Compile Heart Announces New School RPG from Persona Creator Kouji Okada

Compile Heart has unveiled a new school RPG project helmed by Kouji Okada, the legendary co-creator of the Megami Tensei and Persona series. The announcement dropped on January 15, 2026, with a cryptic teaser video that has already sparked intense speculation among JRPG fans.

A Legendary Creator Returns

Kouji Okada needs no introduction to RPG enthusiasts. As one of the original creators of the Megami Tensei series and a key figure behind its wildly successful Persona spin-off franchise, his name carries significant weight in the industry. A co-founder of Atlus, Okada directed and produced most of the original Megami Tensei titles before departing in 2003. This marks his return to game development after years away from the spotlight, now collaborating with Idea Factory subsidiary Compile Heart.

The project reunites Okada with longtime collaborators Tadashi Satomi, the scenario writer behind Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, and sound creator Tsukasa Masuko, the composer responsible for the iconic soundtracks of the early Shin Megami Tensei games. This reunion of the original creative team suggests a deliberate return to form for the genre they helped define.

International Art Direction

Character designs come from Ilya Kuvshinov, the Russian-Japanese illustrator and animator whose work on Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 brought a fresh aesthetic to the beloved franchise. Kuvshinov's distinctive style blends anime sensibilities with painterly techniques, suggesting this new school RPG will offer a visual identity distinct from both Persona's sharp designs and Compile Heart's typical aesthetic.

The Mystery Deepens

The teaser video reveals little concrete information, instead presenting imagery of DNA helixes, unidentified facilities, and haunting close-ups of widely-open eyes. These visual motifs hint at themes of identity, experimentation, or perhaps something supernatural lurking beneath the surface of school life.

Compile Heart has established an official X account for the project where fans can follow development updates. The official title reveal is scheduled for January 29, 2026, promising more substantial details about the game's premise, setting, and gameplay systems.

With Kouji Okada's track record of blending contemporary settings with supernatural elements and psychological themes, expectations are high for what this collaboration might produce.

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