Japanese game creators discuss 2026 ambitions [Update]
Hints and teases for the new year.
4Gamer.net has published the 2026 edition of its annual end-of-year interviews with Japanese game creators. The website interviewed 194 creators this year, several of which tease new titles and announcements to come in 2026.
Get the notable tidbits below.
Kenji Satou
(Known for River City: Rival Showdown, River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next)
—Ambitions for 2026
“Thank you greatly for the support you’ve shown towards our company’s titles. 2026 will be the Kunio-kun 40th anniversary commemoration year. I’d like to make it a year we can celebrate together with everyone who has supported the series thus far. Please continue to give us your support and patronage.”
■ RS34
Daisuke Nagata
(Known for Karous, Radirgy, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“In 2026, I’d like to consciously seek out new encounters and challenges. As for our next work, I can’t say anything yet, but we’re preparing various things, including approaches different from before, so I’d be happy if you could look forward to it!!”
Hikaru Yasui
(Known for Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters, MADO MONOGATARI: Fia and the Wondrous Academy, Touhou Spell Carnival, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“Thank you so much to all of the fans who have supported the Neptunia series! The excitement surrounding its 15th anniversary year in 2025 far exceeded our development team’s expectations. It was none other than the fans who continued to send us their passion, love, and support, who made this year the best one yet, and for that, we are truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts. The power we received has undoubtedly become a great source of strength for our next step.
“And now, it is finally 2026.
“We sincerely hope to further accelerate the excitement of this commemorative year and finally deliver the long-awaited latest numbered entry in the Neptunia series that everyone has been eagerly anticipating. With a ‘prayer’ to deliver the best game possible, Tsunako and the rest of the staff are currently hard at work in development with the goal of exceeding everyone’s expectations.
“Please look forward to a new Hyperdimension story in 2026, and we sincerely ask for your continued support!”
■ ATLUS
Shinjirou Takata
(Known for the Devil Survivor series, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, Shin Megami Tensei V, and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance)
—Ambitions for 2026
“We released RAIDOU Remastered in June 2025 and Persona 3 Reload for Switch 2 in October, and we’re now at a point where things like demo releases and patch support have finally settled down… or so we thought. It looks like it may be a little while longer before I can report anything next.”
Atsushi Nomura
(Known for Persona 4 Golden remastered, Persona 5 Tactica)
—Ambitions for 2026
“Counting back to Revelations: Persona, which first released in 1996, the Persona series will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026. I would like to express my gratitude to those who have supported us for a long time, as well as to those who have newly discovered Persona, and I hope to make it a year in which Persona can reach even those who have not yet experienced it. I’d love for us to build the excitement together with everyone. We’ve also received a lot of support for Persona 4 Revival. We’re very much looking forward to the day we can make another announcement, so please continue to give us your support.”
Kazuhisa Wada
(Known for Persona 5 Royal, Persona 3 Reload, Persona 5: The Phantom X, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“The Persona series will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026. As a token of our gratitude to everyone, we’re preparing a wide variety of initiatives on a global scale, so please look forward to them…! Additionally, we believe there will be opportunities in 2026 to talk about future developments for the series. Preparations are steadily coming together, and all of us at ATLUS will be giving it our all to build excitement around Persona, so we sincerely ask for your continued support…!”
Takuya Aizu
(Known for the Azure Striker Gunvolt series, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon series, Grim Guardians series, Card-en-Ciel, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“In the second half of 2026, we’re preparing to announce new developments in the Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX series, and we’re also moving forward behind the scenes on new titles that we can’t yet talk about here. We’ll continue pushing ahead with development every day so that we can deliver some surprising announcements in 2026, so please look forward to further updates!”
Hajime Chikami
(Known for the Demon Gaze series, Spirit Hunter series, Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi)
—Ambitions for 2026
“Next year, we will release Demon Kill Demon, our first new dungeon RPG in some time. It is set in a world five years after the events of Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi. It’s a fairly dark title aimed at core players, but we’re also taking on new challenges to make it even more satisfying. We also have developments planned for Monkarufanta: The Hero and the Crystal Girl and the Spirit Hunter horror adventure series, so we appreciate your continued support next year as well.”
■ M2
Naoki Horii
(Known for Night Striker GEAR)
—Ambitions for 2026
“Next year marks the 10th anniversary of M2’s publishing brand, M2ShotTriggers. A lot can happen over 10 years, and we’d like to deliver as much of everything we’ve been stockpiling as possible to everyone. With all the sneak peeks and things we’ve already shared, it might end up being the most information-packed year we’ve ever had… or so I believe. Honestly, it’s gotten to the point where we’re wondering if we’ll need to adjust our release schedule, because it kind of feels like we’ve saved up way too much.”
