AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative

*For the titular event featured in the game, see here.*

* Cover
* Logo

***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initative*** (アイ：ソムニウムファイル ニルヴァーナ イニシアチブ, *AI: Somuniumu Fairu Niruvaana Inishiachibu*) is a sequel to *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES* directed by Akira Okada, written by Kotaro Uchikoshi, and developed by Spike Chunsoft. Its release date is June 24th, 2022 (JP), June 24th, 2022 (NA), and July 8th, 2022 (EU) for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Steam. The story follows two pairs of protagonists—an older Mizuki partnered with the returning Aiba, and the rookie Kuruto Ryuki partnered with the new AI-Ball unit Tama—investigating the mysterious case of the Half Body Serial Killings.

The game was initially teased by the Spike Chunsoft Twitter account on June 28th, 2021, under the hashtag #NineEyesTV, linking to a website with various puzzles centered around 9 eyes. Solving all the puzzles revealed the password "Nirvanainitiative", which led to a countdown for June 30th. At 5 PM PDT, the website changed and the announcement trailer for *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative* was revealed.

On September 23rd, the exclusive GoodSmile figure for the Collector's Edition was revealed, featuring Aiba in both her human and hamster form. On November 24th, the cover art for *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative* was revealed, featuring brand new and returning characters. On January 25th of 2022, new information was revealed regarding the main protagonists of the game, revealing the identities of the main leads Kuruto Ryuki and Tama. Just two days later, on January 27th, the first story trailer for the game was released, showcasing many new and returning characters and revealing the release date as June 24th, 2022. On March 10th, Weekly Famitsu released an article featuring new information on the game and an interview with Uchikoshi and Okada; the article featured an in-game image with a QR code, which fans discovered led to the mysterious video "Fray to Free." The gameplay trailer for the game was released on April 5th, showcasing the new mechanics introduced in the Famitsu article.

On May 9th, the European and Australian copies of the console versions were delayed to July 8th due to manufacturing delays and global shipping slowdowns.

## Story

> *Six years ago, the right half of a corpse was discovered. The left half was never found…until six years later, completely fresh with no signs of decay. Now, Special Agents Mizuki and Ryuki, along with their AI partners Aiba and Tama, are tasked to solve the bizarre Half Body serial killings while unveiling the mysterious plot known only as the Nirvana Initiative…*
>
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The story of ***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*** is split into two separate halves, following two different pairs of protagonists. In "**Side: Ryuki**," protagonists Kuruto Ryuki and his AI-Ball Tama of ABIS begin their investigation three months after the events of *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES* when the right half of a body appears during a quiz show. "**Side: Mizuki**" follows returning characters Mizuki and Aiba, beginning six years later, when the body's matching left half is found in a stadium with no sign of decay.

### Chapters

The game is divided into different chapters, categorized under February 10th to 15th, and also known as "Chapter 0-5". With exception of Chapter 0, each day contains up to 3 subchapters, typically including one Somnium. When the story diverges again after the end of the first Somnium, a suffix such as "R1", "R2", "M2", "M3", etc. will be added after Chapter according to the branch. All subchapters will be divided into two parts: 6 Years Ago and Present.

The events of each "Chapter" change depending on the choices made in previous subchapters and the current branch of the story. There are 48 subchapters in the game, and between 15 to 19 subchapters in a given route (only 8 subchapters in a hidden route). The game's subchapters are listed below, split into their respective routes:

## Characters

The story of *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative* follows two protagonists and their respective AI partners, totalling 4 playable characters. The protagonists are:

* Special Agent Mizuki Date (VA: Corina Boettger EN, Tomoyo Kurosawa JP): The main protagonist of ***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative***. She appears as the protagonist of "**Side: Mizuki**" in the present (18 years old), and as a supporting character in "**Side: Ryuki**" 6 years in the past (12 years old). She's ABIS's new Special Agent. A Psyncer who uses the Psync Machine to infiltrate the brains of suspects and key witnesses. Mizuki lost her left eye and is now fitted with a replacement eye equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (the AI-Ball "Aiba"). Despite still being a high school student, her strong physical abilities and clever mind have earned her a special accommodation in ABIS. A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*.

* Aiba (VA: Erika Harlacher EN, Akari Kito JP): The main deuteragonist of ***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*** and an assistant investigator. She appears as the deuteragonist of "**Side: Mizuki**" set 6 years in the future (11 years old). Aiba is an autonomous artificial intelligence that usually takes the form of an eyeball residing inside Mizuki's left eye socket. Her job is to assist Mizuki during investigations by connecting to networks to gather information and using special functions such as X-ray and thermographs. Because she has been working as an assistant investigator for a long time, she is adept at reading human psychology and emotional states. A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*, where she was previously the partner to Special Agent Kaname Date.

* Special Agent Kuruto Ryuki (VA: Stephen Fu EN, Atsushi Tamaru JP): The secondary protagonist of ***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative***. He appears as the protagonist of "**Side: Ryuki**" set 6 years in the past (23 years old), and as a main character in "**Side: Mizuki**" 6 years in the future (29 years old). He's ABIS's new Special Agent. A rookie investigator with a strong sense of justice. However, he is not the hot-blooded type; he has a reserved and gentle nature. He is a well-educated young man. Unfortunately, both his parents and his brother have passed away... Fighting through his painful past, he aims to solve difficult cases with his partner, Tama, who is implanted in his left eye socket.

* Tama (VA: Anairis Quiñones EN, Ai Kakuma JP): The secondary deuteragonist of ***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*** and an assistant investigator. She appears as the deuteragonist of "**Side: Ryuki**" set 6 years in the past. Like Aiba, she is an AI-Ball equipped with advanced artificial intelligence. She is usually found in Ryuki's left eye socket and supports him in his work. She has a motherly quality to her, being both stern and kind (although she is 90% stern...). She inspires Ryuki by whipping his ass into shape. Purely coincidentally, she is also a sadistic character who literally enjoys whipping ass.

In addition to that, a whole slate of characters appear in *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*. Some are returning, and some are brand new.

The main characters pivotal to the plot are:

* Amame Doi (VA: Faye Mata EN; Risa Kubota JP): A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. A Sekiba High Senior and "Mermaid" at Sunfish Pocket, appearing at 18 years old in the past. She has a sharp tongue, but is never really malicious. She's in the school dance club with Iris and Kizuna and is friends with Mizuki and Ota. A regular at Brahman and close with Gen.

* Gen Ishiyagane (VA: SungWon Cho EN; Yasumichi Kushida JP): A man who runs a restaurant called Brahman World Cuisine (無国籍料理ブラフマン, *Mukokusekiryōri Burafuman*) in Golden Yokocho in the past and the present. Always wears a mask for some reason. His cooking is excellent. The restaurant is frequented by members of ABIS, such as Mizuki and Ryuki.

* Andes Komeji (VA: Brent Mukai EN; Shinobu Matsumoto JP) — A former "Quiz King" turned comedian, appearing at 46 years old in the past. He has made some TV appearances but isn’t very successful. He was the host of the game show when the right half of a body suddenly appeared in the studio during the webcast. The appearance of the half body marked the beginning of the Half Body serial killings case.

* Shoma Enda (VA: Greg Vinciguerra EN; Hiromi Igarashi JP): A 6th grader and Komeji’s son, appearing at 12 years old in the past. His parents are divorced. He lives with his poor comedian dad, but despises him. In the same grade as Mizuki, but doesn't seem to have much contact with her.

* Kizuna Chieda (VA: AmaLee EN; Emiri Suyama JP) — The daughter of the uber-rich Chieda family, appearing at 18 years old in the past. A senior at Sekiba High, she is a member of the same dance club as Iris: she's even won a contest before. Kizuna is good friends with Iris. Through Iris she is also friends with Mizuki.

* Lien Twining (VA: Y. Chang EN; Hidenori Takahashi JP): A locksmith, appearing at 22 years old in the past. A young man who frequents Matsushita Diner, Lien was there when Ryuki went to the diner as part of his investigation. He had recently lost his job, and was alone at the diner, mourning his loss, but found love at first sight with Kizuna and proposed to her on the spot.

* Tokiko Shigure (VA: Laura Post EN; Yoko Soumi JP): The President of NAIXATLOZ Japan Branch, appearing at 53 years old in the past. A believer in Simulation Theory, she sincerely believes that the world she lives in is fake and was created by someone. According to her, the purpose of Naix is to find a "seam" that should exist somewhere in this world, to bring down the false world, and to lead people to liberation.

* Masked Woman: A masked assailant that attacks Mizuki at the stadium. She appears to be female based on body shape.

