ES post-Q1 25 PD interview

1. Has there been a significant improvement in modeling quality? Is there a specific reason for this?
Previously, we outsourced modeling, but now everything is done in-house. Models like Weiss, Awakened Mephi, Wheri, and Sakuyo (Inferno) are all our company’s creations.

2. A recent illustrator reportedly left (ankkoyom/92-ink). Can you explain?
Yes, it’s true. This person had been with us since Eversoul’s early days but had to leave due to health issues. Currently, they’re working remotely on a freelance basis. On a personal level, we’re still close enough to attend doujin events together.

3. Why is the quality of illustrations often criticized?
Honestly, it’s because they weren’t drawn well.

4. The Arena revamp has been discussed since Q3 last year. Why hasn’t there been any updates?
The Arena is a double-edged sword. We had plans for a major overhaul since PvP is an important motivational factor. However, just as users are divided on it, so are the developers. There’s been a lot of debate internally, which has delayed decision-making. We’re still deliberating but don’t want to announce something uncertain.

5. Why not let players pick opponents directly in the Arena instead of using this inconvenient random system?
It might seem simpler, but this could lead to abuses like relentlessly targeting specific players (similar to the rivalry fights in Champion's Arena). While we’ve discussed the idea, it’s risky and remains under consideration.

6. Many players feel tired of constant competitive content.
We acknowledge that many dislike it, but there are also players who enjoy it. Personally, I do think there are more people who are tired of it.

7. New characters are too overpowered, and gimmicks in high-level content feel overly difficult. Thoughts?
We’ve been supporting and investing in older characters to maintain relevance. However, relying solely on older teams can make the game boring. For instance, Daphne is still the dominant tank in PvE. Is it healthy for 2025 content to revolve around her? While we’re not suggesting all old characters become obsolete, the balance is challenging.

8. Many users want rogue-like labyrinth content. Thoughts?
We received heavy criticism for Labyrinth All-Stars, so we’re cautious. We’re still tinkering with it and incorporating feedback but proceeding carefully.

9. Why do Chaotic and Variant types only get four episodes of story content?
These characters already have fairly complete backstories, making it hard to add more. Newer characters are given more introductory content to help players connect with them, but creating full narratives is labor-intensive. Balancing existing and new characters in the main story is tricky.

10. Can more bond illustrations be added?
While I can’t make promises, I agree it’s currently lacking. We’ll look into ways to enhance satisfaction in this area.

11. Was the cancellation of 2nd anniversary promotions due to the airport disaster (Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash)?
Yes, according to what we were told. Many plans, including articles and KakaoTalk promotions, were canceled. Even the livestream was almost delayed, but we pushed forward to preserve the surprise reveal of Awakened Mephi.

12. Why was there a delay in addressing the 9/11 (2023) exploitation issue?
As it involved player-to-player issues, we were cautious about taking a stance without clear facts. Premature announcements could lead to misunderstandings.

13. Couldn’t you at least communicate that the issue was being discussed?
We’ll work on improving communication between the development and operations teams to ensure faster updates and reduce delays.

14. About Mephi’s quality
If you ask why it wasn’t done well, I can only apologize.

- Touch Interaction
Although the posture and body shape are different, it’s fair to say we referenced the original. It’s not well done, but surprisingly, it was newly created. However, the design was flawed. We plan to revise it on the 23rd.

Q: Instead of keeping Mephi’s Touch Interaction 1 as is, wouldn’t it make sense to use her second interaction as the first for Awakened Mephi and create a new second interaction?
A: Would players feel disappointed if the current first interaction was removed?
Q: I don’t think so. Players just appreciate characters expressing affection.
A: That might be true. Understood.

- Referring to Mephi by her full name in outings
I’ll forward this for immediate correction.

- Skill effects and animations
There’s no excuse for why it wasn’t done well. Revising it could lead to preferences for the original, so changes may not happen.

- Origin Skin
Same issue as the skill effects. I can only say the planning was flawed. For future event costumes, we’ll put more effort into them. If we change it, there will be complaints that the original was better, and we’re not confident we can satisfy everyone. We faced similar feedback when transitioning from the old to the new model.

- Performance
Making her overpowered could upset players who join after her pickup period. For the same reason, we’re considering keeping Kurumi Tokisaki out of the dominant victory formations. This is a sensitive topic, and any buff we implement would be irreversible, making this decision risky.

15. Will Linzy (Thanatos)'s Immortality gimmick be adjusted?
I haven’t fully analyzed it yet.

16. Compensation for the Iridescent Crystals (potential crystals) spent on Larimar?
I’ll think about it.

17. Why is frontline content delayed?
Updates are consistently happening every two months. However, if players want it sooner, we’ll try to expedite it.

18. Any plans to offer more support for new players?
We’re considering it. The 1.5-anniversary jump event is always available, and we assumed it was sufficient. I admit we might have underestimated the issue. We’ll investigate and improve support if necessary.

19. Why isn’t there a regular schedule for balance patches and story updates?
Story updates were initially meant to align with Mephi’s release, but delays disrupted that plan. I understand the frustration and will work on it.

