People of Note is shaping up to be one of the most original and ambitious games on the 2026 calendar, blending classic role-playing mechanics with the energy and spectacle of a full musical performance. Published by Annapurna Interactive and developed by Iridium Studios, this turn-based RPG casts music not as background flavor but as the DNA of its world, driving both its narrative and its combat systems in ways few games have attempted before. 

The game is led by creative director Jason Wishnov, best known for his voice work in the Danganronpa series and for directing the 2015 strategy game There Came an Echo. His vision for People of Note draws inspiration from beloved RPGs like Final Fantasy IX while flipping genre expectations on their head: here, combat revolves around stanzas, time signatures, and musical genres, turning every battle into an interactive performance rather than a simple exchange of blows. Attacks and abilities are tied to the rhythm and style of the music playing, with power boosts accruing when players match characters to their preferred genres, and a “super gauge” fueling exciting mashup abilities that can combine disparate genres like rock, EDM, and Celtic to spectacular effect. 

The heart of the experience is the game’s story about melody and identity. Players follow Cadence, a pop-star protagonist who, after being shut out of a prestigious song contest, sets off to build a band and save music itself from a mysterious force distorting the harmony of the world. As she travels through diverse locales like the Rock City of Durandis and the EDM haven of Lumina, she recruits an eclectic cast of musicians who each bring their own musical flavor and combat style to the party. 

A big focus of the game’s development has been the cast and how music is presented. For some characters, the developers chose separate performers for acting and singing, a decision Wishnov explained was made to ensure that both aspects of performance were delivered by artists who perfectly embodied each role. This approach highlights how seriously the team is taking the musical elements, giving as much attention to voice performance as to narrative tone. The core cast includes Cadence herself (acted by Heather Gonzalez with singing by LEXXE), Fret (both acted and sung by Jason Charles Miller, who also composed most of the game’s music), Synthia (with acting by Erika Ishii and singing by Amanda Angeles), and Vox (performed front-to-back by Mansa Wakil Wakili). 

Behind the scenes, audio work is spearheaded by Jimmy Hinsen, bringing in expertise from beyond the traditional gaming industry. The development team reached out to producers with decades of experience across genres like K-pop, EDM, rock, classical, and even Scottish folk to ensure that every musical style in the game feels authentic and compelling. The result is an ambitious, genre-spanning soundtrack that the team hopes players will connect with on a deep level. 

In terms of gameplay mechanics, Wishnov has been clear that the choice of turn-based combat was very intentional. As a long-time fan of the genre, he wanted systems that would slow the pace and allow players to truly appreciate the musical core of the experience, rather than a real-time system that might demand rhythmic precision from players who aren’t trained musicians. This design philosophy turns battles into thoughtful, rhythmic contests that reward strategic use of genre timing and character synergy. 

Fans curious to try the game ahead of its full release will get a chance to dive into a 60–90 minute demo set in the vibrant musical hub of Durandis, The City of Rock. This demo is available on Steam alongside previews, and People of Note will be featured as part of the Steam Next Fest beginning February 23. The full game is slated for release on April 7, 2026 across multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch 2. 

With its fusion of narrative, rhythm, and RPG mechanics, People of Note promises not just a game but rather an experience in a world where every encounter feels like stepping into a stage performance, and where players are invited to find the purpose behind their voice both in battle and in story.