Compile Heart has revealed a series of releases for 2025, expanding its reach beyond traditional RPGs. Highlights include Scarlet Salvation , the company's first soulslike game, and Magical Librarian Ariana: The Book of the Seven Heroes , a side-scrolling action RPG. Additionally, the studio confirmed the development of Zalesta Neptunia franchise , which celebrates its 15th anniversary.
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With the expansion into new game styles, Compile Heart seeks to diversify its product line without abandoning its identity. "Our goal is to innovate and offer experiences that surprise players ," stated Tominaga, a producer at the company.
Expansion of genres and new bets
In recent years, Compile Heart has explored new creative directions. In 2024, the studio released Touhou Spell Carnival and Madou Monogatari: Fia and the Mysterious School , expanding its reach beyond traditional RPGs.
Now, the company plans to take an even bigger step, betting on brand-new genres within its portfolio. "We are always thinking about how we can innovate ," Tominaga emphasized. According to him, 2025 will be a year focused on completely original titles, each bringing unique challenges to the development team.
Among the announced projects, Zalesta stands out. The new shooter from Compile Heart was developed in partnership with veterans of the Zanac and Aleste , two classics of the genre. The title will feature innovative mechanics, but details have not yet been revealed.
Scarlet Salvation: a futuristic soulslike with third-person combat
The highlight of the presentation was Scarlet Salvation , a challenging action game in the soulslike style. The title will be a TPS (Third-Person Shooter), a significant difference within the genre, which normally focuses on melee combat.
Aoki, the game's producer, stated that Compile Heart wants to create a balanced experience, ensuring a high level of difficulty but without making the gameplay frustrating. To achieve this, Scarlet Salvation will offer ten types of weapons, some with auto-aim, allowing players less familiar with shooters to also enjoy the game.
The futuristic setting reinforces the intense action tone. The game will follow Willow, the protagonist, and her relationship with a military AI, both voiced by big names in the industry: Fairouz Ai and Junichi Suwabe. The dialogues will take place in real time, without interruptions, making the narrative more fluid.
Magical Librarian Ariana: magic and adventure in an action RPG
On the other hand, while Scarlet Salvation focuses on high difficulty, Magical Librarian Ariana: The Book of the Seven Heroes will take a more accessible approach. The title, set in a mysterious fantasy world, will be a side-scrolling action RPG.
In the game, players will control Ariana, a young librarian who uses special spells known as "librarian magic." Therefore, the core mechanic will be based on combining spells, allowing for varied combat strategies.
Aoki emphasized that Magical Librarian Ariana will be a game suitable for all audiences, without the complexity or extreme difficulty seen in Scarlet Salvation. More details about the gameplay and story will be revealed in the spring of 2025.
Updates on Calamity Angels and the Neptunia celebration
Compile Heart also brought news about previously announced titles. Two games delayed until 2024 now have release dates: Deliver It! Battle! Calamity Angels will arrive in the summer of 2025, while Zalesta continues in development.
However, unlike traditional games, Calamity Angels will have a system in which secondary characters will act on their own, making decisions independently of the player. This approach promises to make combat more unpredictable and dynamic.
Another big announcement was the confirmation of a new numbered game in the Neptunia series, in celebration of the franchise's 15th anniversary. Since Neptunia VII (2015), the series has only released spin-offs, and now Compile Heart promises a return to its roots. "We are using everything we learned from the spin-offs to create something truly special ," stated Yasui, the series producer.
A promising year for Compile Heart fans
With a diverse list of releases and a focus on new genres, Compile Heart demonstrates a commitment to evolving its identity as a developer. Thus, whether it's the intense challenges of Scarlet Salvation, the accessible gameplay of Magical Librarian Ariana, or the highly anticipated return of Neptunia, 2025 promises to be a year full of new releases for fans of the studio. Compile Heart will release more information about each title in the coming months.