* Kaname Date (VA: Greg Chun EN; Tarusuke Shingaki JP): the original protagonist of *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. Date is a Special Agent at ABIS, and Aiba's former partner/host. However, Aiba is no longer in his left eye socket, and instead an eyepatch rests where she once resided. He is stated to play an important role in the story.

* Tearer: A mysterious person wearing an iron mask. Claimed to be the culprit of the HB Case.

The secondary supporting cast for the game includes:

* Chikara Horadori (VA: Frank Todaro EN; Mitsuru Ogata JP): The Director of the Horadori Institute of Genetics, appearing at 60 years old in the past. A brilliant scientist who established the Horadori Institute of Genetics at a young age. The institute mainly researches DNA treatment and gene therapy. As the investigation of the Half Body serial killings progresses, the Institute's involvement with the mysterious "Bats490" video, suspected to be related to the case, emerges. As the director of the institute Horadori also becomes a target of ABIS's investigation.

* Boss (VA: Allegra Clark EN; Yuko Kaida JP): A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. ABIS's Commander, appearing at 43 years old in the past and at 49 years old in the present. She is present during the investigations of both halves of Jin Furue's body.

* Pewter (VA: Sean Chiplock EN; Hiroki Goto JP): A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. ABIS’s engineer and a brilliant mechanic, appearing at 37 years old in the past and 43 years old in the present. He manages and operates the Psync Machine for both Ryuki and Mizuki.

* Iris Sagan (VA: Jackie Lastra EN; Nao Shiraki JP): A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. An internet idol affiliated with the talent agency Lemniscate, appearing at 18 years old in the past. Her idol name is A-set, but her fans call her Tesa. She loves the occult and urban legends. Iris is a senior at Sekiba High, and a member of the dance club. Iris and Mizuki were present at the studio when the right half of a body suddenly appeared during the webcast of a game show.

* Mama (VA: *unknown* EN; Kenta Miyake JP): A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. Owner of the bar Marble in Golden Yokocho, Shinjuku, appearing at 36 years old in the past. She also works as an information broker in the criminal underworld, and has taken up fortune-telling as a side business.

* Riichi Chieda: Kizuna's father, appearing at 54 years old in the past. Founder of the Chieda Foundation and Aioen Orphanage, and shareholder of Horadori Institute of Genetics.

* Jin Furue: The president of Music Food and the first victim of the Half Body Serial Killings, seemingly killed 6 years ago. His right half was found at Studio Dvaita, where his body is caught in an explosion, witnessed by the 12-year-old Mizuki. However, in present day, his left half was found in an empty sports stadium by the 18-year-old Mizuki.

Minor characters who are mentioned or make occasional appearances include:

* Ota Matsushita (VA: Zach Aguilar EN; Natsumi Fujiwara JP): A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. A Net Idol otaku, NEET, and enthusiastic follower of Iris, appearing at 24 years old in the past. He has taken up in managing the newly reopened Matsushita Diner.

* Moma Kumakura (VA: Kaiji Tang EN; Wataru Takagi JP): A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. The chairman of the Kumakura Family, appearing at 48 years old in the past. He attends a gameshow with Chinpei Wagai, Iris Sagan, and Mizuki Date, where the right half of Jin Furue's body is found.

* Hitomi Sagan: A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. Iris's mother, appearing at 37 years old in the past. Her right arm was injured in an incident in the past, so she cannot move it.

* So Sejima: A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. A former congressman, a member of the post-war generation, appearing at 61 years old in the past. He retired from politics after the Cyclops Serial Killings, but remains a huge influence in society.

* Detective Mikoto Ushidera: An investigator present at both crime scenes, attempting to solve and understand the mystery of Jin Furue's murder, appearing at 42 years old in the past and at 48 years old in the present.

* Inspector: A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. An inspector from the Metropolitan Police Department, appearing at 30 years old in the past and at 36 years old in the present. He seemingly has a forgettable name.

* Chinpei Wagai: A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. A former member of the Kumakura Family, appearing at 24 years old in the past. He attends a gameshow with Moma Kumakura, Iris Sagan, and Mizuki Date, where the right half of Jin Furue's body is found.

* Nurse: A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. A nurse who works at both Central Hospital and with small group of actors, appearing at 36 years old in the past.

* Yakuza (Dokuta Yogano): A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. A member from the Kumakura Family, appearing at 48 years old in the present. He becomes insane for some reason.

