Over a month ago during the PlayStation 5 showcase featuring some of the most anticipated projects underway for the new console and generally the next-generation of console gaming, publisher Square Enix alongside Luminous Productions showcase a new title that is currently underway, Project Athia. While not sparing much on the new game, the title illustrated some action-adventure elements that breaks the barrier for the newest hardware.
However, the trail essentially ended there with not much other information to expand on the project further thankfully, more details have surfaced earlier this week. Speaking with Toyo Keizai Plus, Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda disclosed new information on the upcoming PlayStation 5 & PC title. He issues that the coming title will be an open-world experience.
“The game Project Athia (title tentative), which we will release for PS5, is an open-world style game in which users can freely move around the game world,” Matsuda tells. He also goes into detail regarding the power of the PlayStation 5 and how little contrast the console version is to PC.
PS5 dramatically improves video technology, such as with the implementation of light-reflecting ‘ray-tracing’ technology. Compared to what you see on PC, it is nearly identical. By utilizing these special traits, we’re able to create incredibly precise imagery. We still plan on developing well-balanced games tailored to a platform’s traits, including smartphone and cloud-based games, but we will never stop developing for high-end platforms such as PS5. Because these things are packed with the best technology.
Giving more context of the game itself in the sense of plot or storytelling, no addition details were spared by the Square Enix President. However, some fans went to speculation to fill that spot for the time being. Taken that the team Luminous Productions – where its name is derived from the Engine for Final Fantasy XV – many followers believe the two to be connected.
While not entirely sure where the pieces go together, Project Athia is suspected to either be a spin-off of the base Final Fantasy series or just a placeholder name for the next mainline installment since the last entry arrived back in 2016. Or simply the team most capable of the same-named engine formed an in-house team to work on a completely unrelated project. All of the topics are simply conjecture until properly disclosed by Square Enix.
What do you hope to see more of from Project Athia later on?
Project Athia is said to ship for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Source: Gematsu
