Unicorn Overlord Dev Comments on PC Port Chances

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Summary

  • Vanillaware currently has no plans for a Unicorn Overlord PC port.
  • Publisher Atlus previously expressed interest in a PC version of the game, but the decision is ultimately up to Vanillaware.

As a long-time fan of Vanillaware’s intricate and captivating games, I must admit that the lack of a PC port for “Unicorn Overlord” leaves me a bit crestfallen. Having grown up playing games on my trusty old PC, I’ve come to appreciate the flexibility and accessibility that platform offers.

As a passionate gamer, I was hoping to add the captivating tactical RPG, Unicorn Overlord, to my PC gaming library. However, a senior official from Vanillaware has confirmed that a PC port isn’t currently in development. For now, it seems this masterpiece will continue to grace console platforms, potentially forever.

Historically, Vanillaware has been known for developing games for one system at a time, creating titles one after another. The exception to this rule was with the release of Dragon’s Crown in 2013, an action RPG that was made available on both the PS3 and PS Vita. However, Unicorn Overlord, launched in March 2024, was a significant departure for the company as it marked their first multi-platform game release, appearing simultaneously on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Similar to all Vanillaware games except its debut title Fantasy Earth Zero from 2006, Unicorn Overlord did not make an appearance on PC.

In response to inquiries about a possible port of the Unicorn Overlord game for PC, Game Director Takafumi Noma has stated that there are currently no plans in development for such a project. The veteran in the gaming industry elaborated by saying that they do not have any plans for a PC version at the moment. This comment comes about nine months after Producer Akiyasu Yamamoto also mentioned that the studio does not intend to release the game on PC. Neither Noma nor Yamamoto provided any specifics as to why a PC version of Unicorn Overlord is yet to be realized.

Unicorn Overlord Publisher Wanted a PC Port

During an interview with Destructoid in March 2024, Yamamoto revealed that Atlus, the publisher of Unicorn Overlord, wished to release a PC version of the game. However, the ultimate decision was left to Vanillaware. With Unicorn Overlord having been in development for a decade, it’s plausible that creating another edition could have overextended Vanillaware’s resources. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that an external team could have handled the port, which is common practice when collaborating with established publishers like Atlus or its parent company, Sega.

We do not have any plans for a [Unicorn Overlord] PC version at this time.

Unicorn Overlord Is Selling Well Even Without a PC Port

Despite not being available on PC, the highly praised strategy role-playing game “Unicorn Overlord” has still been a commercial success. As reported by Atlus, it has sold more than one million copies as of late September 2024, approximately six months after its release. Although Vanillaware occasionally hinted at the possibility of a PC port, their history suggests that the likelihood of “Unicorn Overlord” being adapted for PC was always slim. To date, Vanillaware has only developed one port, which is the Switch version of “13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim,” released in 2022, three years after its initial PS4 launch.

Despite the Japanese studio showing hesitance about releasing its games on PC, the simultaneous launch of “Unicorn Overlord” across multiple consoles hints that future Vanillaware titles might no longer be exclusive to one platform. This move towards multi-platform distribution could potentially be influenced by Atlus, which has experienced significant success with a similar approach in recent times.

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2024-12-20 19:05