Koei Tecmo Unveils a Grim ‘AI Chat RPG’ Experience

SpiralAI and Koei Tecmo’s studio Gust have unveiled RyzaChat: Your Midsummer Dream Story featuring AI Ryza, an “AI chat RPG” set in the Atelier Ryza universe. The concept raises some eyebrows. This mobile game for iOS and Android revolves around chatting with an AI version of the beloved protagonist, Ryza.

Players kick off their adventure by messaging Ryza to help her build a boat to escape Kurken Island, which then opens up a world map. From there, they receive AI-generated quests that can be completed through dialogue. The game promises elements like exploration, material gathering, combat, synthesis, and construction, all featuring the full cast from the original Atelier Ryza trilogy. A Chat Mode allows players to interact directly with Ryza, who responds with various facial expressions and gestures.

Koei Tecmo recently announced a partnership with SpiralAI, a Japanese tech startup known for its large language model, Geppetto2. This collaboration aims to “safely deliver Japanese IP to the world.” Regarding RyzaChat, SpiralAI has stated that the game incorporates measures for the “responsible use of AI.” They assure players that there will be no AI-generated videos or images, with all illustrations, character portraits, promotional content, and key visuals crafted by human artists. The voice synthesis is based on recordings from Ryza’s voice actress, Yuri Nohuchi, and the dialogue draws from the Atelier Ryza series’ scripts and reference materials. SpiralAI has committed to sharing revenue with contributors, including illustrators, voice actors, and IP holders, through royalties.

Despite these assurances addressing some ethical concerns surrounding AI, they don’t eliminate all worries. Reports have surfaced about individuals developing unhealthy obsessions with AI-generated romantic partners, spending excessive time interacting with chatbots and becoming emotionally reliant on them. Given the series’ tendency to sexualize Ryza for marketing purposes—often referred to as “Atelier Thighza” by fans—there’s a valid concern that some players might get lost in the world of RyzaChat.

Moreover, the broader issue remains that many AI chat-focused games struggle to deliver quality experiences. They often lack the narrative direction and creativity of a human storyteller, recycling reference materials instead of weaving a cohesive story. Other game developers, like Ubisoft, have dabbled in similar technologies but have seen mixed results.