- Ratatan Development Log #8 Kickstarter Begins - 18 September 2026
Ratatan Development Log #8 Kickstarter BeginsIn the previous article, I talked about how we first introduced Ratatan to the world at BitSummit.Then, the day we had been working toward finally arrived.The launch of our Kickstarter campaign.It was the moment we would present everything we had built over the previous three years to players around the world for the very first time.Over the next thirty days, the Ratatan project would truly begin its journey.The Kickstarter PageKickstarter Page https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ratata-arts/ratatan/descriptionOur Kickstarter page was much more than a simple game description.It brought together everything we had built up to that point.The gameplay concept.The visual concept.The UX Video.It became the place where we introduced Ratatan to players around the world.Throughout the process, we received tremendous support and guidance from DANGEN E…
- Ratatan Is Coming to Tokyo Game Show 2026! - 16 September 2026
Hello, RataTEAM! Ratatan is returning to Tokyo Game Show 2026! This year, we’ll have a playable demo and giveaways at the GSE booth. Whether you’re discovering Ratatan for the first time or already playing in Early Access, we’d love for you to stop by! Try Ratatan Before Its Official Release! Ratatan demo stations will be available at the GSE booth. Command your Cobun to the beat and enjoy battles with more than 100 characters joining the fray. After playing, be sure to share your thoughts with our staff! Pick Up Exclusive Giveaways! We have giveaways prepared for everyone who tries the demo. Plus, meet specific conditions at the booth to receive one Tokyo Game Show 2026 Exclusive Ratatan ID Card, randomly selected from 8 designs! We’ll also have original Ratatan pin badges available! Please note: Giveaways are available in limited quantities, while supplies last. Depending on crowd lev…
- Ratatan Digital Pre-orders Are Now Open! - 15 September 2026
RataTEAM, hello! Digital pre-orders for Ratatan are now open! The Nintendo Switch™ 2, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S versions are now available for pre-order, and you can purchase them at 10% off throughout the pre-order period leading up to the official release. After nearly a year in Early Access, Ratatan will finally reach Version 1.0 on October 15. The official release is almost here! The Journey Reaches Its Climax in Version 1.0 Version 1.0 will introduce Episodes 3 and 4, continuing the story that has unfolded so far. The final world—the destination of this long journey—and the battle against the final boss await. In addition, all of the Dark Ratatan, who have been introduced gradually throughout Early Access, will finally come together. After growing and evolving together with all of you throughout Early Access, Ratatan is finally approaching its complete form. And the orches…
- Ratatan Development Log #7 BitSummit - 11 September 2026
Ratatan Development Log #7 BitSummitIn the previous article, I talked about the importance of creating the UX Video for our Kickstarter campaign.From this point on, preparations for Kickstarter began in earnest.Simply making a great game would not be enough for Kickstarter to succeed.When should we announce it?Where should players first discover it?And how could we turn that initial interest into Kickstarter support?We realized that developing a marketing strategy would be just as important as developing the game itself.Working Backwards from KickstarterThe first decision we made was when to launch Kickstarter.We targeted the end of July 2023.With summer vacation beginning and numerous gaming events taking place during that period, we believed it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce Ratatan to as many people as possible.Once we had that deadline, everything else could be planne…
- Ratatan Development Log #6 - 4 September 2026
Ratatan Development Log #6The UX VideoIn the previous article, I explained how Kickstarter became our first major milestone, marking the point where Ratatan evolved from an idea into a real project.However, at that stage, all we had was a concept.The game itself didn't exist yet.The reality was simple:We couldn't raise funding.So when does a game become ready for funding?For Ratatan, the answer was the UX Video.A Concept Alone Cannot Raise FundingKickstarter is a crowdfunding platform.However, we never viewed Kickstarter as simply a place to raise money.One of the unique challenges of game development is that you need funding before the game is finished.That means you can't present a completed product to potential supporters or investors.Instead, what supporters, publishers, and investors are really evaluating is:"Can this game actually be completed?""Can this team deliver on its promis…
