Ahead of the game’s launch, Final Weapon had the opportunity to interview No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES director and scenario writer Kazuya Yamada and series director and scenario supervisor Kotaro Uchikoshi. The interview shares insight into Yamada and Uchikoshi’s roles in the game’s creative process, the challenges of developing No Sleep For Kaname Date from AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES for Nintendo Switch 2, and much more.
The full interview is available below (Note: this interview was conducted earlier this June).
It’s been almost three years since the release of AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative in 2022. When did development on No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES start, and what was the team’s initial reaction when it was time to work on the AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES series again?
Yamada: Development began around April 2023. The team members are basically artisans, and many of them do not show much emotion, but I think their reaction was something like, “It sounds interesting, but… can we actually pull it off?”
The story of No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES begins after The New Cyclops Serial Killings were resolved in AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES. Could you explain the creative process behind the story and why this specific period in the series timeline was decided on?
Yamada: First of all, the reason I set the timeline between the first and second games was because I wanted to leave any new developments that would significantly change the characters to Uchikoshi-san. I felt there still might be things left to explore within the existing timeline. The story was created by choosing characters based on the framework of the project. “Date is the main character, and there are Investigation, Somnium, and Escape sections.” The timeframe was already decided. Then it was about creating a plot while setting up new characters to connect and move the characters forward. At this stage of creating the plot, Uchikoshi-san gave me a lot of interesting ideas, so I incorporated those and created the structure of the story.
Was there any feedback that you took into consideration after the release of AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative while developing the new title?
Yamada: We took into consideration a lot of feedback, from big things to minor things, but the one thing that influenced us the most was “Wanting to see more of Date’s exploits” (based on this, we had Date return as the protagonist).
Despite taking place before the events of AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative, No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES includes some returning features, such as Wink Psync. What were some features you felt were necessary to implement in the new game?
Yamada: In addition to Wink Psync, this game includes other features that were added to nirvanA Initiative in order to improve convenience, like “Trivia” in the Investigation section and “Key Rules” in the Somnium section.
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES features the new Escape segment, which joins the returning Somnium and Investigation segments. Can you explain more about the Escape segment and what makes it stand out from the other two gameplay segments?
Yamada: In Escape sections you’ll solve puzzles and riddles within a confined space, with the goal of escaping from that space. The big difference between this and the Somnium sections is that you switch between multiple players to clear the stage. Another difference is that, unlike a Somnium section where you explore a dream world governed by unique rules, an Escape section is set in the real world and follows the laws of physics as you solve seemingly impossible puzzles.
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is the first entry in the series to be developed for the newly released Nintendo Switch 2 console. How was your experience developing the latest AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES game on the new platform?
Yamada: To be honest, it was very difficult (at the time of this writing, we’re still waiting for master approval). Information was restricted in every section and was hidden from everyone except specific members within the company, so I felt that it was very difficult to communicate information and how to proceed without revealing top secret information. However, I was excited to be able to be one of the first to be involved in something “new.”
Are there any plans to bring No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES to Xbox and PlayStation platforms at a later date?
Yamada: Sorry, but I’m not in a position to decide that, so I don’t know.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Yamada: First and foremost, I’m excited that we’ll be able to release this new game for all the fans. At the same time, I completely understand the concerns some may have about Uchikoshi-san not writing the scenario. That said, the core development team has remained largely the same. As fans of the AI series, we’ve poured more effort into this project than ever, and I’m confident you’ll enjoy what we’ve created. Thank you as always for your continued support!
Uchikoshi: No Sleep For Kaname Date is a game made with love by a team that truly cares about the AI series. If you’re a fan, you’ll definitely feel that passion throughout the game. We hope you’re looking forward to it!
Thank you so much for your time!
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES launches on July 25 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.
