Japanese developer Atlus opens new studio, Studio Zero

Atlus, the Japanese developer and publisher behind franchises like Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, has opened a brand new studio to work on a new franchise, reportedly a fantasy RPG.

The new studio, currently wearing the Moniker of Studio Zero, is an all new production team that will be lead by the previous director of Persona 5, Katsura Hashino, who reports say will take on the role of producer and director for Studio Zero’s first title.

This news comes from Gematsu, who also say the game will be revealed via a livestream on December 23.

Japanese developer and publisher Atlus has opened a brand new studio in order to work on more games.

Going by the moniker of Studio Zero, the new production team will be led by Katsura Hashino, previously the director of Persona 5. Famitsu, via Gematsu, reports he will take on the role of producer and director for Studio Zero’s first game.

Said game is due to be announced this week via a live stream on December 23rd. Reports from Famitsu, translated by Gematsu, suggest it is a new fantasy RPG title, but not one that uses Atlus’ popular Persona or Megaten franchises.

Gematsu also translated a message on the Studio Zero website from Hashino, which is below in its entirety:

"25 years ago, the Atlus RPG uttered its first cry. Speaking of RPGs in those days, the stories in so-called “fantasy” worlds were mainstream. The Shin Megami Tensei series was released as an “opposition” to such a “common” world view, and the Persona series was released as its spin-off. Both series, even today in their latest entries, have always been made with the concept that it will be a counter to the times. And now, in addition to continuing the titles within those series, what will our approach to a new RPG be? That is, to challenge the norms of the genre gamers have been consuming for decades. The challenge is about to begin. We would be happy if you would stand by for the moment we began from zero and the moment we began our challenge from zero."