Yet Another Atelier Title Is Headed Westward This Year

Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Gust have announced that yet another entry in the long-running Atelier series, Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout, will be headed this westward this year.

Specifically, it’s slated to release for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1 in North America and Europe, respectively.

Needless to say, this is an exciting moment for Atelier fans. Not just because of the release in of itself, but because this will be the third such release within a single year.

As you might recall, Nelke & The Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World came out in March, followed by Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland in May. And if you count things by proximity, instead of by year, then this number would go up by 1 (or 3) thanks to the Arland DX compilation series that released in December.

Fortunately for those who might be burnt out, Atelier Ryza is switching things up to stand ahead of its predecessors.

Namely, the game will feature a new aesthetic utilizing “more realistic shadows; giving birth to a world that feels more expansive and filled with life,” as well as a revamped synthesis system which allows players to actually create various gathering points via alchemy. On top of that, the system was designed so that players would be able to “better understand of the effects of synthesis.”

Seeing as the game comes out only one month after the Japanese release, we still don’t know how any of these promised changes will pan out. For now, the only things we know is the premise: After learning alchemy from a mysterious man on an island, Reisalin “Ryza” Stout, along with her “band of mischievous friends,” will go on an adventure that will ultimately lead her on a quest to save her hometown, and that Ryza has some very noticeable thighs — an intentional design choice by artist Toridamono, and a veritable gold mine to many fan artists.

Though by that same token, this release window pretty much confirms there will be no English dub.

To reiterate, Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is due out for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC on Oct. 29 in North America and Nov. 1 in Europe.

Check out the teaser trailer below: