were originally created for the PS Vita, and unfortunately, those assets did not meet the visual standards required for modern hardware. As a result, we had to rebuild nearly all Digimon models from scratch — including their skeletal structures. When people think of Digimon implementation, they


tend to imagine their role in battles — and of course, that aspect is well covered. However, in this title, we also put considerable effort into bringing NPC Digimon to life across various areas, refining their movements and behaviors. Additionally, we focused on how partner Digimon behaved when accompanying the player, and even developed the DigiRide system, where each Digimon has a unique riding style and speed. In short, there was an enormous number of tasks we had to tackle. Ultimately, I believe it was the team’s passionate and


borderline obsessive love for Digimon that allowed us to overcome these challenges and bring the game to life.


A lot of positive comparisons were made between Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth and Persona 4. Has the Persona series been a direct influence on the design approach, or is that a happy accident? In the JRPG genre, it’s impossible to ignore the influence of certain titles, and I personally still vividly remember the impact Persona 4 had on me when I played it for the first time without any prior expectations. That said, aside from the fact that both games are set in real Japanese cities, I honestly don’t feel there are many direct similarities. Each title offers unique qualities that can only be expressed within its own world. Digimon as an IP is truly one of a kind. The ability


to form meaningful bonds with monsters who can communicate, the wide variety of evolution paths and unique skills, the dual worlds of the human realm and the Digital World, and the drama that unfolds when those two realities collide — all of these elements make Digimon inherently compelling. In this title, the addition of time as a


narrative element allows for an even more expansive story, and the refined training system — for over 450 Digimon — offers a fresh experience not only for longtime Digimon fans, but also for RPG enthusiasts in general.


In what ways has the feedback on Cyber Sleuth and Hacker’s Memory influenced the gameplay systems in Time Stranger? Elements such as story, design, and music — which were highly praised in the previous title


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— were areas we absolutely could not compromise on, and we made sure to give them the attention they deserved in this installment as well. As for the Digimon included in the game, we selected


them based not only on the narrative and world- building foundations, but also with consideration for fan requests, incorporating as many highly anticipated Digimon as possible. Regarding battle balance, which we weren’t able to


fully address in the previous title, we’ve made significant improvements this time. While I’ll refrain from going into detail here, the system has been refined to allow players to freely build parties with their favorite Digimon and enjoy more strategic battles.


A group of twelve mythology inspired Digimon called the Olympos XII are important to the story of Time Stranger. What made you decide to put the spotlight on those characters in particular? In the previous title, Cyber Sleuth, the story centered around the Royal Knights — thirteen powerful Digimon. In this installment, we’ve chosen to focus on the Olympos XII, who are said to possess power equal to that of the Royal Knights. Despite their strong lore, these Digimon have rarely been


featured prominently in past works, which made this a fresh challenge for us. To explore new possibilities for the Digimon IP, we decided to build the story around them and the world they protect — Digital World: Iliad.


You’ve said that no prior experience with Digimon is necessary to fully enjoy the game. Did you make a conscious effort to make the game accessible to newcomers? One of the key points we focused on throughout the game was creating a strong sense of immersion in the story.


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