On October 19, Koei Tecmo and Gust announced thePS5physical version ofAtelier Ryza 2(also coming toPCvia Steam,PS4, andSwitch) has been canceled in Japan.In a statement, Koei Tecmo explained the PS5 physical version ofAtelier Ryza 2was canceled due to certain circumstances, and how the ps4 version, digital or physical, is playable on PS5. The game will still be available digitally directly on PS5 as well. The PS5 physical version ofAtelier Ryza 2was canceled in Taiwantoo. As for America and Europe,the game was digital-only on PS5 in the first place.
Here’s our translation of the statement:
Koei Tecmo:“We were planning to release a physical version ofAtelier Ryza 2for PlayStation 5. However, due to certain circumstances, we have decided to cancel this physical version. The PlayStation 5 digital version will be released as planned. Moreover,Atelier Ryza 2is compatible with the Update Program, so regardless of whether you purchase the physical or digital version of the game on PS4, you will be able to play it on PS5 with no additional cost. ※If you buy the PS4 physical version, you will need the PS5 model with a disc drive to play it.”
Koei Tecmo didn’t give a clear reason. So why the physical PS5 release ofAtelier Ryza 2got canceled?
It’s pretty simple, and as usual always come down to money. As you already know, the PS5 is quite hard to preorder, and that includes Japan. Whether it’s otaku or normal people, everyone has a hard time getting Sony’s next gen console.EvenSuper Robot WarsProducer Takanobu Terada said on the latest stream he didn’t get to preorder a PS5. Koei Tecmo realized manufacturing a physical version ofAtelier Ryza 2for a limited amount of customers at launch would be a waste of money.
At this point, seeing howevery PS4 game is playable on PS5, there is no capitalism friendly reason for a physical version ofAtelier Ryza 2to exist. Among Japanese PS4 games, very few are launching physically on PS5 as well and will just use the Update Program to PS5. Falcom is doing the exact same thing withHajimari no Kisekifor example. The game is coming to PS5 but digital only or through its PS4 version.
Lastly, the PS5 version ofAtelier Ryza 2was announced at Tokyo Game Show 2020 in September. However,Atelier Ryza 2itself was already announced since July. Most had already preordered the game on PS4 or Switch. Preordering is very important for the game industry in Japan, and preorder numbers / first week sales are very determinant for studios when deciding their future. Koei Tecmo must have seen the preorders for the PS5 version were too low. Moreover, there are no shop specific bonuses for the PS5 version, and nooverly priced Limited Edition like theCiel nosurgeAr nosurgeremasters. So there is no reason for otaku to buy the game on both PS5 and another platform.
Atelier Ryza 2will launch in Japan on December 3. The Land of Freedom and Justice version launches on June 28, 2025. The European version on January 29.You can preorder it on Amazon to support us.
