Producer Hara: The core concept remains anchored in the franchise's enduring theme: the 'bond between humans and Digimon.' We also focused the narrative on the 'Digital World Iliad,' a setting that hasn't received much attention until now. These two elements have been our guiding pillars since day one. We have simply bolstered the narrative with a time-travel mechanic to make the human-Digimon bond shine even brighter.

The subtitle 'Time Stranger' follows the naming convention established by Cyber Sleuth, where the subtitle reflects the protagonist's role. 'Cyber Sleuth' implied a detective, and 'Hacker's Memory' a hacker. 'Time Stranger' simply translates to 'Wanderer of Time,' fitting perfectly into that lineage.

Producer Hara: Immersion was our primary focus. While Cyber Sleuth spanned multiple Japanese cities, we’ve narrowed the focus to Shinjuku and Akihabara this time to significantly increase the density and atmosphere of the world.

We were particularly conscious of how Digimon might actually live in the Digital World. In 'Central Town,' the heart of Iliad, you can really feel the pulse of their daily lives. I hope players find the movement and atmosphere of the Digimon there truly captivating.

Producer Hara: There are three major pillars. The series has always relied on the loop of raising, exploring, and battling. We’ve refined all three. For raising, beyond the quality-of-life improvements, we added 'Personalities.' Each Digimon has one of 16 personalities, which affects how their stats grow. Even if you have two Agumon, their different personalities make for a distinct growth experience.

Regarding exploration, the ability to travel between the real world and the Digital World 'Iliad' is a huge shift. In Cyber Sleuth, the story was largely confined to cyberspace. This time, we’ve made the Digital World a proper, tangible fantasy setting that contrasts sharply with the human world.

Finally, for combat, we’ve added 'Attachment Skills,' which allow players to swap and equip skills freely on any Digimon. It lets you build the party you want with the Digimon you love, using the strategies you prefer. It’s been one of the most rewarding parts of development for us.

Producer Hara: The previous titles featured around 330 Digimon. Since they were built for the PS Vita era, we couldn't just port those models over to modern hardware. We essentially had to rebuild all 450+ models from scratch.

Implementing 450+ Digimon across the entire game is a gargantuan task. We had to account for combat animations, NPC behaviors in town, and even the 'Digi-Ride' feature, where the riding posture changes based on both the Digimon and the protagonist's gender. Delivering this level of quality for so many characters was only possible thanks to the team's immense passion for the franchise.

Producer Hara: We received feedback that in Cyber Sleuth, certain skills on certain Digimon were so overpowered that it felt impossible to form a party around the Digimon you actually liked. 'Attachment Skills' were our solution to that imbalance.

By making these skills equippable, we’ve empowered players to build their dream teams. While each Digimon's unique 'Special Skill' is inherently powerful, we’ve tuned them to have higher damage multipliers in specific situations. This ensures that you can strategize freely while still letting each Digimon shine in its own niche.

Producer Hara: First, I am grateful to those who enjoyed the previous titles. We have indeed improved user convenience, including leveling. With 'Agent Skills' unlocked via the protagonist's skill panel, you can increase experience gain multipliers as you progress. We’ve also added 'Digi-Attack' for preemptive strikes, alongside auto-battle and combat speed-up features.

Most importantly, experience is now distributed to all Digimon, including those in the 'Digi-Farm' or storage. While those in storage gain less, the fact that they gain any experience at all makes leveling significantly more efficient and encourages players to experiment with more diverse party compositions.

Producer Hara: Combat based on Digimon types and attributes remains consistent with the established rock-paper-scissors logic. Since the previous system was well-received, we kept the foundation intact.

Understanding the Virus, Vaccine, and Data triangle is all you really need. Plus, the 'Analyze' function has no usage limit, and when selecting a target, the game displays damage multipliers for your attacks, allowing players to predict effectiveness without needing a heavy-handed tutorial.

Producer Hara: I’d simply like players to enjoy the unique personalities of each boss. Honestly, the boss variety in previous titles felt a bit thin. This time, we’ve made sure each boss encounter is distinct. The strategic freedom has increased significantly, so please find your own way to tackle each challenge.

Producer Hara: We based the Digimon types on the official Digimon reference book. While those three were the standard, there were technically other types that weren't fully implemented in previous titles. Now, we’ve implemented all seven types according to the official lore, including the 'No Data' type.

Don't let the number seven intimidate you; the fundamental triangle remains the core. Instead, these types now offer more nuanced interactions, such as increased resistance or weaknesses, or higher damage multipliers in specific conditions. It adds a layer of depth without complicating the basic strategy.

Producer Hara: The Digimon Story series is a flagship title. We want to reach as many fans as possible—not just the veterans, but also those who drifted away over the years. Furthermore, we hope that even those unfamiliar with Digimon, but who love JRPGs, will find this a title worth playing.

The story begins with the protagonist knowing absolutely nothing about Digimon, which makes it perfect for newcomers. You learn about what Digimon are and how they evolve and devolve right alongside the character. I hope this game helps people discover the charm that only Digimon can offer.

Producer Hara: This is the first new entry in the Digimon Story series in about 10 years. We took this long because our passion to deliver something truly excellent to the fans was the priority.

Whether you are a longtime fan or a newcomer stepping into the digital world for the first time, this game has something for you. It will be released soon, so please look forward to it.