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No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files Game Launches Mini Animation Series
posted on by Anita Tai
Spike Chunsoft released the first episode on Tuesday of a short animation series for its No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files game, a new entry in the Kōtarō Uchikoshi's AI: The Somnium Files series. The "Kaname Date's Dreamy Drama Theater" series will have five episodes introducing the game's features with chibi super deformed characters. The first episode introduces the player character Kaname Date and his eye's special ability:
The next episode will stream on June 24 at 1:00 p.m. EDT with subsequent episodes debuting weekly.
Similarly to the main series, the new title follows protagonist Kaname Date, who can enter dreams thanks to his artificial left eye, on a case to solve puzzles and locate internet idol Iris in an escape game. In the game's new "Escape" sections, players solve puzzles to break out of locked rooms. The title also features Investigation and Somnium segments from the previous games in the series.
Kazuya Yamada is directing and writing the scenarios for the game. Uchikoshi returns as series director and scenario supervisor. Yūsuke Kozaki is designing the characters, and Keisuke Ito composes the music. Yasu Iizuka is producing.
AI: The Somnium Files launched for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam worldwide in September 2019. The visual novel is set in modern-day Tokyo, but with some technology advancements. Players play as Kamane Date, a detective tracking down a serial killer performing bizarre murders. Date has an artificial left eye, differently colored from his right eye, which contains an AI that helps him solve crimes. A key feature of the game is Date's ability to delve into the memories of suspects and key witnesses, exploring places called "Somnium" (Latin for "dream").
AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative, the sequel game, launched for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Windows 10 and Steam in North America in June 2022. The game was originally scheduled for a worldwide spring 2022 launch. Spike Chunsoft also delayed the game in Europe and Oceania to July 2022 "due to unforeseen manufacturing delays and global shipping slowdowns."
Sources: Press release, Spike Chunsoft's YouTube channel
