Japanese RPG creators share their aspirations and plans for 2025
In what has been a tradition in the Japanese gaming scene, numerous staff members from the Japanese gaming industry sent messages that include their aspirations for the new year to a couple of Japan's gaming media outlets. It is also the case in 2024, with 4Gamer publishing their message compilation first.
This article should cover most of the aspiration messages from key staff members who particularly worked on RPG titles. Other than the big ones like Square Enix and Atlus, we also spotted messages from other companies like Compile Heart and Nippon Ichi Software, as well as former staff members who have established their own ventures like Toshihiro Nagoshi, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, and Shoji Meguro.
You can find our translations for most of the RPG creators' 2025 aspirations after the jump right below.
Compile Heart
Kei Nanameda
In 2024 we released Death end re;Quest Code Z, which is the series' newest title after a long while. There were many hardships due to it being our first CERO Z title, but we received a lot of affectionate responses to the characters including the new protagonist Sayaka, so I was very grateful about that...!
We are still eagerly developing Todokero! Tatakae! Calamity Angels towards 2025. I apologize for having to make you wait. We'll do our best to realize a bright, fun, and noisy show, so I'd be glad if you kindly look forward to this as well!
Kei Nanameda is the illustrator behind characters in the Mary Skelter and Death end re;Quest series. Calamity Angels was one of the titles Compile Heart unveiled in October 2023, but the company eventually delayed the new RPG's release from Summer 2024 to 2025.
Hikaru Yasui
In 2024 we released 3 titles - Madou Monogatari: Fia to Fushigi na Gakkou, Touhou Spell Carnival, and Neptunia Riders vs Dogoos. 2025 will be a milestone year for the 15th anniversary of the Neptunia series, so we are preparing projects that we can excitingly hype up with all the fans, and we'd also like to spend full power on a new numbered Neptunia entry! I'm doing my best with the entire staff including Tsunako, so please look forward to our expansions!
Hikaru Yasui is the producer and/or director behind the aforementioned titles. Touhou Spell Carnival is already available worldwide, while the new Sorcery Saga entry Madou Monogatari: Fia to Fushigi na Gakkou is still only available in Japan as of this writing.
Akatsuki Games
Isayu Nagayama
Tribe Nine - the title I'm working on - is planned for release in 2025! The whole team is spending their power to polish up the game ahead of release. I'm very looking forward to unveil it to everyone, so I'd be glad if you kindly download and play it. I look forward to seeing you in Neo Tokyo! See you next year!!
Isayu Nagayama is the producer of Tribe Nine, the upcoming free-to-play action RPG for PC and mobile devices developed by former Danganronpa staff members in Too Kyo Games.
Atlus
Yosuke Uda
We're doing our best towards the release of Persona 5: The Phantom X! Please look forward to not only this game but also Atlus in 2025!
Yosuke Uda, who previously also worked on Persona 3, is the producer of Persona 5: The Phantom X, the mobile game which is undergoing process for release in Japan.
Shinjiro Takada
I hope I can announce a title as soon as possible. The team is currently doing their utmost best to have all the fans gradually have fun.
Shinjiro Takada is the producer for Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE and the Devil Survivor series, as well as Shin Megami Tensei titles including Shin Megami Tensei V and its enhanced edition Vengeance.
Yusuke Nitta
Persona 5: The Phantom X, where I'm working as the director, had its Japanese CBT concluded on December 5, 2024. Thankfully we received a lot of reactions and opinions. From here on, the whole team will do their best on the development to make it casually enjoyable to not only players from the early release countries but also to all players in Japan. Please kindly look forward to it!
Yusuke Nitta is the director of Persona 5: The Phantom X.
Naoya Maeda
A year has already passed quickly since Persona 5 Tactica was released. Right now I'm feeling painful that I cannot divulge details about the title I'm working on right here, but I am confident that this title will let all the readers enjoy a new experience. I'd be really glad if you look forward to that. Please look forward to Atlus' Persona team from here on!
Naoya Maeda was the director of Persona 5 Tactica. He also worked on the original Persona 5 and the Persona Q series.
Takuya Yamaguchi
Thank you for the many warm responses for P3R this year! The development had a continuous hardship, but we all truly felt it was worth it after seeing everyone's responses.
