Project Athia was announced at the PlayStation 5's reveal event last month as a console exclusive. The Square Enix title certainly looked the part in its short gameplay trailer, but it's clearly still very early in development, and knowing Square Enix, it's probably been announced a decade too soon.
Snark aside, Project Athia's back in the conversation after Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda commented on the game in an interview with Japanese publication Weekly Toyo Keizai Plus (as translated by Gematsu). As it turns out, Project Athia's set to be an open world experience. "The game Project Athia (title tentative), which we will release for PS5, is an open-world style game in which users can freely move around the game world," Matsuda confirms.
He goes on to praise the PS5, stating that Project Athia is built to take advantage of the best technology available: "PS5 dramatically improves video technology, such as with the implementation of light-reflecting ‘ray-tracing’ technology. Compared to what you see on PC, it is nearly identical. By utilising these special traits, we’re able to create incredibly precise imagery. We still plan on developing well-balanced games tailored to a platform’s traits, including smartphone and cloud-based games, but we will never stop developing for high-end platforms such as PS5. Because these things are packed with the best technology."
Are you looking forward to seeing more of Project Athia? How long do you think this thing will be in development? Place your bets in the comments section below.
[source premium.toyokeizai.net, via blog.hokanko-alt.com, gematsu.com]
Comments 17
"The game Project Athia (...), is an open-world style game in which users can freely move around the game world," - I thought this deserved a snark comment.
I just REALLY hope it stays it’s own thing and doesn’t pull a ‘surprise! It’s FFXVI’. A whole new franchise without fandom baggage is always nice. But either way it looks really cool!
I am glad that it is open world. We don’t get a lot of them with Japanese game aesthetics
I look forward to playing it in 2031 when it's called Final Fantasy XIX.
We know very little about this game. The first thing that screenshot made me think of is a cleaner more detailed Skyrim. I have yet to make up my mind about whether that is a good thing or not.
Luminous Productions might be pushing their Luminous Engine, it's the same engine which showcased Agni's Philosophy and Final Fantasy XV. I hope Square Enix made an improvement of this engine about moving forwards. Also with the help of a decent hardware specs of a PS5, Project Athia could turn out a visually stunning game.
@Feena What's ''Japanese game aesthetics'' about this one?
Just give me FF7 Remake Part 2 with a semi-open world
I'm willing to bet they're hiding Final Fantasy XVI in plain sight with this Project Athia.
@RBMango Second that.
@RBMango hmmm good thought here. In that case I'm out. If it's not an FF type game I'm in.
There is a very good point (from someone I wont name because some would hate). Its that Future of gaming required to show some gameplay even if a little, running on PS5. Devs who weren't ready to show gameplay might be revealing their games at State of Play
I'm looking forward to this but yeah right now don't know enough to get excited at it.
@HotGoomba Could be because I'm on my iPhone, but the game doesn't look much better than anything we've see so far. That being said, I've not really seen a graphical leap at the beginning of a gen since fight night round 3 going from the ps2/Xbox to the 360/ps3 when the game actually looked phenomenal on the new gen. It was like they were 2 different games.
I am personally looking forward to this one! I k ow it is going to be awhile before we see it (if it is a true open world game), but this one could really be something special.
I truly hope this game is it's own thing and not Final Fantasy XVI.
E3 2021: Sike it's Final Fantasy XVI
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