Cygames’ long-gestating action RPG, Project Awakening, has shifted its technical foundation to Unreal Engine 5 as the project enters a more intensive development phase. According to interviews with Famitsu and CGWorld, company president Koichi Watanabe and developer Tomino Kimihiro confirmed the title remains in active production, with teams in Tokyo and Osaka now working to finalize the game’s core mechanics and visual identity.
Technical Pivot to Unreal Engine 5
The most significant change for Project Awakening involves the abandonment of the studio’s proprietary Cyllista engine. By transitioning to Unreal Engine 5, developers aim to achieve what Cygames describes as “hyper-photorealistic” graphics. This move follows a development cycle that began in 2016, during which the game has seen sporadic updates, including a 2018 reveal at the PlayStation LineUp Tour and a subsequent trailer in 2021.
Did you know? Project Awakening now benefits from the expertise of developers who recently completed work on Granblue Fantasy: Relink, marking a significant consolidation of internal talent at Cygames.
Tactical Combat and Environmental Interaction
While the combat team includes veterans from Granblue Fantasy: Relink, the design philosophy for Project Awakening marks a departure from that title’s faster pace. Tomino Kimihiro notes that the new project emphasizes slower, more tactical encounters where precise timing on blocks and dodges is essential. Character animations are being designed to feel “heavier” and more grounded to reflect this deliberate pacing.
The studio is also focusing on environmental integration. According to development updates, the game engine will process terrain to alter how attacks land, ensuring that player moves appear distinct based on the immediate surroundings. AI behavior is also being overhauled; enemies are designed to remain active even after being knocked down, allowing them to continue engaging the player from the ground.
Development Status and Future Outlook
Cygames leadership describes the current development phase as the period where the game is finally “taking shape.” Koichi Watanabe stated that team members across both Tokyo and Osaka offices are working with increased focus as the disparate parts of the game begin to align. Despite the nearly decade-long development timeline, the studio maintains that the project has not been canceled and is currently entering a more rigorous production cycle.
Pro Tip: Tracking Long-Term Development
When tracking titles with extended development cycles, look for shifts in engine technology. Transitions to industry-standard engines like Unreal Engine 5 often signal that a studio is moving from experimental R&D to finalized asset production.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Project Awakening still in development? Yes. Cygames president Koichi Watanabe confirmed in recent interviews that the game is actively in production and reaching a more stable, defined state.
- Why was the engine changed? The studio switched from its custom Cyllista engine to Unreal Engine 5 to reach higher standards of photorealistic graphics.
- How does the combat differ from Granblue Fantasy: Relink? Although some of the same developers are involved, Project Awakening features slower, more tactical combat with a focus on heavy, natural animations.
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