Atlus to announce brand new fantasy RPG project on December 23

Here's the first piece of artwork.

Update 12/21/16 at 12:17 a.m.: Read more about the game, “PROJECT Re FANTASY,” here.

Original 12/19/16 at 10:20 p.m.: Atlus will announce a brand new, non-Persona, non-Megaten, fantasy RPG project via a live stream on December 23 at 20:00 JST. You’ll be able to watch it on Niconico and Fresh.

The project comes from a new production studio within Atlus called “Studio Zero” led by Persona 5 director Katsura Hashino, who is also the project’s producer and director. The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, due out on December 22, will feature an interview with Hashino and Atlus consumer software department supervisor Naoto Hiraoka, who will discuss the new studio and project.

We shouldn’t have to wait too long for news, though. Information should leak from the magazine within the next 12 hours.

For now, here’s the first artwork, illustrated by Persona 5 character designer Shigenori Soejima:

Here’s a message from Hashino via Studio Zero’s official website:

25 years ago, the Atlus RPG uttered its first cry. Speaking of RPGs in those days, the stories in so-called “fantasy” worlds were mainstream. The Shin Megami Tensei series was released as an “opposition” to such a “common” world view, and the Persona series was released as its spin-off. Both series, even today in their latest entries, have always been made with the concept that it will be a counter to the times. And now, in addition to continuing the titles within those series, what will our approach to a new RPG be? That is, to challenge the norms of the genre gamers have been consuming for decades. The challenge is about to begin. We would be happy if you would stand by for the moment we began from zero and the moment we began our challenge from zero.
— Katsura Hashino, producer and game director

Thanks, Famitsu.