Interview: SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada Producer on inspirations, challenges, and feedback for the final release

We got the chance to have an interview with Yosuke Futami, Producer of SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada, to learn more about how the game came into fruition. Of course, making a game this ambitious wasn’t easy. Futami opened up about the challenges the team faced during development, like balancing storytelling with gameplay and meeting the high expectations of fans. He even gave some insight on the Open Network Tests and how it helped the team fine-tune the game for launch.

Here’s the full interview with SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada Producer, Yosuke Futami:

Can you share the inspiration behind SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada’s unique setting and its blend of sci-fi and post-apocalyptic themes?

YF: The first inspiration for the title actually came from Hatsune Miku. She was designed as a “vocaloid” character who could sing in a “human-like” manner, but once she gained popularity, people actually started to mimic her style. Vocaloid songs are actually designed without the need for breaths, or other human considerations – they cannot actually be sung live. What this meant was, we had a machine that wanted to be human inspiring humans to want to be machines. It is this strange disconnect which inspired the key dynamic at the heart of the title. This is why one of the secondary themes of “SYNDUALITY” is mankind’s final tragic love and depicting this doomed, yet emotional story was one of the main reasons we created this world.

What were some of the key challenges in balancing the PvPvE mechanics, and how did you ensure they complemented the story-driven aspects of the game?

YF: The first thing we focused on during the development phase was the balance between the game’s PvP and PvE elements. For us, we wanted to make 60 to 70 percent of gameplay centered around PvE interactions, with the remaining 30 to 40 percent PvP. The game focuses more on PvE. The implementation of the Bounty Target system, meanwhile, is intended to introduce some PvP users as powerful NPCs, with the central focus of the game always being on the adventures of the player and their Magus. The missions for Bounty Targets and Association Members each have their own motivations, and the reasons behind the conflict between the two also provide a fascinating glimpse into the truth of this world.

What were some of the most significant takeaways from the recent Open Network Test, and how are they shaping the game’s final release?

YF: We were very pleased to be able to acquire the necessary data from the test in order to improve network quality in the release version of the title. A lot of the data we got, such as item acquisition balance and currency level balance, will be extremely helpful in maintaining long-term operation of the game. Moving forward, we will be using this data as a stepping stone to make the final improvements needed.

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.