Metaphor: ReFantazio Director Avoids Fan Feedback to Protect His Mental Health

Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona director Katsura Hashino said he avoids reading fan feedback to protect his mental health.

Hashino discussed the topic of fan feedback with Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama on Famitsu (via Automaton), but the two creators had opposing opinions on the matter.

Hashino said he “tries not to be too aware” of fan feedback and intends to maintain some distance.

“Of course I check things at certain times, like right after launch,” he said. “But it’s not like I can adjust (the game) based on what I see. When I need to look for something, I do it quickly all at once because constantly watching reactions is not good for your mental health.”

He added that he doesn’t look up his own name online or use social media.

Toyama, who is busy developing the next Slitterhead, said his attitude toward user feedback is changing over time. While he has been dismissive in the past, he is now interested in actively listening to fans online and adopting opinions he finds helpful – this despite Slitterhead not being a live service game that needs to be adjusted in response to player demands.

Metaphor: ReFantazio certainly received praise from fans and critics alike. The game sold 1 million copies on its release day and became Atlus’ fastest-selling game.

Hashino also talked about the influence of traditional fantasy on the game and how that was discarded in favor of the focus on originality that “defines” Atlus games.

Slitterhead, from Bokeh Studio, is scheduled for release next month and allows players to inhabit the bodies of various people – and even a dog.