* Mamoru Bodai: A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. Used to work for So Sejima as one of his bodyguards, but now he works for Tokiko Shigure, President of the Naixatloz Japan Branch, as her secretary and bodyguard.

* Receptionist: A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. The receptionist at Lemniscate Entertainment Offices, appearing at 36 years old in the past.

* Taxi Driver: A returning character from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. A taxi driver who specializes in driving celebrities and entertainers, appearing at 55 years old in the past.

* Horadori Researchers: A group of genetic scientists dressed in red hazmat suits. They work as scientists at the Horadori Institute of Genetics.

* Naix Members: Team members of the Naixatloz Japan Branch. Wears a gray uniform with a hood.

* Foreign Mercenaries: A returning character group from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. Gangsters who act as a threat to the targets' safety for the bounty provided by the clients.

* Special Assault Team: A returning character group from *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*. A police tactical unit maintained by individual Japanese prefectural police and supervised by the National Police Agency.

## Gameplay

Much like the previous game, players take the role of Special Agents Mizuki and Ryuki as they explore Tokyo in search of clues, witnesses, and suspects. The gameplay is split between investigation in the real world and investigation of dream worlds, or Somnia.

In real-world investigations, the player moves the cursor to select objects and people in order to interact with them. Aiba and Tama come with unique AI Sight functions, such as the returning Zoom, X-ray, and Thermo. A new mechanic called "Virtual Reality" has been added, in which the protagonists explore a virtual recreation of a crime scene, and the additional "Truth Reenactment" sees them piece together what happened there and recreate the sequence of events. Another new mechanic is Wink Psync, a simplified form of Psyncing that allows a quick six-second peek into a character's thoughts to determine if they may be lying or withholding information.

In Somnium investigations, the player must complete puzzles within a six minute time limit, and interacting with objects consumes a set amount of time. Taking certain actions may cause the story to branch in different directions, but running out of time will result in a game over. The TIMIE mechanic and progression through Mental Locks return, but quality of life improvements are introduced, such as toggling the flowchart on or off, toggling the TIMIEs to be visible, and icons signaling what objects to interact with. Movement in Somnia is expanded with the addition of swimming underwater and flying through the air. NirvanA Initiative features a new "Key" system, in which hints about the rules of a character's Somnium are gradually revealed through further investigation. Once all branches of a Somnium have been completed, it is possible to replay it in "Unlimited Psync" mode, which removes the time limit entirely.

Additionally, the game features several difficulty modes that affect time usage in Somnium, as well as the difficulty of quick time events.

Bonus features include Eyeballie, a digital pet-raising game, and Aiba/Tama's room, where the player can receive counseling from the current protagonist's AI-Ball or dress them up in unlockable costumes.

## Version Differences

Depending on the region and console, different versions of the game will include different audio tracks and/or text options. Below is a chart that lays out all the available options for each region and console:

## Editions

The game is planned to release in at two separate editions on consoles: a Standard Edition and a Collector's Edition. To compensate, the Steam release also includes a Deluxe Edition with its own set of bonuses.

### Standard Edition

The Standard Edition is the version of the game that will be available on all regions. It will be sold at the starting price of $59.99 USD, the standard price for all console video games. It comes with the game itself within the standard box. This version will be available on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam, with physical versions for the Switch, PS4, and Xbox One being confirmed so far. It is planned to release on June 24th, 2022.

### Collector's Edition

* Collector's Edition
* Aiba GoodSmile figure
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The Collector's Edition is an upgraded edition of the game, featuring many bonus materials and collectibles. It will be sold at $119.99 USD and is currently only announced for North America. This edition will be sold for the Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.

The Collector's Edition comes with:

* A Collector's Edition outer box featuring an original box artwork design by Yūsuke Kozaki
* Physical copy of ***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative***
* SECRET OF THE WORLD: THE DEFIniTIVE ART BOOK: collection of concept art and illustrations by Yūsuke Kozaki
* HARMOniOUS DISCORD: official soundtrack by returning composer Keisuke Ito
* An exclusive Good Smile Company POP UP PARADE ~170mm PVC figure of the beautiful AI-Ball “Aiba”

### Deluxe Edition

The Deluxe Edition is a special Steam-only bundle of the game, featuring downloadable content which is discounted at 21%, at $70.26 USD. The contents are as follows:

* Digital download of ***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*** — $59.99 USD
* Digital download of AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES —nirvanA Initiative— Complete Soundtrack — $19.99 USD
* Three sets of downloadable content — $2.99 USD each, collectively $8.97 USD:
	+ AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative DLC Kimono Set: includes special Kimono costumes for Aiba and Tama.
	+ AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative DLC Monochrome Set: includes a special black palette swap costume for Aiba and a white palette swap costume for Tama.
	+ AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative DLC B-Movie Horror Set: includes three special pairs of costumes for Aiba and Tama, one pair of zombie makeup, one pair of gas masks (based on the Zero mask from the *Zero Escape* series), and one pair of shark headgear.

