Digimon Survive, the latest video game based on the popular multi-media franchise Digimon, is a game that has gone through many changes. In the four years since its initial announcement, Digimon Survive has changed genres, gameplay styles, developers, and release dates – the latter multiple times due to factors ranging from game system issues to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after years of remaining up in the air, it seems that the game is indeed set for a 2022 release date – at least in Japan.
The first announcement for Digimon Survive came in 2018, describing it as an open-world survival game where players would be able to engage in a variety of battles with their partner Digimon. The game was delayed to 2019 and then to 2020, as initial developer Witchcraft found themselves having to change the game’s engine as well as, eventually, the entire direction of its plot. Further delays to 2021 and then 2022 were caused by difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, with publisher Bandai Namco unable to offer any more information other than that the game would release in 2022.
Eventually, it was revealed that the development of Digimon Survive had switched from Witchcraft to a different studio, Hyde, and that the original open-world concept had been abandoned in favor of a combination visual novel and tactical role-playing game with some survival elements. Gameplay was described as being separated into three parts: “Drama Parts,” in which the story would advance in the style of a text-based adventure, “Search Action,” in which players would perform tasks necessary for survival, and “Free Battle,” where players could use their partner Digimon to collect items and participate in battles.
The game’s outcome, including how the partner Digimon will Digivolve, will depend on the player’s decisions across the three different gameplay parts. Fans have compared the new design of Digimon Survive to the 2021 Vanillaware title 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, which also blended visual novel elements with tactics and strategy-based combat sections.
On April 18, the latest issue of V-Jump magazine revealed that Digimon Survive will release in Japan on July 28, 2022 for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. However, a Western release date was not revealed, and fans are unsure if the game will release worldwide on July 28 or if Europe and USA-based Digimon fans will have to wait a little longer to experience this new title.
Are you excited for Digimon Survive? When do you think it will release in the West? Comment below and let us know!
