It's a long running complaint for European and PAL gamers, particularly 3DS owners, that a range of excellent titles from Atlus (and sometimes SEGA) either take a long time to arrive in the region or never make the transition. This is due to Atlus in particular publishing directly in North America but - in most cases - allowing other publishers to pick up the slack for the EU on an ad-hoc basis.
Thankfully it seems that's a situation that's set to change. Both Atlus and SEGA of America (SEGA owns Atlus, as a reminder) have signed a publishing deal with Deep Silver for some key titles, and hopefully if they prove a success it'll lead to further releases. Confirmed to be on the way to PAL territories as both physical retail and download titles are Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse and 7th Dragon III Code: VFD. In the email to the press Atlus acknowledges past complaints but says "Europe, we've got you covered".
Take a seat real quick, Europe; we need to talk. I know we haven't always gotten along together, but that's the past. And the past is the past. We're looking toward the future. And it's a bright one, because Atlus U.S.A. and SEGA of America are partnering with Deep Silver to release multiple upcoming titles in Europe.
Wait, am I talking about Persona 5? You bet I am. Oh, and there's more! Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse too. And the SEGA title 7th Dragon III Code: VFD. All releasing in Europe in both physical and digital form. And it doesn't stop there, more ATLUS and SEGA titles are in the works for this publishing deal.
We don't have any timetables for any release dates yet (it's safe to say 7th Dragon III Code: VFD won't ship simultaneously), but we'll have more on release dates in the coming weeks.
It's important to note that the formal PR does say this applies to both Europe and PAL territories, so that includes Australia too.
We await release dates, of course, but the good news is that two excellent 3DS titles are on the way.
Comments 46
Thank you Sega and Atlus for finally clearing this up! I was getting worried we wouldn't get Etrian Odyssey V, but now I have faith again.
These games aren't my sort of thing usually, but I'm glad they're still reaching out to the PAL markets. It's always a shame when games planned for one English-speaking region never come out in another.
YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEHAAAAAAW!
Yay for physical copies!
How about restocking Hatsune Miku on 3DS?
It was released last September, but when I returned overseas in late October, I wasn't able to find a copy... anywhere. In fact, I am yet to see a single Australian copy of the game. It seems completely and utterly stupid to me that a game that has sold out the entirety of its first shipment wouldn't get a second, even if that second shipment also happens to be a limited one.
But then Sega hasn't made a smart business decision in years.
One ShinMegaten cartridge I won't have to import.
Thats nice, will get them.
I hope Sega or Atlus will stand for the commercials.
Yes.
Can't wait for Deep Silver's ad for Apocalypse.
'You like heady, story-driven rpg's? YEAH, you do. You like demons, bro? LIKE A BOSS!'
@Stu13 Haha, indeed. Something tells me Atlus and SEGA will want creative control over marketing.
@sillygostly same here. I have yet to find a single retail copy of it in Canada. I really want the game but I'm trying not to download too many games. Especially when I'm not sure I will like it.
The fact they straight up confirmed really quickly how they are going to release all games in both retail and digital is a huge plus for everyone involved. Finally I don't have to fear for these games to be brought over sloppily or not at all, I can just safely place my pre-orders and get hyped for the release dates when they come up.
This news made my day and I haven't been this relieved in a long while. Thank you, Deep Silver.
Nice. About time. Now more people can play these awesome games.
Can't say I'm the biggest fan of Deep Silver, but it's a lot better than nothing I guess
Funny how SMT4 was download-only but Apocalypse is retail.
I'm happy for my European fellows. But man, now we know who ruined Mighty No. 9 marketing. That mail sounds exactly like the narrator on Mighty No. 9 infamous trailer.
@Billsama Despite Mighty No. 9, this news didn't make me cry like an anime fan on prom night, more like an anime fan in Akihabara.
Exactly the news I wanted to hear! Well done SEGA and Atlus!
@Stu13 I like demons!
