Japanese developer Atlus has announced that information regarding the new Shin Megami Tensei project for Nintendo Switch will be live-streamed this coming Monday, October 23. Since the project was announced at the Switch unveiling event back in January, details have been sparse. Fans aren’t sure if the new game is a remake, a sequel, or a spin-off in the vein of Persona—all we know is that it’s an “HD” title working on Unreal Engine 4. We’re certain to know much, much more on Monday, when the stream goes live at 5 AM PST.
Though not exactly a household name in the West, Shin Megami Tensei is one of the most enduring, popular, and successful franchises in the history of Japanese gaming. Dating all the way back to the 1987 Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei on Famicom, the series has become famous for its dungeon crawling, lively turn-based combat, and lengthy adventures—usually numbering in the hundreds of hours. And though Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest are easily the most successful JRPG series, Shin Megami Tensei has retained a strong cult following and unique identity, thanks to its dark, controversial, and mature themes.
The series has found life and new audiences through its long lineage of spin-off series as well. Perhaps none are more notable than Persona, which has become a cross-over hit in the West since the well-received and visually striking Persona 3—in which characters summon their “Personas” for battle by shooting themselves in the head. One part challenging dungeon crawler and one part high school simulation, the curious series has officially entered the mainstream. The recent Persona 5 was the biggest international debut for a Shin Megami Tensei game, and was only second to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the charts.
Whether this mystery Switch project will be another Persona or a true Shin Megami Tensei is anyone’s guess at this point. In just three short days, however, we’ll have the answers.