SEGA and ATLUS announced the Metaphor: ReFantazio and Like a Dragon GDC 2025 lectures are now available to watch for free on GDC Vault.
Developing ‘Metaphor: ReFantazio‘ and the Potential of RPG Command Battle Systems
How has the genre of command battle RPGs, often ridiculed as old-fashioned, been updated into the latest titles? This presentation from Kenichi Goto (Lead Battle Planner, ATLUS) will cover the twists and turns, decisions made to realize the director’s vision into the optimal game system, and the methods of test play conducted to gather data for balance adjustments more reliably and cost-effectively, using the latest work “Metaphor: ReFantazio” as an example.
From ‘Persona‘ to ‘Metaphor: ReFantazio‘: Creating a Visual Identity for a New Series
This session will introduce the process of realizing the UI style of “Metaphor: ReFantazio.” Koji Ise (Lead Interface Designer, ATLUS) will explain his approach to the art style, convey the importance of UI design to gameplay, explore some of the problems encountered during development, and explain how the team tried to differentiate Metaphor from Persona.
The Secret to Narrative-Driven and Short-Term Development in ‘Like a Dragon‘
Ryosuke Horii (Chief Director and Producer, SEGA) and Eiji Hamatsu (Design Manager, 1st Business Unit, SEGA) explain how the Ryu Ga Gotoku series has been able to continuously develop narrative-driven games in a short period of time.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is now available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Windows (Microsoft Store). Final Weapon reviewed and gave Metaphor: ReFantazio a 5/5 score, noting that it was one of the best games of 2024 and an all-time RPG classic.
Lastly, Final Weapon reviewed Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (YouTube) and gave it a 4 out of 5 score. The game is available now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
