Metaphor: ReFantazio Takes Atlus Back to Basics, Now We Wait for What’s Next

Katsura Hashino, known for his direction on Persona 3, 4, and 5, recently joined Game Informer for a candid chat about the upcoming JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio. According to Hashino, this project has been a kind of reset for the team at Atlus’ Studio Zero, enabling them to “go back to our basics.” He expressed optimism about how this experience will shape their future titles.

Hashino pointed out that while Metaphor is a new intellectual property, the team did integrate “certain elements from past titles that we worked on and evolved them for this title.” For instance, features reminiscent of the Persona calendar system and its social links found their way into this new fantasy setting, even though they’re packaged differently than before.

“But, that being said, it really was the first time in a while that our team built from the ground up,” he shared. “I think it goes back to Persona 3 when we did something similar in scope. We were creating a world and lore, really, from the ground up.”

In the interview, Hashino elaborated on how this opportunity with Metaphor allowed the team to reassess their strengths. “This helped us assess which elements we excelled at that we wanted to carry over into Metaphor, and which elements we really didn’t need to. That helped us view the things that we built previously from a new lens.” This deep dive into their past work has laid a solid foundation for future projects.

Studio Zero’s ambition doesn’t stop there. In an intriguing twist, Hashino hinted at a new phase for the JRPG genre, calling it “JRPG 3.0.” He’s determined that Metaphor: ReFantazio will exemplify this evolution. It’s an ambitious statement that leaves fans pondering what innovations lie ahead.

As for a sequel, Hashino is clear that the team isn’t looking to rush anything. “We don’t want to quickly put out a follow-up to respond to this game’s success,” he noted. Instead, he aims for a thoughtfully crafted continuation that builds upon the values established in Metaphor, ensuring it would be rewarding for fans anticipating more.

Interestingly, Hashino responded to fan theories linking Metaphor: ReFantazio with the latest Persona titles and Catherine. He clarified, “I didn’t plan it at all,” emphasizing that any connections are entirely unintentional. It adds an exciting layer to the lore that fans can dive into, even if it was an unexpected development.