Great, I was worried about new Etrian. And now I must check what is this 7th Dragon series...
Deep Silver, huh. I can already picture the SMT IV Apocalypse trailer.
''Make the demons cry like a Casualry on Sabbath night''
Jokes aside, this is great news.
Good news although they should also back and release some other games that weren't physical here like the original SMT IV. Also bring the two M2/Sega 3D collections over while you're at it (please).
People seem to forget (or just not know!) that Deep Silver published Catherine in Europe with no real furore or particularly awful marketing. Oh, and Killer Is Dead, and the new King of Fighters. Clearly, somebody there can give niche Japanese games decent enough marketing, as Catherine and KiD apparently did very well for them.
I mean, SEGA Europe clearly don't care, they had Deep Silver publish Valkyria Chronicles PS4 over here a few months ago. A single console release was too much effort for them.
@tudsworth Even if SEGA Europe are lazy, at least they're not so lazy and stupid as to not localise the games at all in Europe. As long as someone is bringing the Atlus games to Europe, I don't mind.
@crazycrazydave Oh yeah, I'm glad they at least admit they're better off having a third-party bring titles over on their behalf, and it's ultimately a positive thing in the long run, seeing as we got Valkyria PS4 day-and-date with the US; and I reckon we'll see the same with titles like SMT IV Apocalypse.
I'm just a little, ya know, bothered that it takes a distribution deal with a completely unaffiliated company for SEGA to release -anything- on a console in Europe; given that the other divisions of the company seem to handle both Console and PC just fine.
Persona 5, in Europe on the PS3. PLEASE! I've been reading worrying claims that they were going to drop that version in Europe.
Now all I need is an announcement that Etrian Odyssey V will be released in the West at all and then in Europe and my 3DS will be complete!
@edhe I think if they do a PS3 in NA they'll do one here, and at any rate you can import it from NA
@boatie
That's another worry people have - defying common practice with the PS3, Atlus region locked the Persona fighting games, and there are fears they may do the same again.
It would make sense - it's a sony exclusive, and Sony may nudge them to encourage people to buy a PS4 for it.
But I live in hope...
Awesome news! I'm glad you guys are getting these games as well, and as physical releases.
I don't know why Segas euro branch doesn't do their games unless it's about keeping the brands separate.
@Pokefanmum82 I'm pretty sure there is a demo in the eshop for hatsune miku.
This is a happy day to be a European RPG gamer. Maybe they're trying to make amends for Mighty No 9 just kidding!
Awesome news! Not my preferred publisher out there but if it helps get those games out here in the UK & Europe, I'll take it.
Guess I'll hold off on importing 7th Dragon III Code then, save me some import costs
Seems odd that Sega don't just publish themselves, but this is still great news! Now we just need Marvelous to release Corpse Party here.
I'm a fan of Etrian Odyssey, so this is good news for me
Awesome!!
this is verry good news for me.i love (good) jrpg's since i was a kid and they are still my favortite kind of games.being able to play the atlus games is a huge reason for me to keep playing on my 3ds.i dont like all their games but the shin megami tensei serie is pure gold in my opinion.
Hopefully it was worth the weight.
pops champagne
Truly great news! Now I don't have any more excuses to start SMT.
Lovely. Would hate to miss out on SMTIV sequel or Persona. Fears assuaged!
@dapplefur I've played it. I just prefer physical to digital because some games I'm not 100% sure I will constantly play or even go back to play when I'm done with the game. Games like Pokemon, Disney Magical World and Animal Crossing I will download on my 3DS because I know I'll go back to them. Like right now I'm replaying Pokemon X.
That is very good news.
I just hope we don't end up crying like an anime fan on prom night because of this.
About bloody time. The two-year wait for SMTIV was an unforgivable exercise in refusing to shut up and take our money.
Great news. Still, Nintendo can go screw themselves for region locking in the first place. If NX is region locked it's no buy for me
Um Brexit? does that mean when companies release European games us UK gamers are still left in the lurch?
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