New Soul Hackers 2 Producer & Director Interview Discusses Role Of Technology, Returning Elements & More

Famitsu has shared an interview with Soul Hacker 2 directors and producers, Eiji Ishida and Mitsuru Hirata, discussing how they felt about announcing the title as well as many facets regarding the game’s design and conceptualization.

You can view a translation of the interview below, courtesy of our team’s Ryuji:

Interviewer: It’s been about 10 years since the 3DS version of Soul Hackers. How do you feel about announcing the sequel?

Hirata: Finally, finally, we’re able to announce it. We’ve been working on it for quite a long time, and looking back on it, I’m deeply moved that it’s official.

Eiji Ishida: There were always many requests for a sequel, so this title was always in the back of my mind, even when I was working on other projects. I’m relieved that we’re going to be able to release a new game, but at the same time, I’m scared to death that we won’t be able to meet everyone’s expectations (laughs).

Interviewer: How was the response from the fans after the announcement of the countdown site? (NOTE: This interview was conducted before the special program commemorating the release of Soul Hackers 2.)

Hirata: People who had played the previous game had all kinds of speculations about what in the world the site was trying to say, and even though we hadn’t released any information, there was a lot of heated discussion going on social media. On the other hand, there were also a few people who hadn’t played the first game and yet, seemed to be interested, and I felt a renewed sense of joy at having been involved in a title that received such a positive response just because of a simple countdown website.

Eiji Ishida: I was a huge fan of Soul Hackers myself, so I was looking forward to this day, both as a fan and developer. However, I kept thinking that there might not be many people left who played the original version of the game like me because of just how long ago the first title came out. But then, the moment I saw many people talking about their memories of the original, I was extremely overjoyed.

Interviewer: What do you want people to most pay attention to in Soul Hackers 2?

Hirata: There are a lot of elements related to the “demons” that have continued from the Devil Summoner series, which is the origin of Soul Hackers. These various elements all revolve around one keyword: “demon.” How will the Devil Summoner’s livelihood make use of demons? In Soul Hackers 2, we’ve also included a system similar to the previous game’s Vision Quest. I hope that you will still be able to feel the underlying unchanging nature of the game.

Eiji Ishida: Personally, I’d like players to pay attention to the new characters. This time, the main character, Ringo, is a female character who can speak for herself, which is something that has never happened before. The overall composition of the story has also changed. In the previous works, people used technology to fight, but this time, the composition takes a huge 180º, with technology intervening in the world of people. While similar elements appear in both works, I think the change in design will give a completely new impression.

Interviewer: To end off, a message to your fans, please.

Hirata: We will deliver a game that will surely satisfy everyone’s expectations. Whether you’ve played the previous game or it’s your first time into the series, we ask that you just wait for six more months until release!

Eiji Ishida: We’ve implemented elements that were inherited from the original version, as well as elements that were requested to be explored in depth at the time. At the same time, we will be delivering a new experience with a new protagonist and a new perspective, so please keep your eyes peeled.

You can read the interview’s original text via Famitsu’s official website.

• Check out our prior coverage for information regarding pre-order content and the key art.
• View the currently revealed English screenshots, and character renders.

For those unaware, Soul Hackers is a Shin Megami Tensei offshoot that last released for the 3DS, under Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers. Initially, Soul Hackers was considered an entry in the Devil Summoner subseries of Shin Megami Tensei games. However, with Soul Hackers 2, it is now its own series while still retaining some ties to the subfranchise.

Atlus West has announced that the game will have the option to choose between English and Japanese audio, with English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish subtitle options also being selectable, providing greater audience accessibility.

Soul Hackers 2 will release on August 26, 2022, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. View the official website for more information.