During the last Nintendo Direct, lost in the surprise of Link’s Awakening, the excitement surrounding Platinum’s Astral Chains, and the anticipated reveal of Super Mario Maker 2 was the brief announcement of Square Enix’s brand-new IP, Oninaki. Marketed as title from the developers behind I am Setsuna and Lost Sphere, the title was presented in the Switch highlight reel as a traditional JRPG based around a “soul” system. In a recent issue of Famitsu, as reported by Gematsu, the details of the game’s staff came to light, with the big name being its creative producer, Takashi Tokita.
According to the magazine, Tokita will lead the creative team for the game, having previously done directorial and scenario writing work for the highly acclaimed classic, Chrono Trigger. Hirotaka Inaba, from Tokyo RPG Factory, the company behind the aforementioned I am Setsuna and Lost Sphere, will handle scenario. I am Setsuna released back in 2016, with Lost Spear being its spiritual successor just a year later. According to the writer, the new project will be an “intensely shocking title.”
Rounding out the staff is Tokyo RPG Factory director Atsushi Hashimoto and producer Ryutaro Sasaki. Tomonori Kogawa was responsible for the beautiful logo of the game. While it’s unclear the specific responsibilities a creative producer has in working on a game, having a longtime RPG veteran like Tokita on board not only appeals to gamers, but probably sends a reassuring message overall in regards to the quality of the game. According to the team, development for Oninaki is around 65 percent complete.
Though the title was revealed during a Nintendo Direct, the upcoming JRPG is not a console exclusive. Oninaki will release on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC sometime this summer.
For more info and a first look at the game, check out the trailer below: