Metaphor: ReFantazio

Metaphor: ReFantazio is an upcoming role-playing game developed by Studio Zero and published by Atlus. It will be their first wholly original game since the studio's establishment in 2016, and is being led creatively by director Katsura Hashino, character artist Shigenori Soejima and music composer Shoji Meguro, all of who have previously contributed to various titles in the Megami Tensei franchise.
The game takes place in a medieval European-inspired fantasy setting that is considered the "mirror" to the contemporary backdrop of the real world, and follows a non-silent protagonist who must embark on a journey to protect their kingdom, while overcoming numerous obstacles and forging alliances with many companions he meets along the way.
The game was announced under its codename, "Project Re Fantasy" in December 2016 alongside the establishment of Studio Zero, a new development team within Atlus comprised primarily of alumni who were formerly associated with P-Studio, the primary development team responsible for the modern Persona games. The game was officially unveiled in June 2023. 
It will be released in Fall 2024 for Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4/5, and Steam.
==Gameplay==
Metaphor: ReFantazio utilizes combat mechanics from the Shin Megami Tensei series, such as the Press Turn system. It also has social mechanics from the Persona series, such as a calendar, and equivalents to the Social Links and Social Stats of the respective games.
==Playable Characters==
* Protagonist - he takes on a journey to lift a deadly curse placed on the prince of Euchronia, his childhood friend.
* Gallica - the protagonist's guide and partner. Too weak to participate in combat, she specializes in various magic and knowledge. She's outspoken, but reassuring.
* Strohl - a smart young man with a strong sense of justice, but has complicated circumstances.
* Hulkenberg - a knight with excelling ability in use of weaponry, she was driven to wander after failing to protect the prince to whom she was assigned to.
* Heismay - former knight with acute perception. He and his tribe are discriminated against, as he carries his past like a burden.
==Development==
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Following the release of Persona 5 in Japan, Atlus' new production company "Studio Zero" was established to develop the game. The game was first announced under the moniker "PROJECT Re FANTASY" in December 2016.緊急発表：【先出し週刊ファミ通】アトラスが新たなプロダクションを立ち上げ、王道かつアトラスらしい“ファンタジーRPG”を作る！ コンセプトアートを最速公開！（2016年12月22日発売号） Famitsu. (川島KG; December 20, 2016)アトラスの新規王道ファンタジーRPG“PROJECT Re FANTASY”の公式サイトがオープン　コンセプトビデオも公開 Famitsu. (December 23, 2016)アトラスが「PROJECT Re FANTASY」で目指す“真なるファンタジーへの回帰”とは。プロデューサー 橋野 桂氏が新たなRPGへの挑戦について語る 4Gamer.net. (February 3, 2017)
According to director Katsura Hashino, the theme of the game surrounding fantasy wasn't immediately decided upon: only after many discussions among staff would Hashino notice that the word "fantasy" was brought up many times. In spite of Megami Tensei and Persona being set in the modern world, Studio Zero decided on unraveling the fantasy genre in their own way, in addition to its overall long-lasting popularity.https://www.famitsu.com/news/202306/20306736.html
One of Metaphor: ReFantazio's themes is "utopia," and the fantasy world loved by many is filled with ideals that can never come true in reality. With that perspective in mind, one can interpret what the main characters are trying to do and what they dream of by partaking in the alternate world, in spite of the fact they're supposed to be in a completely different world at first glance. Additionally, Hashino wondered about the idea of bringing back a certain experience from the fantasy world back to the real world.
Upon creating a fantasy world, Hashino wondered about developing a fantasy world that has nothing to do with reality, and whether it'd be a waste to completely have it cut ties with the real world. Hashino believes that fantasy has attracted many followers in both the past and present because its roots lie in something that does not end with mere fantasies. One point of note is that Metaphor: ReFantazio was designed differently from classical fantasy RPGs: Hashino asked staff members of another development team to try out their game, and they responded with initial worry about it being an orthodox fantasy game, but were relieved when it turned out to be different.
