{"id":60206,"date":"2026-02-24T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=60206"},"modified":"2026-02-24T18:42:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T09:42:47","slug":"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","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"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\/","title":{"rendered":"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"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Back in November last year, Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack<\/strong>, the definitive edition of the Secret Trilogy of Gust\u2019s flagship anime-styled RPG series, was released for PC (Steam), PS4\/PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Around the same time, AUTOMATON got the opportunity to ask Atelier series producer Junzo Hosoi about recent shifts in Gust\u2019s organizational structure, and how they\u2019ve impacted the studio\u2019s overall workflow and output. Apparently, Gust decided to step away from its traditional, top-down structure, in favor of a decentralized, \u201crepublic-like\u201d one, as Hosoi puts it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs our members work on acquiring various knowledge, we\u2019re trying to shift the team structure to match our development scope. Up until now, it was usually the producer who took charge of development, but now we\u2019re partially distributing those responsibilities among members of the development team themselves. We\u2019ve selected various members, including junior staff, and formed different divisions to cover each aspect of game development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Atelier<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As Hosoi explains, past Gust projects were usually produced under a top-down hierarchy, with the producer leading the development process. However, the studio now functions \u201cmore like a republic,\u201d he says. \u201cThe director and I share our vision, but the younger staff members also voice their opinions. It\u2019s turned into an environment where everyone is given the chance to present and push for their own opinion.\u201d Instead of just \u201clistening to orders,\u201d after a general framework of what\u2019s being developed has been established, each member is expected to take responsibility for their own parts of the process. This has left a positive impact on the development cycle so far, increasing both motivation and product quality, Hosoi notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a top-down hierarchy allows the producer and director to have more creative authority and help unite the development team under the same goal, Hosoi believes that the consensus-led, \u201crepublic system\u201d has recently been showing more benefits than drawbacks. \u201cWhen you think about it, we created the Atelier series back in the day by having everyone come together, brainstorm ideas, and debate over them. But after Gust became a part of Koei Tecmo, our division grew much bigger in size, and I thought a more centralized style of organization would help consolidate the team. Thanks to that, individual members gained more experience, and development lines increased in number, which made me think \u2013 Maybe it\u2019s better to carry on with development by discussing things as a team again.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosoi acknowledges that \u201cthere is no single correct answer for the Atelier series,\u201d stating that the producer and director\u2019s opinion \u201cis not an absolute truth.\u201d This is why he wants to encourage other members of the team to present their own opinions and discuss them on a more equal footing. \u201cJust like when Atelier Ryza started, our team has just stepped into a brand-new phase.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack is available for PC (Steam<\/a>), PS4\/PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atelier values\u00a0its\u00a0appealing characters, but future entries will pursue\u00a0stronger gameplay.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0need to make\u00a0games you can recommend\u00a0without hesitation\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atelier series developers intend to keep its uniquely Japanese concept the same amidst global expansion efforts. \u201cWe have no intentions to neglect our domestic player base\u201d<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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