In the latest issue of Dengeki PlayStation, you can find an interview with the man with a plan behind the Atelier franchise, Yoshito Okamura. In that interview he confirmed something we probably knew deep down – there’s another Atelier title in development.
The last three titles – Atelier Rorona, Atelier Totori and Atelier Meruru – were all set in the land of Arland, but that isn’t the case with the new game. Of those three, two have been localized (Rorona last year, and Totori coming our way on September 27th), and I don’t think the third one is far behind. Even though the setting of Arland was seen as a trilogy, Okamura-san also stated that they would examine the possibility of revisiting that kingdom as the setting for a future title if fan demand was there.
I’m a fan of the Atelier games – not because they’re out-of-this-world, must-have RPGs or have unique or genre-defining mechanics, because that isn’t what these games are about. I do feel, however, that they’re some of the most endearing RPGs around, and actually have heart, unlike your typical hyped up Final Fantasy or over-dramatic Monster Hunter rip-off of the month. I’m excited to see where the franchise goes next.