http://www.siliconera.com/2013/07/24/atelier-2014-may-be-brand-new-dusk-series-wont-end-with-escha-logy/

This week’s Dengeki PlayStaton magazine featured an interview with Gust’s director Yoshito Okamura, who hinted that they’ll be releasing a new Atelier game, that may not be related to the Dusk series. In addition, he also says that the Dusk series will continue and won’t end with Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky.   

Previously, Okamura mentioned that there won’t be a plus version of Atelier Rorona. The other two games in the Arland trilogy got expanded ports for PlayStation Vita and were released as, Atelier Totori Plus and Atelier Meruru Plus. Okamura said that they’d like to make an expansion for it in the future that will show the reason why they saved it for last. According to the Dengeki PlayStation interview, we may be seeing a remake for Atelier Rorona before we see a completely new Atelier series.   

“Since becoming part of Tecmo Koei, we now have the grounds to make big titles, while keeping true to Gust’s identity.” says Okamura in the interview. The director also reveals his intention to step down from the development of the Atelier series, with the reason being that when the same person continues developing a title, the game’s content will always be too similar to one another.  

Here are some of the highlights from the interview:

• There are no plans to end the Dusk series any time soon, as there is still plenty left to do.
• Gust's next title may not be part of the Dusk series, although it's not certain.
• There will be a new Atelier game released next year, as they have no intention to break the pattern of releasing a new title per year so fans will have something to look forward to every year.
• Since merging with Tecmo Koei, Gust have the grounds to develop bigger titles and still keep true to their essence.
• Gust are currently training their younger developers to carry on the future of the Atelier series, along with new IP's, all while changing the future of the company from within.
• Director Yoshito Okamora feels that someone else must be entrusted with Atelier.  Not because he dislikes making it, but because he feels if the same person keeps working on it, the games will always be too similar.
• This year is Gust's 20th Anniversary, and they're looking forward to taking on greater challenges.

Fairly interesting read.

I was (am?) looking forward to seeing what else they were going to do with the Dusk universe, since it certainly seemed to have a lot of potential after Ayesha. But since Escha & Logy didn't really set the sales charts on fire I guess there's a bit of fatigue with this series, and maybe shaking things up from the inside is best. Either way, I'm looking forward to whatever they've got planned next.

Sounds like they've definitely got plans with Atelier Rorona too. Remake from-the-ground-up sounds likely at this point, although releasing it after they released Totori & Meruru Plus seems to make no sense.

I'm so happy about what i read =)

I wouldn't mind a completely original Atelier series for the Vita, i loved playing Totori Plus on it and i felt the game format fitted the portable very well. A remake for Rorona would be welcome too since i haven't played it. I hope Tecmo Koei keeps up with localizations.

If they keep it up like that, I will seriously have a backlog of ten atelier games, PS2 included.

So many JRPG's, so little time.