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Digimon Story Time Stranger Game Streams 'Prelude' Anime Short

The official YouTube channel for Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming on Monday the anime short "Prelude" for the Digimon Story Time Stranger game in Japanese with English subtitles. The prequel short centers on Inori and her younger brother prior to the game's story. The video features the game's theme song "wherever you are" by singer-songwriter reche.

Taku Kimura (Studio Lemon, Star Wars: Visions' "Tattooine Rhapsody") directed the shory and handled the storyboards. Teruhiro Shimogawa (Shimogawa Planning, Ace Attorney - Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit) was the screenwriter. Shinobu Isoko designed the characters and served as the chief animation director.

The game launched for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on October 3.

A demo for the game launched on September 11. The demo includes two parts. In the game's prologue, the player investigates a disturbance in Shinjuku as an ADAMAS agent. After the prologue, a second option unlocks for players to explore the Digital World Iliad, featuring a mission and quest. Only data from the prologue section can transfer to the full version of the game.

Bandai Namco Entertainment describes the game:

In this JRPG, players will embark on an adventure that spans across worlds and even time itself. From the human world to the Digital World, collect and raise a diverse array of Digimon to fight in turn-based battles.

Explore the eternal bond between humans and Digimon to unravel the mystery of your world's collapse - and save it once again.

Bandai Namco Entertainment released the original Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth game on PlayStation Vita in Japan in March 2015. The game then shipped for PlayStation 4 and PS Vita in the Americas in February 2016. The Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory sequel game shipped for PS4 and PS Vita in Japan in December 2017. The game then shipped in the West in January 2018. Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition got a release for Switch and PC via Steam in October 2019. The game collection will feature both the Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory games.

Digimon Survive, a hybrid visual novel and tactical role-playing game, launched for PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC via Steam worldwide in July 2022. The game is also compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Kazumasa Habu, a longtime producer for the Digimon games, announced in February 2024 he would no longer serve as a producer on the franchise.

Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment America's YouTube channel