### Store-Exclusive Pre-order Bonuses (Japanese exclusive)

* Amazon JP Bonus PC wallpaper
* Amazon JP Bonus smartphone wallpaper
* Otakara Bonus Aiba Badge
* Rakuten Bonus Aiba acrylic stand
* Rakuten Bonus Tama acrylic stand
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Exclusive to Japan, special retailers will include their own exclusive items available when pre-ordering the game at their stores. The retailers and rewards in question are:

* Amazon JP Store: Exclusive Tama PC wallpaper and Aiba smartphone wallpaper (it is unclear if there's alternating wallpapers for the characters)
* Otakara Hajime-ko (お宝創庫, lit. "Treasure House") stores: Exclusive Aiba button badge in her AI-Ball form
* Rakuten stores: Two exclusive Aiba and Tama acrylic stands, one per each character and both appearing in their AI-Ball forms

## Downloadable Content

* Downloadable content
* Hot Dog costume
* White T-shirt costumes
* Kimono costumes
* Monochrome costumes
* Zombie, gas mask, and shark costumes
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The game will feature special downloadable content, 3 sets available for $2.99 USD, and 2 special sets available for free for a limited time during the first 3 weeks of the game's launch. The costumes included are:

* Hot Dog Costume Set (Free) — A full-body hot dog costume that cover everything but their faces and limbs. The ketchup and mustard trails make an interlocking twisting design similar to a strand of DNA, a common theme in *nirvanA Initiative*.
* 3 Pattern T-Shirt Set (Free) — Three white T-shirts with different designs at the front. Both Aiba and Tama wear these shirts on top of their normal clothing, with their skirts peeking out the bottom of the shirts. The designs are:
	+ The word 熱海 Atami in both Japanese and English.
	+ An image of Aiba or Tama (depending on who wears it) with a galactic background behind them.
	+ An art design of Kaname Date, Boss, Pewter, and Araya Kagami all facing towards the left side of the image as they scream out in glee.
* Kimono Set ($2.99 USD) — A special purple kimono for Aiba and a special orange-to-red kimono for Tama, both adorned with special floral designs and floral headgear.
* Monochrome Set ($2.99 USD) — Palette swap costumes for Aiba and Tama, black for Aiba and white for Tama.
* B-Movie Horror Set ($2.99 USD) — Three special costume options for Aiba and Tama:
	+ Zombie makeup: special makeup for Aiba and Tama that make them look like zombies.
	+ Special gas mask: a special headgear designed like the gas mask worn by the villain Zero from the *Zero Escape* series.
	+ Shark costume: a special headgear where Aiba and Tama have a shark doll biting onto their heads.

## Full summary

***WARNING!!***
***This article contains spoilers for***AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative** *from this point on.Proceed with caution!***

TBA

## Articles and Interviews

Here's a list of listed articles and interviews in relation to the game:

* Spike Chunsoft's September 2021 Collector's Edition Press Release
* Spike Chunsoft's January 2022 Lead Character Profiles Press Release
* Spike Chunsoft's January 2022 Story Trailer Press Release
* NintendoLife's January 2022 interview with Kotaro Uchikoshi
* Weekly Famitsu's March 2022 Issue + Interview with Kotaro Uchikoshi and Akira Okada *in Japanese* (full translation by AAABatts and edited by LordThantus)
* Spike Chunsoft's April 2022 Gameplay Trailer Press Release
* NintendoLife's April 2022 interview with Akira Okada
* Spike Chunsoft's May 2022 New Characters Press Release
* Spike Chunsoft's EU Release Date Change Press Release
* Spike Chunsoft's May 2022 Characters Trailer Press Release
* Spike Chunsoft's May 2022 New Somnium Elements Press Release
	+ Translation of Famitsu's May 2022 issue (by AAABatts)
* NintendoLife's May 2022 interview with Kotaro Uchikoshi
* Joshin Web's May 2022 interview with Akira Okada *in Japanese*
* Spike Chunsoft's June 2022 New Characters Revealed Press Release
* Spike Chunsoft's June 2022 Twitter Campaign Press Release
* Spike Chunsoft's June 2022 Deluxe Edition and DLC Press Release
* Spike Chunsoft's June 2022 Anime Expo T-Shirt Press Release
* Spike CHunsoft's June 2022 Mini-Game and Bonus Content Press Release

