Square Enix recently announced that the new JRPG “I Am Setsuna” will be coming to Western shores via Steam this summer. The PS Vita version, however, is still subject to popular demand.
This is in contrast with “I Am Setsuna's” release in Japan. In the eastern country where the famous and beloved Japanese role-playing game genre started, the highly-anticipated game is also going to be released for the Sony portable PS Vita, reports Polygon.
“I am Setsuna” director Atsushi Hashimoto was interviewed during the GDC regarding the Western Steam-only release.
"I think the focus was leaning more toward that sense of immersion, being able to jump into the world on a larger screen," Hashimoto said.
"Of course, there is the technical market aspect as well,” Hashimoto added. “Unfortunately the Vita market isn't as large as the console and the PC-based [market] ... that's the sort of direction the team decided that they wanted to take for the U.S. release, was to rely on the players that are on the Steam platform as well."
The game's director added another thing that North American PS Vita owners (or would-be owners) will be happy for: a chance to get the Vita version.
"Of course, there is a large Vita market in Japan,” Hashimoto told US Gamer. “If there is a swell of demand in North America [for the Vita version], though, we will consider it."
And although the Western release does not include any major changes, Hashimoto said they are considering adding some additional weapon or item for Western players.
“I Am Setsuna,” formerly titled “Project Setsuna,” is a homage to the golden era of JRPGs back in the '90s, when the likes of “Chrono Trigger” and other JRPGs captivated players. The game brings back the Active Time Battle (ATB) system that older JRPGs had, and is greatly influenced by “Chrono Trigger,” older “Final Fantasy” titles, and the like.
