Metaphor: ReFantazio team expresses ongoing interest in creating a fantasy game while focusing on evolving their JRPG vision.

Director Katsura Hashino from Atlus’ Studio Zero has expressed a strong interest in continuing to develop fantasy games following the anticipated release of their 2024 JRPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio. More than just sticking to familiar formulas, the team is eager to explore new directions for the JRPG genre.

While Metaphor: ReFantazio isn’t a direct entry in the Persona series, it draws on elements from Atlus’ previous titles, such as a calendar system and social links—though these have been rebranded. In a recent interview, Hashino shared insights into the team’s creative ambitions.

When asked if the team feels fulfilled after creating a fantasy game, Hashino remarked, “I think the desire is still there. I’m not sure if it’s deepened or dissipated, but it’s still there.” He emphasized that this desire is just one aspect of their vision. “More so than just latching onto a specific genre of game, we’re going back to how we can evolve our JRPG and what it looks like. For us, it’s coming to a turning point where we want to really take it to the next level in terms of how our JRPGs are. It’s not just tied to a genre, for example, so we’re looking at, from different angles, how we can evolve our games.”

Hashino acknowledged that the studio has relied on a consistent format for their games over the years, recognizing the need to adapt to modern gaming trends. “Of course, we want to retain our strengths, whether that be our narrative or elements that make us JRPGs. With these changing times, we do feel the need to update our format and create games that would be more widely playable, not just within the JRPG realm, but something that would be easier, more accessible for a wider audience. We’re hoping to update our format with that in mind.”

He has also been contemplating the future of JRPGs, suggesting that the genre is entering what he calls “JRPG 3.0,” a phase he hopes his upcoming game will help define. Given his impressive track record, there’s plenty of excitement about what lies ahead.

The developers of Metaphor: ReFantazio are committed to thoughtful development, stating they don’t want to rush out a sequel in response to the game’s success: “We want to really give it some thought.”