Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is here, and for players who have been waiting for the game to break free from the technical shackles of the Nintendo Switch, the game is now available across all major platforms and with complete content to boot.

While everyone is getting their feet wet with the world and its demons, we got the chance to speak with the development team as they talked about their favorite quality-of-life upgrades, the newly introduced Canon of Vengeance storyline, and much more.

Related – Read our Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Review

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is quite an interesting release since it not only adds quality-of-
life features, but a whole new storyline in Canon of Vengeance. When asked about how Canon of Vengeance came to be and if it was developed specifically for this release alone, the development team said that they wanted to push the limits of the world’s dark lore.

“After launching the original Shin Megami Tensei V, we brainstormed what we could make next. Throughout these talks, we grew more resolute about creating a game that could push the limits of the world’s dark lore. We felt that exploring a conflict between the oppressed and the oppressors could bring the story in a new direction, which brought us to Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.”

The development team also states that there is no particular order to playing either storyline.

“You can start with either of the two stories without any problem. At the beginning of the story, you can choose which route to take. Although both routes start the same way, they gradually diverge, and the story significantly changes from the point where the protagonist returns to the real world from Da’at Minato-ku, ultimately leading to completely different endings.”

In addition to a new storyline, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance also adds Yoko Hiromine, a new character who makes an appearance in Canon of Vengeance. While being a new addition, the dev team reveals that she has already existed since the development stage of the original release.

“The new character, Yoko, has existed since the development stage of SMT5. She was conceived as an agent of Chaos to contrast with Tao. In this title, we have incorporated her original settings into the story as much as possible. We hope you enjoy how her presence guides your gameplay into a different narrative from SMT5.“

The development team also discusses some of their Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance favorites, starting with the many quality-of-life features included in the game.

Admittedly, there are so many improvements in this definitive version of the game that even the developers have a hard time choosing one, but a common theme they highlighted is features that help players navigate through the game better.

The Magatsu rails will help players go from point to point in a short time and may even lead them to secret rewards, some smaller adjustments to the range for picking up relics, and even improvements to the demon navigator are at the top of their lists.

The development team also mentioned a favorite demon of theirs, and choosing from 270 demons in total, that surely was a tough choice!

“My favorite is Amabie. I find her quirkiness endearing, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet it. That said, it might take a bit of creativity to recruit it.”

Lastly, the Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance development team shared a message to fans in Southeast Asia who have been playing the game.

The Shin Megami Tensei games have gained popularity for their unconventional take on deities and demons, as well as their dark and unnerving atmosphere. We hope that our fans in Southeast Asia enjoy Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance and the unique interactions in store for them!

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC.