Koei Tecmo and Gust have announced their game Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout has shipped over 500,000 units worldwide. The game was one of the most popular in the Atelier series and continues to break records after its launch.
Atelier Ryza initially launched on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and the Nintendo Switch in September 2019. The game quickly became the most popular installment in the series. For the first time, the heroine will appear as the star in a sequel Atelier game Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy.
Atelier Ryza stars a young woman named Ryza. She becomes tired of her boring village life and seeks adventure. Ryza meets with her friends in a secret location and decide to discuss going on an adventure. Together, they decide to journey to a forbidden island across the shore. It would be their first trip together, but not their last.
The friends end up on a memorable adventure and meet even more companions along the way. Since the game launched, Koei Tecmo and Gust have released several additional DLC, from soundtrack music from previous Atelier games, costumes, side story quests, and more.
Koei Tecmo and Gust announced the half-million milestone on social media. The character designer and illustrator for the game, Toridamono, also created a new commemorative illustration to celebrate the milestone.
Even though the game was released less than a year ago, it was successful across the world. The publisher and developer recently announced a sequel, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy, which will be out this Winter.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy takes place three years after the events of the first game. The friends have all gone their separate ways and only Ryza remains on her home island. One day, she receives a mysterious letter to visit Ashra-am Baird. The letter is the first step in a brand-new adventure where Ryza will uncover the mysteries of the ruins around the royal capital.
Ahead of the game’s release, Koei Tecmo has been releasing new information about the game, including images of what some characters look like years later. Ryza will reunite with many of her friends from the first game, but also meet new companions. Due to Ryza’s popularity, the developer also built a life-sized statue of Ryza. While it was worth thousands of dollars, it shows how popular the character is with many players.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout is available now on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. The direct sequel, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy, launches this Winter.
