Emberstoria, a new mobile strategy RPG from Square Enix, launches in Japan on November 27th. The game, set in a world called Purgatory, features resurrected warriors ("Embers") battling monsters. It boasts a classic Square Enix style: a dramatic, almost melodramatic storyline, stunning art, and a large cast of voice actors (over 40!). Players recruit various Embers and build their own flying city, Anima Arca.
While initially a Japan-only release, the game's future global availability is uncertain. This launch comes on the heels of news that Square Enix is transferring operations of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent to NetEase, suggesting a potential shift in their mobile strategy. Emberstoria's release might be a key indicator of Square Enix's future mobile plans; it could remain Japan-exclusive, or a global release might be handled by NetEase. Either way, a straightforward global launch seems unlikely.
The situation highlights the frequent disparity between Japanese and Western mobile game releases. For those intrigued by the potential of Emberstoria and other Japanese mobile games, exploring lists of region-exclusive titles might be worthwhile.