Fumito Ueda, the visionary behind Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian, has offered new details on his latest project, now officially titled Gen Atlas. Originally revealed as Project Robot, the game made an appearance at Summer Game Fest, showcasing not only its new name but also the surprising inclusion of firearms and an interview with Ueda himself.
Ueda's previous works are characterized by their unique and often wordless partnerships between the player character and an AI companion. From Ico's Yorda to Shadow of the Colossus's Agro and The Last Guardian's Trico, these relationships have been central to the player's emotional and mechanical experience. The shift to a sci-fi setting in Gen Atlas, which features giant robots, naturally raises questions about how these dynamics will evolve. Ueda confirmed that the robot head companion in Gen Atlas will serve multiple functions, acting as a vehicle for transportation, a navigator, and a general tool.
However, Ueda clarified that the relationship between the protagonist and this robotic entity will diverge from the protective bonds seen in his earlier titles. "It's a little different from what you've seen in my past games," he stated, indicating a move away from scenarios where players must solely protect or are solely protected by their companion. The introduction of guns in Gen Atlas is, in part, a response to player feedback. Ueda noted that the lack of a weapon for the player character in The Last Guardian led to some player frustration, and the ability to wield a weapon and engage in shooting is intended to offer more tactical options and alleviate that feeling, though he emphasized that "This is not a shooting game."
The rationale for less direct communication in previous games, Ueda explained, stemmed from maintaining realism within their fictional settings. Horses cannot talk, for example. In contrast, the sci-fi backdrop of Gen Atlas allows for a different approach. "It’s not going to be a situation where you can't have communication," Ueda said. "You will. It's not going to be maybe as blatantly direct, but you will actually be able to have some level of communication." He further elaborated that the fundamental setting differences in this sci-fi world have enabled him to make adjustments to how the character and companion interact, differences that players will likely notice.
Beyond the narrative and gameplay shifts, Gen Atlas also represents a significant change in development methodology for Ueda. It marks his first multiplatform release and utilizes a commercial game engine, Unreal Engine, provided by publisher Epic Games. While acknowledging potential differences in reporting across consoles, Ueda suggested that working with Unreal has not fundamentally altered his core development process. His previous games were built on proprietary engines, and he finds the transition to Unreal has not introduced any major new challenges yet.
Ueda also reflected on the concept of limitations in game development, drawing an analogy to the Japanese cultural practice of "furoshiki," a wrapping cloth used for gifts. He described it as opening up possibilities within defined constraints, emphasizing that the skill lies in how these elements are brought together cohesively. "So in that sense, I think that there are still some limitations when it comes to perfecting that skill, perfecting it and wrapping it in a nicely neatly bowtied package by the time you deliver it to the world, that's where it matters," he explained. This philosophy extends to the managerial aspects of game development, including assembling the right team with the necessary skills and securing adequate financial and structural support. Despite advancements in hardware technology, Ueda believes that limitations persist in the process of creation itself, and how developers approach these constraints is paramount.
Gen Atlas is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC, with the PC version being an Epic Games Store exclusive. A release date has not yet been announced.