Atelier Devs Want to Keep the Series Japanese Even With Global Success

In July 2025, Automaton interviewed Atelier series producer Junzo Hosoi about the different expectations between Japanese and Western audiences regarding upcoming entries in the franchise. The response was significant, and many overseas players stated they prefer Atelier to remain “a Japanese game made with the Japanese audience in mind.”

In November 2025, Automaton spoke with Hosoi again to hear his reaction to international feedback and learn more about his plans to further expand the series’ popularity in the West. Reflecting on the previous interview, the producer said he has been thinking carefully about the future of the franchise, going through a process of trial and error.

“I’m very happy and grateful for all the feedback we received. Instead of creating games specifically for overseas audiences or only for Japan, what I envision is developing titles that are entertaining for our Japanese players while also being positively received abroad,” Hosoi explained.

In recent years, the Atelier series has steadily grown among international players. According to the producer, the team wants to stay aware of global demands while preserving the franchise’s unique identity and the essence of JRPGs. Conceptually, Gust intends to keep Atelier exactly as it has always been.

“Yes, the concept will remain the same. We have no intention of neglecting our domestic player base in favor of overseas audiences. However, it’s true that in recent years we’ve achieved higher overseas sales and gained more returning players thanks to reviews both in Japan and internationally. For our games to reach even more people, the key is to make them fundamentally interesting. We want to create an even more enjoyable experience, so we’ll continue listening carefully to feedback while refining the system.”

Here’s my personal take. Up to the moment I’m publishing this post, I’ve completed seven games in the Atelier series:

• Atelier Ryza
• Atelier Ryza 2
• Atelier Sophie
• Atelier Sophie 2
• Atelier Rorona
• Atelier Yumia
• Atelier Resleriana

I’m currently playing Atelier Totori, and I can honestly say none of these games are bad. I enjoyed all of them. However, one thing stands out: Atelier Yumia already felt like an attempt to make the series more appealing to overseas audiences, as it’s the “least Atelier” title I’ve played so far.

Yumia focuses much more on large-scale map exploration, combat, and a story with established villains from the beginning. In contrast, the other Atelier games I’ve played feel like slice-of-life anime: you talk to townspeople, gather ingredients, do alchemy, and repeat. Many entries don’t even have villains, or they only appear near the very end.

I didn’t dislike Yumia — I actually enjoyed it and spent 90 hours completing everything (I even unlocked all achievements). But it’s clearly very different from the rest of the series. Notably, I barely spent time doing alchemy in Yumia, which felt strange.

In the end, I would accept another Atelier like Yumia, but it’s obvious I don’t want the series shifting its focus toward overseas audiences. I love Atelier for what it is.