, who have the power to summon demons, help human society from the shadows. Post-singularity beings called Aion have predicted the end of humanity, and their agents Ringo and Fig were sent down to the human world to avert annihilation, joining forces with the Devil Summoners.

Players will encounter two opposing Devil Summoner factions in the game, while players themselves will play as an Aion agent called Ringo. Ringo has the ability to revive human beings by means of a soul hack that interferes with and improves a person’s soul and mind, bringing out the person’s strong sense of regret and desire to live.

The game will feature a combat system called Sabbath, which is based on the Shin Megami Tensei series staple, Press Turn. By exploiting the weaknesses of enemies, your Demons will launch an all-out attack.

Key figures:
Production Manager Shinjirou Takada (Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, Shin Megami Tensei V)
Director & producer Eiji Ishida, Mitsuru Hirata (Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE)
Character designer Shirow Miwa (Dogs: Bullets & Carnage)
Composer MONACA

The official website can be found here.