■ Koei Tecmo Games / Gust
Junzo Hosoi
(Known for the Atelier series)
—Ambitions for 2026
“In 2026, the Gust brand will continue to take on various challenges. We’re taking on not only the Atelier series, but also fresh new titles, so please look forward to them.”
■ Koei Tecmo Games / Team NINJA
Fumihiko Yasuda
(Known for the Nioh series, NINJA GAIDEN, Rise of the Ronin)
—Ambitions for 2026
“This year, several new Team NINJA titles will be released, including Nioh 3 on February 6 and FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE on March 12, so please be sure to check them out! We’ll also be sharing news on new titles and series that are sure to delight our fans, so please look forward to that.”
Hiroshi Matsuyama
(Known for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles series, the .hack series, the Fuga: Melodies of Steel series)
—Ambitions for 2026
“CyberConnect2 will celebrate its 30th anniversary! The company was founded on February 16, 1996, so 2026 will mark 30 years. We’ll also be holding an anniversary party, so we hope everyone from the 4Gamer editorial team can join us. We’re sure you’ll have a great time, and we’ll be making various announcements as well.”
■ JP Games
Hajime Tabata
(Known for Final Fantasy XV)
—Ambitions for 2026
“In 2026, we will hold beta testing for RYUGUKOKU, an online RPG set in a fantasy Japan filled with user-generated content, where players battle the victors of history. We look forward to your continued support next year.”
Takashi Anzai
(Known for Dragon Quest X Online)
—Ambitions for 2026
“I’ll be taking on various new challenges. I plan to announce them in 2026, so please look forward to it!”
(Known for the Dragon Quest series, the NieR series)
—Ambitions for 2026
“Next year marks the 40th anniversary of Dragon Quest! I’d be extremely happy if everyone could join in on a grand celebration. And for NieR: Automata‘s ninth anniversary, we’re also preparing ‘just a little something…’ so please don’t get too excited with anticipation! With that, I wish you all a happy New Year.”
Kazutoyo Maehiro
(Known for the Final Fantasy Tactics (1997), Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“In 2025, we released Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles on September 30 and LOGOS: The World of Final Fantasy XVI on December 16. While the game and book took different approaches, we put our all into both so that anyone who picks them up might feel, even just a little, ‘Games are fun, huh?’ The next ‘something’ we’re preparing will also be content with a different approach. We’re working hard to bring you a new gaming experience, so please wait a little longer until the day we can debut it.”
■ SEGA
Hiroyuki Sakamoto
(Known for the Yakuza series)
—Ambitions for 2026
“Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will be released on February 12, 2026, so we hope everyone will enjoy it. We also expect to make some surprising and exciting announcements in 2026, so please look forward to those as well.”
Toshihiro Kondo
(Known for the Trails series, Ys series, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“Falcom has always released new titles at a pace of one per year, but with more team members, we’ve been able to pick up the pace and put a system in place that allows us to take on new challenges. This year, we hope to show some of the results of that. We’ve already announced Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, and since the company will also celebrate its 45th anniversary this year, we plan to share new information and excitement throughout the year. Please look forward to it.”
Yusuke Tomizawa
(Known for the Tales series, God Eater series, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“The Tales of series will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026, and we hope to share further updates on the remaster series we’ve been developing. Looking ahead to the future of the series, we will continue working hard on new titles and on promoting the series as an IP.”
■ LEVEL-5
Ken Motomura
(Known for the Yo-kai Watch series, Snack World series, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“As for Decapolice, which I’m in charge of, the information I can share at this time is limited, but development is steadily progressing. We’re also taking on new gameplay challenges unique to this title, including elements of deduction and storytelling. We hope to announce more at a time and in a way that properly conveys its appeal, so please look forward to it.”
Famitsu Comments
Update 12/28/25: Here are some additional noteworthy comments from Famitsu’s version of the same article:
■ Idea Factory
Naoto Tominaga
(Known for Touhou Spell Carnival, Todokero! Tatakae! Calamity Angels)
—Ambitions for 2026
“The Neptunia series is celebrating its 15th anniversary. All of the staff are working hard together on the next numbered entry. I think we’ll be able to announce it soon, so please wait a little longer. And then there’s Zaleste, which has been a long time coming. We’re working hard on development so that we can deliver it in 2026.”
Hikaru Yasui
(Known for Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters, MADO MONOGATARI: Fia and the Wondrous Academy, Touhou Spell Carnival, etc.)
—Ambitions for 2026
“A new year—2026! We’re aiming to complete the latest Neptunia—a story of new goddesses that goes beyond the ‘norms’ of Gamindustri, transcends ‘time,’ and reaches far beyond the ‘sky’!!”
