Development on Armed Fantasia, a spiritual successor to the beloved Wild Arms series, has reportedly been discontinued by publisher 505 Games. The news comes via an investor document from 505 Games' parent company, Digital Bros, which indicates that the decision followed a review of the project's potential in light of changing market conditions and required investment.
Armed Fantasia, alongside Penny Blood, a spiritual successor to Shadow Hearts, was launched via a dual Kickstarter campaign in 2022. The campaign successfully raised over two million dollars, but the development team, WILD BUNCH Productions, soon faced resource constraints, leading them to seek a publisher. Producer Akifumi Kaneko had previously confirmed in March that a build had been sent to an unnamed publisher who had been supporting the project's development.
While crowdfunding can provide crucial funding for cult developers, it can also add complexities to the publishing landscape. The financial statement from Digital Bros also indicates that the action RPG The Directorate: Novitiate and a new installment in the Battle Island series have also been discontinued. The fate of Penny Blood, the gothic-themed sibling project to Armed Fantasia, remains unknown, although Armed Fantasia was reportedly further along in development.