Right now I have a yet different position from a director, but I'm working on my job with full strength everyday! I'll do my best in this job too to have everyone enjoy [the resulting game], so I'd be glad if you continue focusing on Atlus.
Takuya Yamaguchi was the director of Persona 3 Reload.
Kazuhisa Wada
2025 will be a year where I carefully grip and control the rudder of several large ships on the same trajectory so that they do not veer off. At the same time, there are also many prepared turns, so I'm proceeding very carefully as I look forward to delivering those to everyone eventually. The mass is so big that if they veer off, the cost to correct them would be tremendous. I should consistently go without underestimating it at all.
In the Persona series, we released Persona 3 Reload in February 2024 and Episode Aigis as a major DLC in September! It's a remake of the timeless masterpiece that has also become the current foundation for Persona, so I can recommend this game with confidence. If you still haven't played it yet, please kindly play it!
In this year, we will also endeavor to deliver games that will remain in everyone's hearts. Please keep on supporting us from here on.
Kazuhisa Wada is a creative producer and chief director in Atlus who had worked on Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Arena and the Persona Dancing games. He is also involved in Persona 5: The Phantom X.
Konami
Rui Naito
Suikoden, which is loved by many RPG fans, and the sequel Suikoden II which tells the story 3 years after, are getting compiled into Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and will be revived vividly.
I think this is the first step to revive the Suikoden series. I'd be glad if you kindly play it.
Rui Naito is the producer for Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars.
Cygames
Yasuyuki Kaji
In 2024, after creating Granblue Fantasy: Relink with long diligence, we were able to safely release it along with its DLC, and it has been played by many users. Thank you very much to everyone who has played it.
Right now I am earnestly working on yet another game. I don't know whether I can announce it to everyone within 2025 or not, but the whole Cygames staff is doing their best to create the best, fun, and new content, so please look forward to us!
Yasuyuki Kaji was the director of Granblue Fantasy: Relink.
CyberConnect2
Hiroshi Matsuyama
In 2025, titles developed by our company like Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 and Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 will be released. Both of them are polished up to be the best masterpieces, so please kindly look forward to them. February 2026 will be the 30th anniversary of the company's establishment, so 2025 will be a countdown year where we will announce many things, so please wait while looking forward to those too.
GPTRACK50
Hiroyuki Kobayashi
I established GPTRACK50 and I also become its representative. In October 2024 we reached our 2nd anniversary so I felt grateful to many people. And we are proceeding well on the development of a new console game that will be released worldwide! The theme song and logo are also finished, so we might be able to reveal the title in 2025.
Our company's brand-new game will be an action RPG, and I want to show it to everyone soon. Please look forward to it! I'd be glad if you focus on GPTRACK50 in 2025 too. Please keep on supporting us.
Hiroyuki Kobayashi formerly worked in Capcom and handled titles like Dragon's Dogma.
Square Enix
Masanori Ichikawa
Continuing to manage Romancing SaGa Re;Universe is an obvious thing, but this year we could release SaGa Emerald Beyond. This is all thanks to all the fans who have supported SaGa. Thank you. I'll do my best next year too.
Masanori Ichikawa is the SaGa series producer. Even though Romancing SaGa Re;Universe had already shut down in the west, it is still ongoing in Japan as of the end of 2024.
Yosuke Saito
2025 is also going to be the milestone year that is the NieR series' 15th anniversary, so I want to do something about it! What should I do... For a sequel, it would have... that kind of expansion... I'm also hearing voices anticipating that. How troubling is it... That being said, there are not few things I must do directly as a producer, so I'd be glad if you wait patiently.
Hiroshi Takai
One thing or another, in 2024 I had nothing but work for Final Fantasy XVI, but in 2025 I feel like I may also get involved in something else. But I won't write the tangible details so I'll do my best next year too! . . .
Hiroshi Takai is the main director of Final Fantasy XVI.
Shinichi Tamura
In 2024 we were able to release Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Thank you to everyone who have played it. I hope in 2025 there will be even more people who play this game even if only a few. It's being made so that it's very easily understandable to people who don't know about the SaGa series too, so I'd be glad if you kindly purchase it or download its demo.
Shinichi Tamura is the producer of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven.
Shinji Tokita
This year was the 30th anniversary of Live A Live, the first title I directed. It was a non-series standalone title, but we were able to realize a remake with the technique that is HD-2D, then we held a major thanksgiving festival at a large hall, a collaboration cafe, and even a dream crossover in Super Robot Wars DD; we were able to spend the best, hype, and fun year with everyone who supported us, so I'd like to express my gratitude once again.
