Digimon Survive changes development teams, release date still to be determined

It's been nearly two years since we've last received an update on Digimon Survive, which had seen numerous delays in 2020 and 2021 without much in the way of new information.

For those hoping for a full media & information blowout at today's inaugural Digimon Con event, unfortunately, Bandai Namco did not reveal a release window for the tactical adventure RPG. Instead, producer Kazumasa Habu revealed that Digimon Survive has changed development teams, and thus the production timeline had to be readjusted.

The original developer of the game was Witchcraft. It now seems to be Hyde, according to the official EU website, a developer that has previously worked on games like Rune Factory 5, Olympia Soiree, Code Realize, and Root Letter, according to their website.

Tabu did, however, offer some more details about what players can expect from the game.

Update: The full Q&A has been posted on Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe's website, or the entire Q&A can be viewed on YouTube.

As previously detailed back in 2020, Digimon Survive is part Text Adventure and part Tactical RPG. Habu states that the game balance between these two parts is expected to be 7:3, respectively, with the major components of the game being dialogue with your friends, obtaining information, and finding clues & items. 

As far as the game's tactical parts go, Habu stated that players can bring up to 10 units in battle. Each monster has different movement skill and attack techniques, with directional elements and height differences, as well as other attributes, affecting their damage output. Digimon can also use SP to Digivolve in battle, but this will drain an SP gauge over time. New Digimon can also be recruited on the field through a negotiation-like system.

The game's storyline is divided into 12 chapters, and from chapter 8 onward, the story will branch into three possible routes - Morality, Harmony, and Rage. There will also be a secret 4th route. Habu estimates that the game will take about 40 hours to complete one route, with about  80-100 hours to complete all routes and end-game content. He also states there are 113 monsters in the game.

During the Text Adventure segments, the main characters' Digimon partners will be able to evolve, and which evolution they achieve can depend on 'karma points' achieved depending on the dialogue choices made. Habu states that players won't be able to get all evolutions in one playthrough. There will be a New Game + function, which will carry over items, equipment, levels, evolutions, and monsters acquired. Additionally, new high-difficulty dungeons will appear in NG+, with powerful equipment not found in the main story.

Habu offered some final details about game components. There will be four difficulty levels: Difficult, Normal, Easy, and Very Easy. Digimon Survive will have some voice acting, but only partially throughout the main scenario. There is no multiplayer functionality. Finally. Digimon Survive will be localized into English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish.

For more concrete details about the upcoming release of the game, looks like we'll have to wait a little longer.