■ ACQUIRE
Takuma Endo
—Ambitions for 2026
“There’s a recent trend of remaking past titles, but rather than focusing only on something new, we also want to give new life to ACQUIRE’s great games of the past. Our goal is to revive these classics in a more polished and appealing form.”
—Latest Update
“We’re currently in the preparation phase, so there’s nothing we can announce just yet, but I expect we’ll be able to reveal a new title early in the New Year.”
■ ATLUS
Kazuhisa Wada
—Ambitions for 2026
“2026 marks Persona‘s 30th anniversary. Various preparations are steadily underway, and our plans are firmly on track, so all that’s left is to give it our all and see it through… The plan is in motion.”
—Latest Update
“We’re preparing a wide range of initiatives on a global scale for Persona‘s 30th anniversary. 2026 will also be a time when we can talk about new games such as Persona 4 Revival, so please look forward to it…!”
Fuyuki Hayashi
—Latest Update
“We’re planning to release our new game Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis. Other than that, we should be debuting one… no, probably two unannounced projects. Please keep an eye on both me and Alliance Arts. (There should also be half-anniversary projects for past titles like Kemono Teatime.)”
Kazuki Morishita
—Ambitions for 2026
“In this feature article two years ago, I commented that we were ‘in a phase of building up power,’ and I believe we’ll now be able to show the results of that. In 2026, I think you’ll be able to play multiple titles from us, so please look forward to their announcements.”
■ Koei Tecmo Games / AAA Games Studio
Yosuke Hayashi
—Ambitions for 2026
“Development is progressing on a new title from AAA Games Studio. At the same time… you might just see the return of a certain classic title!?”
■ Konami Digital Entertainment
Motoi Okamoto
—Keyword
“A goal of one per year.”
—Ambitions for 2026
“Following the release of Silent Hill 2 in October 2024, we were able to deliver Silent Hill f in September 2025, and the Silent Hill series has begun to get back on track. Including both announced and unannounced titles, we’re aiming for a release pace of about one title per year. I’m not sure how much of that we’ll be able to realize, but I’ll continue to do my best as producer of the Silent Hill series. Ideally, we’d like to keep excitement around the Silent Hill series going at all times. We’re working hard to share new updates, so I’d appreciate it if you could wait just a little longer.”
■ COLOPL
Ryoji Tsunoda
—Keyword
“Console and generative games.”
—Ambitions for 2026
“We’re currently developing COLOPL’s first console game, so before anything else we’d like to deliver that.”
—Latest Update
“I’m making a console game together with Kazuma Kaneko. It’s a title that fully showcases Kaneko’s unique worldview. I hope fans of his work will look forward to it.”
■ Cygames
—Latest Update
“I can’t say anything yet, but I’d like to share something as soon as possible!”
■ CyberConnect2
Hiroshi Matsuyama
—Ambitions for 2026
“This year marks the 30th anniversary of our establishment. We’re planning a 30th anniversary celebration party on February 16, 2026. While the party is aimed at industry professionals, we’ll be announcing the ‘CyberConnect2 30th Anniversary Title’ there. I’m sure fans around the world will be happy about it.”
—Latest Update
“The television anime Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1 will begin airing on January 8, 2026. The movie version that premiered in 2025 was a big hit, and now the continuation will finally be broadcast as a television anime, so please check it out. I’ll be watching too. Huh? Us? We have nothing to do with it. I’m just watching, that’s all. I mean, if it were January 9, there would’ve been something I could announce. But as of today, there’s nothing I can announce, so everyone, please watch the Jujutsu Kaisen anime.”
■ Square Enix
Yosuke Saito
—Ambitions for 2026
“The 40th anniversary year of Dragon Quest is finally here! 40 years… that’s amazing. Personally, after finishing my role as producer on Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age and stepping away from the Dragon Quest team, I returned in April 2024 as the lead on Dragon Quest titles due to organizational restructuring. I’m currently in the middle of developing various projects, so I think there will be a lot more I can share. It’s the kind of thing that makes you go, ‘Wooooooah!’… I’ll do my best, so please give me your support!”
■ Nihon Falcom
Toshihiro Kondo
—Latest Update
“In addition to Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, the sequel to last year’s Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, we also plan to release a new title. The announcement is coming soon, so please look forward to it!”
Hiroshi Fujii
—Latest Update
“Rune Factory 6 is currently in development. I’m working hard to make it something everyone will enjoy.”
Junko Kono
—Latest Update
“It’s a bit frustrating that I can’t share anything concrete about what Rabbit & Bear Studios is working on right now, but… a lot of things are in motion!”