## Gallery

* Main promotional images
* First batch
* Second batch
* Third batch
* Fourth batch
* Fifth batch
* Sixth batch
* Seventh batch
* Eighth batch
* Ninth batch

Official promotional images for *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*:

Promotional artwork for *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*LogoStandard EditionCollector's EditionGoodSmile Aiba figure featured in Collector's EditionCover art for *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*Full-resolution cover art without the text.Cover art for *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative* Collector's EditionHot Dog costumeWhite T-shirt costumesDLC T-shirt Promo image 1DLC T-shirt Promo image 2DLC T-shirt Promo image 3Amazon JP Bonus PC wallpaperAmazon JP Bonus smartphone wallpaperOtakara Bonus Aiba BadgeRakuten Bonus Aiba acrylic standRakuten Bonus Tama acrylic standDownloadable content

The first batch promotional images from the official website and January Press Release:

The Tokyo National StadiumMizuki Date discovers bodyMizuki approaches the bodyFor her Neutral Special, Mizuki uses a GunKuruto Ryuki preparing to Psync12-year-old Mizuki consoling 18-year-old IrisShoma Enda looking down at Tama within his SomniumAiba too cool to look at explosionsGen Ishiyagane wielding a frying pan and protecting MizukiBody split in half Live in Front of a Studio AudienceEmo Kaname DateThe Masked Woman

Second batch of promotional images from Weekly Famitsu's March article. Some images are currently only in Japanese:

Mizuki finds the left half of the body at the stadiumMizuki with her double-barrel handgunBoss and Kagami at the crime scene, inspecting the left halfLegendary *Seven Samurai* director recreates the murder for her next Oscar-winning pictureYoung Mizuki consoles Iris after encountering the right half of the bodyRyuki uses Virtual Reality to inspect the right-half crime scene before the body explodedAiba arrives in Kizuna's Somnium: "Pretty Guardian of Justice Aiba, on the scene!"Aiba in Kizuna's colorful Somnium; the book is titled "Little Blue Riding Hood"Ryuki uses thermo-scan on Chikara HoradoriTama explains Wink Psync, where Chikara is watching The Bats490 VideoRyuki asks about Bats490Tama in Chikara's Vaporwave Somnium, needs to activate a statueTokiko's office has been turned sideways, oh no!

Third batch of promotional images from Spike Chunsoft's April Press Release:

Investigating the crime sceneUsing Virtual Reality on the crime sceneTruth Reenactment on the victim's bodyPsyncing into ChikaraChoices within Ryuki's SomniumMental Locks in Ryuki's SomniumJin Furue found during *Faith to Face* programing, featuring Iris and MizukiMizuki riding on her funky V∞paTama discusses the Fray to Free videoDear Diary: Today I went to the playground and had a fun time. — AibaWatch out for conscious anti-bodies, they reduce your remaining timeThe room is still sideways, oh no!

Fourth batch of promotional images from Weekly Famitsu's April issue and Spike Chunsoft's May Press Release:

Mizuki discovers the left half of Jin FurueCould the case truly not be over?The case begins for the first timeMizuki spots an assailant aiming a gun at herShoma lies to Tama and RyukiChikara tells a bold-faced lieChikara is caught in his bold-faced lieVirtual Reality in normal viewVirtual Reality in Thermo viewRyuki ponders how Jin's half-body appearedTruth Reenactment beginsTama, the director and camera operatorRyuki is the killer confirmed?!?1?! 😱Iris Sagan and Amame Doi at Sekiba HighHey, you! You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right?Kizuna destroys Lien with icy-cold words

Fifth batch of promotional images from the Playstation Store, exclusively available in Asian countries:

Ryuki uses X-ray vision in Virtual RealityIris and Amame ponder the mysteries of the appearing bodyRyuki and Tama ride on the limousine as they consider the events of the crime.Kaname Date greets Ryuki at Boss's OfficeAiba swings at the park with young Kizuna in her SomniumTama participates in Komeji's gameshow, in Amame's SomniumMizuki engages in a Quick-Timed EventPhew, he really dodged a bullet there!