- Ratatan Development Log #5 Kickstarter as a Goal - 28 August 2026
Ratatan Development Log #5 Kickstarter as a GoalIn the previous article, I talked about how Ratatan's direction finally became clear once both the gameplay concept and the visual concept came together.At this point, I'd like to clarify one important idea.A gameplay concept.A visual concept.Only when these two come together can you truly explain:"What are we making?"For us, that was the moment the concept itself was complete.However, completing a concept does not mean you have completed a game.Only then does the real work begin: turning that concept into reality.For Ratatan, the very first step toward that goal was Kickstarter.Choosing an AA-Scale ProjectThere are many different ways to develop an indie game.Some games are created entirely by a solo developer.Some are completed by a small independent team.Others begin as indie projects before partnering with a publisher and expanding pro…
- Ratatan Development Log #4: Finding the Visual Concept - 21 August 2026
Ratatan Development Log #4: Finding the Visual ConceptIn the previous article, I looked back on how we moved forward with prototype development before our game concept had been fully defined.However, the game concept wasn't the only thing we struggled with.There was something that demanded just as much time and attention as turning our game concept into actual game design.That was the visual concept.What kind of experience did we want players to have?And what kind of visual style could best express that experience?We spent a long time searching for those answers.Unable to Find the Answer\\\Just because we were building a prototype didn't mean we treated the visuals as an afterthought.Characters.Worldbuilding.Art style.We redesigned everything over and over, constantly searching for the right direction.But none of the concepts truly felt right.Developing the visual concept proved to be j…
- Ratatan Development Log #3: The First Prototype - 14 August 2026
Ratatan Development Log #3: The First PrototypeOur first prototype ultimately failed.At the time, we didn't fully understand why.Looking back today and rereading the original design documents, however, the reasons have become surprisingly clear.The problem wasn't game design.Nor was it a lack of technical ability.What we lacked most was a clear core concept:What kind of experience did we want players to have?In this article, I'd like to revisit our original prototype design documents and reflect on where we went wrong.What Were We Trying to Validate?Looking through the specifications, the goals of the prototype were actually very simple.Online multiplayerRhythm-based call-and-response gameplayControlling both the ship and the charactersCombatAll of these would eventually become the foundation of Ratatan.At this stage, our thinking wasn't wrong.The prototype was meant to validate the cor…
- Ratatan Development Log #2: Early Game Concept - 7 August 2026
IntroductionThis time, I'd like to look back at our original game proposal.At this stage, there were no gameplay screenshots, and many aspects of the game had yet to be defined.However, the proposal clearly shows what we were trying to achieve from the very beginning.Looking back at it today, it's fascinating to see both the ideas that survived and those that changed along the way.A New Game Design Beyond PATAPONRatatan began as a project involving PATAPON series director Hiroyuki Kotani and composer Kenmei Adachi.We never intended to recreate PATAPON.Instead, we wanted to explore what could come next.Our goal was:"To create a new game design that evolves beyond PATAPON."We wanted to preserve the satisfaction of rhythm commands while giving players direct control over their characters.The challenge was to combine rhythm gameplay and action into something entirely new.This slide captures…
- Ratatan Development Log #1: The Beginning of the Project - 30 July 2026