Currently I'm working hard towards a new game under new organization in the reborn Square Enix. I think it'll still take a while until I can inform everyone, but see you in 2025 too!!
Yoji Fujito
Thankfully in 2025, Final Fantasy XI will enter the 24th year since its service began. Amidst the rise and fall of many network services, Final Fantasy XI managed to come this far thanks to the support from the Adventurers. I'd like to use this place to express my deep gratitude to all the Adventurers!
In 2025 I'd like to have a challenge to deliver various changes so that the adventure must still be enjoyable. Please keep on supporting Final Fantasy XI.
Yoji Fujito is the current producer and director for Final Fantasy XI.
Kazuhiro Maetoyo
In this year I was able to meet many people, experience various jobs, and earn a lot of stimulus. I endeavored to make 2024 a year of inputs, and I was able to absorb a lot of things and cram those into game creations, so I think it was a good year.
The next 2025 will be the year of output.
Kazuhiro Maetoyo is the creative director and scriptwriter of Final Fantasy XVI.
Naoki Yoshida
2024 was a hectic year with a lot of overseas trips slipped in with development, PR, and meetings. I feel like these results will gradually come to surface in 2025, so please focus your attention to Square Enix and Creative Studio 3! To all gamers and all Warriors of Light, see you in 2025 too!
Mistwalker
Hironobu Sakaguchi
We're releasing Fantasian Neo Dimension, then produce a new game together with the same team.
Spike Chunsoft
Keisuke Sakurai
2024 began with the release of Shiren the Wanderer 6, followed with several updates and unplanned paid DLC, and then we released a Steam version! I didn't even dream of having my whole year filled with Shiren 6, but this is all thanks to all the Shiren users who helped hype it up. Thank you very much! I hope I can continue hyping up Shiren 6 in 2025 while starting work on the next game.
Keisuke Sakurai is the director of Shiren the Wanderer 6: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island.
Hideyuki Shinozaki
I really spent the whole year with Shiren the Wanderer 6 in 2024. I feel like getting involved this far is also a result of having support from all the users. Thank you very much. 2025 is going to be a year of preparation; I don't know what it will turn out to be, but I want to start the consideration research for the next game!
Hideyuki Shinozaki is the associate producer of Shiren the Wanderer 6.
Nagoshi Studio
Toshihiro Nagoshi
This is going to happen every year, but in 2025 there is no change either to the spending of full power as we must deliver better games. However, we have gathered the required human resources to create the game we want to depict, and the research that forms the foundation is also close to finish, so it's about time we enter a period where the development gets speedier. Once we have finished preparations to publish information about the new game, we will inform it to everyone, so we'll need a bit more time until then.
Nippon Ichi Software
Kento Jobana
I'd be glad if you kindly look forward to Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, the brand-new game that will be released after over 20 years have passed since the first entry! And we are also earnestly developing a new IP that looks cute, heartrending, and strongly idiosyncratic just like any other Nippon Ichi Software IPs, so we'll do our best to have it announced soon! Please kindly look forward to it!
Kento Jobana is the scenario writer for Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero.
Nihon Falcom
Toshihiro Kondo
The objective is to set up an organization that lets each of the development lines added in the company to properly complete their games. There is a limit on how far one could do if they're simply trying hard individually, and adding people and budget don't always mean it'll go well either. The objective is to add partners who can share it.
In 2025 we plan to release Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, which is a full remake of Trails in the Sky FC. Even though it's a 20 years old title, I have a hunch it's going to be a good title thanks to the young staff flexing their skills. It's the beginning of the story for the Trails series, so I would definitely like to have people who are just starting the series to take this one.
Meguro Works
Shoji Meguro
The development for Guns Undarkness, which I'm developing personally, keeps on getting delayed, but I think we should be able to do an Early Access around next year's Spring. This game may look like a shooter game with a near-futuristic science fiction world setting, but its inside is actually a pure turn-based JRPG. It will look like the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei JRPGs I worked on at Atlus, so if you're curious about it, please kindly play it. First of all, click that wishlist on Steam!
Shoji Meguro previously worked for Atlus, mostly as a composer for the latter's titles. He left Atlus in September 2021 and became independent since then.