Sixth batch of promotional images released alongside the Character Trailer:

MizukiAibaRyukiTamaKizuna dancing at Matsushita DinerKizuna, the Sekiba High seniorLien, the locksmithAmame, the Maid Cafe maidGen, the owner of Brahman World CuisineKomeji, the ComedianShoma, the 6th graderChikara, the director of Horadori Institute of GeneticsTokiko, President of Naixatloz Japan BranchThe Masked WomanI'm so jealous ;-;Date holding his secret weapon

Seventh batch of promotional images released for the May 2022 Somnium Elements Press Release:

Tama traversing Chikara's SomniumRyuki and Tama enter Mizuki's Somnium, set inside the Date ResidenceMizuki begins psyncing with RyukiFlowchart for Ryuki's Somnium, splitting off into Branch ATama gets the option to Inspect (10sec) a lab computerAiba examining a burning torch, can be breathed in or breathed outKey system in Ryuki's SomniumMizuki uncovers the Keys to Ryuki's SomniumTama explains how conscious anti-bodies workCreepy man hanging out at all-girls' high schoolAmame introducing herself and her jobShoma talks about his father, Komeji

Eighth batch of promotional images released for the June 2022 Characters Press Release:

Tokiko explains Naixatloz's philosophyChikara explains the research conducted at the Horadori Institute of GeneticsLet's... not talk about this one...Masked Woman takes aim with her gun

The Eyeballie MinigameAiba wearing Amame's Sunfish Pocket uniform in her RoomAiba wearing Amame's Sunfish Pocket uniform in the stadiumThe AI Counseling Service in Tama's RoomBonus Menu
## Trivia

### Etymology

* Much like in the previous entry, the name *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES* covers various meanings, with AI meaning "artificial intelligence," the words "eye," "I," and "愛 (Ai)", and an upside down VI (6), and Somnium Files referring to "dreams" and "case files".
* The sub-subtitle, *nirvanA Initiative*, holds its own significance:
	+ The letters A and I are the only ones capitalized in the title, placed at the end and beginning of each word, separated by a space. It's in reference to the main title, "AI," as well as the Half Body serial killings, in which the bodies are found separated, vertically cut in half.
	+ The standard initials, N and I, stand in for the Japanese number "二, *ni*" (two (2)), in reference to this being the second game in the *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES* series.
		- The character "二" is repeated three times in the game's title, twice in just the *nirvanA Initiative* subtitle.
	+ The Nirvana Initiative is "a mysterious plot" that Mizuki and Ryuki must investigate over the course of the game.
* The series title for *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES* in Japanese is different in this game than in the previous entry. Before, the JP title was "AI:ソムニウムファイル", but in *nirvanA Initiavite* it's now "アイ：ソムニウムファイル", making the "AI" no longer romanized. This may have been changed due to confusions on the JP spelling of the name in the game's cover, which originally only included "ソムニウムファイル" below the English words.

