Penny Blood, billed as the spiritual successor to the iconic Shadow Hearts series, still seems like it's quite a ways out, judging from recent updates from developers Studio Wildrose and Yukikaze. Along with Armed Fantasia: To the End of the Wilderness, the dual-game pitch blew up on Kickstarter in 2022, reaching the stretch goal for PS5 ports (even roping in Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu), but it seems the state of the industry has conspired against fans of dark fantasy JRPGs.
Noisy Pixel has been monitoring the project, which posts monthly updates. Penny Blood director Matsuzo Machida affirmed that the team was still searching for a publisher in May 2024. In the July update, Machida said the search continues and that the studio has started work on another attempt "to try and increase the value of the Penny Blood IP".
Since the Kickstarter, Studio Wildrose developed and released Penny Blood: Hellhound into Steam's Early Access in March 2024, an action roguelike that, in full honesty, we had no idea was even a thing. It looks pretty good, actually, and is set in the same world, serving as a prequel of sorts.
Interestingly, the success of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on Kickstarter was part of the impetus for Wildrose's own crowdfunding push, and Rabbit & Bear Studios similarly released its own smaller game, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising.
How hopeful are you for Penny Blood? Will fans of outlandish roleplaying games from the PS2 era finally get their due? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
[source kickstarter.com, via noisypixel.net]
Comments 14
"Penny Blood director Matsuzo Machida affirmed that the team was still searching for a publisher in May"
No Japanese publisher wants this game not even SE, Sega, Bamco, KT, or Nintendo? Dang, that's just sad.
I wish Sony help this guy the same way they did with Stellar Blade or China & India Hero project...
The amount of money to invest from Sony would be a drop in a lake. Dear god someone make this happen
Such a shame. The Wild Arms series is great.
Sony definitely needs more JRPGs in their current lineup...
Hope they can find a publisher soon! I've been looking forward to it for 2 years now!
I really hope they get a publisher. Shadow hearts 1 and 2 are some of my favourite games from the ps2, so this game would be right up my street
@TheTraditional Armed Fantasia is the spiritual successor of the Wild Arms series, Penny Blood is from the creators of Shadow Hearts
C'mon, Sony, help these guys out! Throw us a bone!! 🦴
I'm HIGHLY interested in this game and I'm also HIGHLY upset that publishers don't want to touch it.
Penny Blood would be great addition to Capcom!!
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it's almost like there's an agenda against quality turn based dark RPGs, there is a huge gap in the market left by the PS2 era
Yeah... i think they could've come up with a better name.
I am more interested in the wild arms. Shadow hearts was never my thing.
Sony would be insane to not invest in either of those projects. There is so much potential in these games.
I really wish Sony would give them a Hand. I really want this games get released.
He Sony why don't you publish this instead of the garbage liveservice which you all cancelled lately.
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