Ratatan Development Log #1: The Beginning of the ProjectThis time, I'd like to look back at how the Ratatan project first began.When people think about game development, they often imagine a straightforward process: come up with an idea, develop the game, and release it.However, the very first thing we thought about wasn't the game itself.It was:"How can we bring our own creation to players around the world?"The Project Began at the End of 2020Ratatan began during a casual conversation at an izakaya in Shinbashi at the end of 2020.Hiroyuki Kotani, Toshiyuki Yasui, and I were having drinks together when we started asking ourselves:"Could we create something on our own?"At the time, we all shared the same frustration.Even if we created a game ourselves, the IP would ultimately belong to the company.Of course, that's completely natural when you're developing games as part of a company.Stil…
- Ratatan Development Log #0 - 28 July 2026
IntroductionHello, I'm Kazuto Sakajiri, Producer of Ratatan.Welcome to the Ratatan Development Log.Over the past several years, Ratatan has gone through countless decisions and challenges—from launching a Kickstarter campaign, building a Steam community, choosing an Early Access strategy, developing simultaneously for multiple console platforms, and working with an international publisher.Developing the game itself was only part of the journey.Just as important was learning how to build an indie project and bring it to players around the world.With this series, I'd like to share that journey.We'll look back at topics such as:How we prepared for KickstarterHow we grew our Steam wishlistWhat we learned from Steam Next FestWhy we chose Early AccessHow we managed the project and development teamWhenever possible, I'll share actual numbers, original planning materials, and the reasoning behi…
- Release Date Postponed for Ratatan - 25 June 2026
Hello RataTEAMWe have a few very important developments that we’d like to go through. First off, we are sorry for the radio silence, but as with most games, getting close to the finish line means a lot of extra work, bug fixes, and overall unseen problems, so the entire team has been focused on those.During this period, it became clear that in order to reach the maximum quality with the game we would need an extended amount of time for bug fixing and polish. Due to these changes the new release date for all versions will be October 15th, 2026. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this causes. We know no one likes delays but it will help us make the best game possible. Sakajiri-san, the executive producer of the game, would like to say the following:First I would like to send my heartfelt gratitude to all the backers who have supported us so far. This game was only made possible…
- Release Date Announced for Ratatan - 3 March 2026
Ratatan was featured in today’s Nintendo Indie World presentation. At the same time, we announced the official release date. Release Date: July 16, 2026 (Thursday) Physical and digital editions will launch simultaneously. Supported Platforms: • Nintendo Switch 2 • PlayStation 5 • Xbox Series X|S Further details regarding pre-orders and additional information will be announced once preparations are complete. We truly appreciate your continued support and kindly ask for just a little more patience. → Indie World Presentation: Regarding Nintendo Switch Support At this time, we have determined that the multiplayer experience on Nintendo Switch has not yet reached the quality level we aim to deliver. As a result, we have decided not to proceed with a Nintendo Switch version for now. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was looking forward to it. Our highest priority is delivering Ratatan i…
- Early Access v0.7.14 Hotfix Patch Notes - 21 January 2026
UpdatesAdded voice and sound effects to Dark Ratatan battles.Updated the credits (thank you for everyone’s patience!).If you couldn’t find your name, please send us an email at [email protected] FixesFixed an issue where Cobun would stop moving and halt progress under specific conditions, such as during the Target Timer.Fixed an issue in the Altar Hall where the Healing Fountain would overlap with the Altar.Note: The Healing Fountain will no longer appear in the Altar Hall.Fixed an issue where visual effects were not displaying correctly for certain attacks.Fixed an issue where the normal attack damage multiplier from Nyandola's Super Fever Tech "Mew Mew Mania" was not applied to 'Good' judgments in Rhythm Commands.Fixed an issue in World 1 where Squidly Pete's pull attack would trigger even when frozen.Fixed an issue where the settings for Decorune attached to accessories drop…
- Early Access v0.7.11 Hotfix Patch Notes - 29 December 2025
Bug FixesFixed an issue where the game crashed upon launch on Steam Deck.Please note that as Steam Deck and Linux are not currently officially supported, this is a provisional fix.