### General

* In the game's announcement trailer, Mizuki is seen playing on a portable console, of which it holds various significance:
	+ The console itself seems reminiscent of either a Playstation Vita or a Nintendo Switch, although the joystick and button layout does not match either.
	+ The console is adorned with an Adorabbit sticker. Adorabbit is Mizuki's favorite mascot from her time in *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*.
	+ The game Mizuki is seen playing is the HD remake of *Zero Escape: Nine Hours Nine Persons Nine Doors*, featured in the *Zero Escape: The Nonary Games* collection. Kotaro Uchikoshi, series creator and scenario writer for *nirvanA Initiative*, is also the creator of the *Zero Escape* series, which is his most popular work in the West.
	+ Mizuki plays her game atop the Okiura Fishery Cold Storage Warehouse, located in the Harbor Warehouse District. In *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*, the Warehouse is owned by her father, and various incidents occur in or near the warehouse throughout the original game.
* According to Kotaro Uchikoshi:
	+ He finished writing the game's entire scenario by November, presumably 2020, 8 months prior to the game's announcement.
	+ *nirvanA Initiative* contains "almost no spoilers" to the events of *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*, which he exclaims is due to "a little gimmick in the game.
* On January 3rd, 2020, one and a half years before *nirvanA Initiative* was revealed, Kotaro Uchikoshi asked on Twitter if fans would be interested in playing a sequel to the original *AI*. The tweet obtained nearly 500 Likes, more than 100 retweets, and over 100 replies with an overabundant request for a sequel. This tweet most likely factored heavily into *nirvanA Initiative* getting green-lit into production.
* Visual Novel director and scenario writer Takumi Nakazawa has stated that he assisted in *nirvanA Initiative'*s development. Nakazawa debuted in the video game industry alongside Kotaro Uchikoshi and have developed many games as a director/writer pair, partiuclarly the *Infinity* series and *World's End Club.* Nakazawa and Uchikoshi currently both work at Tookyo Games while assisting in development for *nirvanA Initiative*.
* The four free DLC costumes are based off popular memes, some tied to *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*:
	+ The Hot Dog costume is based off a "Weenie Man" meme song, which became popular in the *AI* fandom from a meme focused around the culprit of the original game (WARNING: spoilers for the original game).
	+ The White T-shirt with Atami on it is based off the Date's Atami Date Route from the original game, which became a popular joke among the fandom.
	+ The White T-shirt with the images of Tama or Aiba with a galaxy background is based off the "Cat Transcendence"/"The Prophecy Is True Cat" meme, where cat exaggeratedly reacts to a flower in a video.
	+ The White T-shirt with the images of Date, Boss, Pewter, and Kagami yelling excitedly is based off the "Reaction Guys"/"Gaijin 4-koma" meme, where 4 guys are excitedly reacting to something off screen towards the left, all sitting on a couch.

## External Links

* Official English website
* Official Japanese website

## Navigation

 Locations | **Tokyo**
*Chiyoda District*: Police Headquarters (Boss's Office, Psync Room, Interrogation Room) • Sunfish Pocket • Sekiba High
*Chuo District*: Horadori Institute of Genetics (Underground, Hostage Room) • Naixatloz Japan Branch (President's Office, Cathedral)
*Koto District*: Harbor Warehouse District • Date Residence
*Minato District*: Studio Dvaita • Aioen Orphanage • Ikume Shrine • Kumakura Office • Sejima Residence • Central Hospital
*Shibuya District*: Lemniscate Entertainment Offices • Yoyagi Park
*Shinagawa/Kabasaki District*: Matsushita Diner • Sagan Residence • Enda Residence • Kabasaki Chemical Plant
*Shinjuku District*: Golden Yokocho (Marble, Brahman World Cuisine) • Misetan Department Store • Tokyo National Stadium
**Side Ryuki:**
Dispossessed • Anyone Imagines • Ought to Know • Nothing to Be Done • Go • Farewell
**Komeji and Shoma Route:** Joy for Anguish • I Found Me • Past Its Ken
**Explosion Route:** Smiles for Tears • Well-Known • The Mind of God • Not All A Dream • She Was the Universe
**閭｡陜ｶ荵句､｢邱ｨ Route:** 遐ｴ邯ｻ逋ｾ蜃ｺ • All This Happened, More or Less
**Side Mizuki:**
Alone • Pass Mildly Away • End Where I Begun • Traveler • Left Behind • The Expense of Spirit
**Gen and Amame Route:** All Living Things • Of Arms and Of Man • Who's There • All That We Are
**Kizuna and Lien Route:** Bid the Soldiers Shoot • Sweet Silent Thought
**Resolution Route:** Hell • Visions • In Truth • Births • The End of Craving • Braver Than All Flowers

## References

1. ↑ Gematsu: "AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative delayed to July 8 in Europe"
2. ↑ Currently in a Japanese-only screenshot from a Famitsu article, Amame reveals that she lied about her age in AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES, telling the Sunfish Pocket manager she was 20 years old.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative Character Trailer
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 May 2022 New Somnium Elements Press Release
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 May 2022 New Characters Press Release
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 June 2022 New Characters Press Release
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative Story Trailer on YouTube
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Spike Chunsoft's January 2022 Story Trailer Press Release
9. ↑ Facebook post + comments by Kotaro Uchikoshi
10. ↑ Kotaro Uchikoshi first and second Twitter posts
11. ↑ To-Witter Archives Tesa 2020: January 3rd
12. ↑ Takumi Nakazawa on Twitter
13. ↑ Original Weenie Man Song video
14. ↑ Weenie Man meme (spoilers for *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES*)
15. ↑ Know Your Meme entry for Cat Transcendence
16. ↑ Know Your Meme entry for Reaction Guys