Atlus wishes to release its next major game project in 2022.

Japanese gaming news portal Famitsu interviewed 127 Japanese developers in the gaming industry about their thoughts and resolutions for 2022. One of these people was The product manager of Atlus’ 1st Creative Department (Shin Megami Tensei, Etrian Odyssey) Shinjiro Takeda.

Takeda commented that: “I chose “challenge” as the keyword for 2022, with the hope to release a game that will become a pillar for Atlus. All of us at Atlus are working hard to develop this game so that it will be interesting and satisfying for everyone, so please look forward to it.”

“Shin Megami Tensei V‘s development has just come to an end, and I’m taking a breather, but I‘m sure I’ll be able to announce something this year (2022) as well, so look forward to it!”

The game that most fans speculate Takeda is talking about is ‘Project Re Fantasy’. A new IP that is being directed by Persona 3-5 director Katsura Hashino which was announced near five years ago. This would be a little odd however since Tekeda is the leader of Atlus Creative Department 1 aka Studio Maniax who works on SMT, while Hashino is head of Atlus Creative Department 3 aka Studio Zero who are working on new IPs with Project Re Fantasy being their first project.

They are the same company so it’s possible they’d be talking about whatever games they’re making in general but it feels like the head of one development department would more likely be talking about games being made by his development department.

Hashino however did say last year in his own Famitsu news years 2021 comment that the development of Project Re Fantasy was reaching its ‘climax’ meaning that it is possible the game could release in 2022.

Atlus’ big release in 2021 was Shin Magami Tensei V for Nintendo Switch. They also announced that ports of 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax would be coming out in 2022. It is possible that Tekada could be referring to more ports for the Persona 25th Anniversary, most notably the rumored Persona 3 and Persona 4 ports to modern consoles.