- Early Access v0.7.10 Hotfix Patch Notes - 26 December 2025
\ Regarding Progression to Episode 2We have received feedback that players are unable to proceed to Episode 2 or that the unlock conditions are unclear. We apologize for the inconvenience. To unlock Episode 2, the following two conditions must be met:Clear Episode 1 (Complete up to World 5 for the first time)Raise the "Goddess’ Game" Oath Level to 1 or higherAfter applying this update, you will be able to proceed by starting the game with the above conditions met.Bug FixesScenarioFixed an issue where Episode 2 would sometimes not appear even if the conditions were met.Fixed an issue in the Episode 2 tutorial where the text condition "Raise Covenant Level to 1 or higher" was not displayed in some languages.Stage Gimmicks / DemosFixed an issue in Episode 2 where the animation for "Dark Ratatan" appearing was not displayed correctly.Fixed an issue in Episode 2 where BGM would overlap if th…
- Early Access v0.7.6 Release Notes - 24 December 2025
Updates Highlights ● Dark Ratatan Invasion! ○ Starting in Episode 2 (added in this update), Dark Ratatan will appear during your adventure. ○ Dark Ratatan will appear during Intervals, triggering various events. Some of them might even help the player. ○ As you progress through events, Dark Ratatan will begin appearing as bosses. ■ In this update, you can battle the following 4: ● Reek N. Roll (Skunk) ● Bork The Biter (Dog) ● Midnight Night (Bat) ● Funky Fang (Boar) ■ The remaining Dark Ratatan will become battleable in future updates. ○ By progressing through battles and events and collecting Key Items, you can reach the Episode 2 Clear Demo. ■ Key Items you obtain are not shown in your Inventory—check them at the Bonboya Gate in Rataport. ■ Episode progress is represented by items being slotted into the upper part of the Bonboya Gate. ● Unlock Episode 2 ○ From a save file that has cle…
- Ratatan’s December Update: Descent of the Dark Ratatan - 11 December 2025
Hello, everyone! Thanks so much for waiting. We’d like to share the current progress on the next major update planned for December. This update has been particularly challenging to develop, and we are currently aiming to release it around the end of December. Once adjustments are finalized, we’ll publish detailed patch notes—so please look forward to them. Additionally, this update connects directly to “To the Everafter”, planned for next spring. From here, the story and challenges that lead toward all the Dark Ratatans—and ultimately the mysterious “??? Battles”—will finally begin to unfold. We hope you’re excited for what’s coming! Descent of the Dark Ratatan In this update, we’ll be introducing new events and new battles related to the Dark Ratatan. As mentioned previously, one of the major issues with the roguelite structure has been its over-reliance on battles, so we’re refining t…
- Early Access v0.6.9 Hotfix Patch Notes - 11 November 2025
Update Super Fever Skills now grant Super Armor. Super Fever Skills will no longer be canceled by knockback or status effects caused by enemy attacks. Improved gameplay experience by preventing the sudden drop in BGM intensity from reducing player enjoyment.Adjusted Super Fever Skill behavior so that not all Tension Gauge is consumed upon activation; a small portion will now remain.BGM now transitions smoothly with a fade after using a Super Fever Skill. Extended the display time of item rewards after opening a treasure chest during 'Treasure Chance'. In Random Match lobbies, players who remain inactive for 4 minutes will now automatically leave the lobby. This prevents multiplayer sessions from starting due to idle players.Added a message that appears when attempting to join a Random Match and no available rooms are found. In multiplayer lobbies, the player who becomes the room owner w…
- [Important] Early Access v0.6.4 Hotfix Patch Notes - 4 November 2025
Bug FixesFixed an issue where save data could become corrupted and fail to load properly. This occurred when the amount of data being saved grew too large after extended gameplay sessions, so we have increased the upper limit for the amount of data that can be saved.We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to all players.We are also continuing to investigate an issue where save data deemed corrupted could be automatically deleted upon exiting the application. A fix for this issue is planned soon.If your save data has already been lost, please follow the steps below to attempt recovery from Steam Cloud.Restoring Save Data from Steam CloudClose the game.Log into Steam and access “store.steampowered.com/account/remotestorage”.From the list, select “View Files” for Ratatan and download the following files:RatataArts/Ratatan/xxxx/Ratatan1.rttn (if saved in slot 1)RatataArts/Ratata…
