The Truth Behind Project Re Fantasy's Metaphorical Journey: Revealed by ReFantazio
Discover the truth behind the rumors surrounding Metaphor: ReFantazio with its recent reveal Separating fact from fiction, this article delves into what was right and wrong about the game's development and what fans can expect from Atlus
Metaphor: ReFantazio, the highly-anticipated RPG from Atlus' Project Re Fantasy, was finally unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase 2023. Developed by Studio Zero at Atlus, the game boasts a team of veteran contributors, including Persona series director Katsura Hoshino and renowned character designer Shigenori Soejima. Long-time composer Shoji Meguro also returns to lend his musical talents, despite having officially left Atlus in 2021. With almost no news about the game since its initial announcement in 2016, fans of Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series were undoubtedly surprised by this long-awaited reveal.
Xbox Games Showcase Was Left with Little Surprise from Atlus
Atlus had been notoriously tight-lipped about their upcoming RPG, leading to much speculation and rumors. However, one of the most prominent rumors, which predicted the announcement of a brand-new RPG at the Xbox Games Showcase 2023, turned out to be true. This new title, called Metaphor: ReFantazio, joined the ranks of other highly anticipated Atlus titles such as Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Tactics. Despite this exciting news, most other rumors about the game remained speculative, likely due to Atlus's secrecy surrounding the project. After all, the game had been in development for years without any leaks.
A few years ago, developer Shinjirou Takada mentioned in an interview that Atlus was aiming to release a game in 2022 that would become a significant part of the company. While some thought this could be Project Re Fantasy or another new IP, it turned out to be Soul Hackers 2, which wasn't received enthusiastically upon release. The announcement of Soul Hackers 2 fueled discussion about Project Re Fantasy, with some speculating that the RPG was still far from completion. However, there is no evidence to confirm or deny whether the game's development was delayed in favor of another title. Even if this were the case, it wouldn't have had much of an impact since Metaphor: ReFantazio is still scheduled for release in 2024.
Development Hell Engulfed Discussions About Metaphor: ReFantazio
There have been rumors circulating that Metaphor: ReFantazio has been stuck in development for a number of years, but the evidence supporting this claim is limited to the extended period between trailers and sparse updates provided over the course of nearly six years. However, the game's concept appears to align with what was shown in the 2017 trailer, featuring modern-day society and factions vying for control. The most probable explanation for the lengthy delay in updates is that the game was announced prematurely, with the initial reveal coinciding with the formation of Studio Zero under director Katsura Hashino. With the team's focus on Catherine: Full Body, which was released in 2019, it's possible that Metaphor: ReFantazio was put on hold until full production could begin.
Atlus may have been wise to delay any announcements, including a release date, until they were certain that there would not be a lengthy wait for eager fans. This approach may have been taken to avoid repeating any missteps made in the marketing of Persona 5, which was originally slated for a 2014 release but experienced significant delays. Similarly, the multiple trailers for Shin Megami Tensei 5 in 2017 and 2018 followed by a three-year silence likely left fans feeling frustrated.
It's possible that the game was intended to be revealed earlier, as Hashino had expressed his desire to do so in 2020. However, the only information that came from that statement was that development had reached its peak in December of that year. It's possible that plans were made to reveal the game in 2021, but similar to Persona 5, the team may have realized that more time was needed to dedicate to the project and delayed it internally. This could also explain why Persona 6 has yet to be revealed - Atlus may have adopted a new strategy of only announcing games when they are confident they can meet their release window. The relatively short gap between the announcement and release of Soul Hackers 2 suggests that there is more caution behind Atlus' recent announcements. Nonetheless, the game's existence proves that the rumors of its quiet cancellation are unfounded.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will come out in 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