It would later be announced over six years later, with a confirmed release set for 2024.
==Connections to Megami Tensei==
* A resource called Mag, possibly short for Magnetite.
* Multiple skills from the Megami Tensei series like Matarukaja and Tetra Break appear in the game.Metaphor: ReFantazio Megami Tensei skills
* A Calendar system similar to the one in the Persona games.
* A bonds system similar to Social Links/Confidants in the Persona games and the Fate System in Devil Survivor 2.
* A system similar to Social Stats of the Persona series.
* During the games trailer there are multiple references to the modern world, this in combination with the previously listed connections to Megami Tensei has led some fans to theorize that this modern world is connected to the world of the Megami Tensei games, while this has been neither confirmed nor denied it was acknowledged as a possibility on an official live stream about the gamehttps://www.youtubetrimmer.com/view/?v=iztWrST0R1M&start=1700&end=1730&loop=0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iztWrST0R1M&ab_channel=atlustube
==Gallery==
File:MetaphorReFantazio Artwork.png|Artwork
Metaphor ReFantazio key art 1.jpg|
MRF_Protagonist.jpg|The protagonist and Gallica
MRF_Capital.jpg|
MRF_Combat.jpg|
MRF_Menu.jpg|
Metaphor ReFantazio concept art 1.jpg|Concept art
Metaphor ReFantazio concept art 2.jpg|Concept art
Metaphor ReFantazio concept art 3.jpg|Concept art
Metaphor ReFantazio Protagonist art.png|Protagonist
Metaphor ReFantazio Gallica art.png|Gallica
Metaphor ReFantazio Strohl art.png|Strohl
Metaphor ReFantazio Hulkenberg art.png|Hulkenberg
Metaphor ReFantazio Heismay art.png|Heismay
Metaphor ReFantazio Gallica.png|Gallica
Metaphor ReFantazio Gallica sitting.png|
『メタファー：リファンタジオ』ファーストトレーラー|Metaphor: ReFantazio Announcement Trailer (JP)
『メタファー：リファンタジオ』セカンドトレーラー「The Royal Tournament」|Metaphor: ReFantazio "The Royal Tournament" Trailer (JP)
アトラス完全新作ファンタジーRPG『メタファー：リファンタジオ』発表記念特番 ～帰ってきた！？ストーカー倶楽部～|Metaphor: ReFantazio Stream (JP)
『メタファー：リファンタジオ』CREATOR'S MESSAGE|Metaphor: ReFantazio Creator's Message (JP)
Metaphor- ReFantazio — Announcement Trailer - Xbox Series X-S, Windows PC|Metaphor: ReFantazio Announcement Trailer (EN)
Metaphor- ReFantazio — The Royal Tournament - Xbox Series X-S, Windows PC|Metaphor: ReFantazio "The Royal Tournament" Trailer (EN)
Metaphor- ReFantazio — Studio Zero Developer Interview|Metaphor: ReFantazio Studio Interview (EN)
==Trivia==
* Metaphor: ReFantazio is the first game in the Megami Tensei series to be localized in Latin American Spanish.
==In Other Languages==
Language 	Title
Japanese 	メタファー：リファンタジオ
Korean 	메타포: 리판타지오
Traditional Chinese 	暗喻幻想：ReFantazio
Simplified Chinese 	暗喻幻想：ReFantazio
French 	Metaphor: ReFantazio
Italian 	Metaphor: ReFantazio
German 	Metaphor: ReFantazio
Spanish (Spain) 	Metaphor: ReFantazio
Spanish (Latin America)	Metaphor: ReFantazio
Portuguese (Brazil) 	Metaphor: ReFantazio
==External Links==
* Official Japanese Website
* Official Japanese Website (English)
* Official Western Website
* Official Traditional Chinese Website
* Official Simplified Chinese Website
* Official Korean Website
==References==
Category:Games
Category:Metaphor: ReFantazio