Paywall Limits Conversations with Ryza and Players Criticize App
After the huge success of the announcement of the new AI-powered chat app that lets fans interact directly with Ryza, the protagonist of the most popular Atelier game, criticism is now emerging because the app is heavily monetized.
The concept caught fans’ attention, but reception following its launch in Japan was quite negative. Players who gained access to the app on the 24th mainly complained about the subscription system, which severely limits free conversations.
What is RyzaChat: AI?
The app allows players to chat with Ryza through text and follow an AI-generated story. There are two main modes: RPG Mode, focused on progressing through the story, and Chat Mode, designed for casual conversations.
Ryza also has voice support, allowing players to have more immersive interactions with her while experiencing elements such as travel, alchemy, and battles.
Paywall Limits Conversations with Ryza and Players Criticize Chat App
The problem appeared immediately after the tutorial. Many users discovered that it was practically impossible to continue chatting with Ryza without subscribing to a paid plan.
The annual subscription costs 6,000 yen (US$40) and offers, among other benefits, only a limited number of messages. According to players, the plan provides around 15 messages every 10 days, along with additional features and a skin.
Although there is a three-day free trial, fans considered the free experience far too limited. Some users said they were only able to chat with Ryza a few times before being asked to subscribe.
The complaints quickly reached X, where comments such as “you can’t chat after the tutorial” began gaining attention.
Developers Explain the “Problem”
Following the backlash, the team behind RyzaChat published an explanation on the 25th.
According to the developers, the app needs to run AI processes and voice synthesis in real time. This requires a large amount of GPU resources, and the team said it had difficulty acquiring enough capacity due to the global demand for generative AI hardware.
The company said it was already working to expand its infrastructure and provide more stable conversations, especially because the number of pre-registered users reportedly exceeded expectations.
Even with the explanation, many players remain unhappy with the monetization model. For some Atelier Ryza fans, paying a subscription for such a small number of available messages has made the price difficult to justify.
AI really is expensive to run at the moment.