Q: Why not release Weiss earlier?
A: Honestly, we hadn’t thought of that. We focused on releasing a 2nd-anniversary character during the anniversary period, but I admit this approach was flawed. Apologies.

20. Feedback suggests the Manon Pack is underwhelming. Thoughts?
We’ll incorporate good suggestions if possible.

21. Thoughts on Origin+5 skin availability?
The return of these skins during reruns will remain affordable. We set timeframes to ensure these skins reward players who achieve Origin+5 during the pickup period. While we understand some players feel disappointed, we aim to avoid undue pressure since the skins remain obtainable later.

22. Why does the roadmap show three Variant characters in Q1?
It reflects our production timelines. The currently available characters have run out, but we plan to have more diverse additions in Q2 if the schedule holds.

23. Plans for adjusting Larimar’s face?
We’ve been tweaking it to satisfaction, but it hasn’t been easy.

24. When will Garnet's Carrot be removed?
They’ve already been designed for some scenes. However, removing them disrupts animation logic, requiring additional work, which isn’t simple. I also initially thought it would be straightforward.

25. Why was the roadmap removed?
I removed it because I realized during production that repeating information wasn’t necessary. Time constraints also played a role.

Q: Does the removal relate to delays?
A: No. Having or not having the roadmap doesn’t affect delays.

Q: Can we at least see things summarized clearly?
A: I understand that desire. I’ll consider simplifying it, as seen on the Japan server.

26. Can random mechanics in gimmicks be reduced?
The issue arose because developers became too engrossed in the concept and added too much. Sudden major changes could create new problems, but improvements will continue, as seen with the more manageable ESS Catherine.

27. Can the team confirm suggestions left on the official forum with responses like “noted” or “acknowledged”?
I didn’t realize this, but I’ll check. I receive reports compiled by the operations team that gather community feedback, so the content is always delivered properly. Please don’t think your suggestions are being ignored.

28. Why aren’t fixes noted when bugs are resolved?
I used to include every little detail in the patch notes, but the game received heavy criticism about having too many bugs, so I stopped. Personally, I thought people would appreciate knowing how much work we were doing, but getting blamed for the sheer number of fixes made me think it’s better not to list them.

29. What is the core direction this game aims to pursue?
This question feels a bit odd. Eversoul is Eversoul. Comparing it to other games highlights their unique features, but Eversoul has its own identity. It’s difficult to classify it strictly as "idle" or anything else.

30. There’s talk of the shop scrolling bug appearing in other areas.
I wasn’t aware of that. Please report it.

31. Why is the main story progressing so slowly?
The same writer handles bond stories, event stories, and the main story, which causes delays. Their performance has improved, but the burden has grown as well. As for why the main story feels inconsistent, I can only apologize for our shortcomings.

32. The raid content feels like it’s only for certain players. Any plans to address this?
We’re exploring many solutions. I want more people to enjoy raids, but the accessibility is too low. Adding absolute evaluation-based rewards or expanding achievement packages are gestures to make raids more approachable.

33. Many players feel burdened by competitive content. Does the dev team intentionally push competition?
This is why we created the “Super Challenger” mode (???) in Operation Eden Alliance. It separates competitive and personal content so players can choose to participate or not.

34. Can we have a feature to rest all spirits with 50% fatigue at once?
There are users who micro-manage, so it’s tricky.

Q: Could you add an option to rest either only spirits at 0% fatigue or all slots at once? Micro-managers likely wouldn’t use the all-rest option anyway.
A: That’s a great idea. I’ll discuss it with the dev team and try to finalize a direction quickly.

35. Isn’t it time to replace the prize exchange event format?
Agreed. The upcoming event with the release of Variants Rose and Honglan in Q1 won’t follow the prize exchange format. We’re exploring new methods and will keep experimenting.

36. Are there plans to introduce growth systems beyond Overclocking?
If players could infinitely grow stronger based on investment, it would widen the gap for new users. This policy isn’t perfect, but it’s a complicated issue.

Q: What about expanding the +5 level gain per Origin?
A: That would worsen the gap and make it impossible for new players to catch up. While the concern about endgame players losing motivation is valid, we’re unsure of the solution.

37. Content like the Unicats is too hard for weekly rotation and requires too much attention. Can the difficulty be reduced?
I believe players shouldn’t stress about not clearing level 600. Players should feel okay reaching level 500 if their team isn’t strong enough. One idea is to add more level tiers so players can reach their limits without losing rewards.

Q: What if max rewards were set at level 400, like event raids?
A: That aligns with my thinking. We’re considering restructuring the reward and level systems so players can earn max rewards at certain levels.

38. Requirements to increase Town level is too high. Any plans to adjust this?
I haven’t maxed mine either. Even after using everything I’ve saved, it wasn’t enough. I’ll look into it.

39. Players with fully upgraded Artifacts lose value with additional pulls. Any thoughts?
I’m unsure what to do. Compensating for previous losses isn’t feasible. We’re considering systems like targeted summoning to address this issue, but it’s challenging to balance fairness for those already affected.

40. Can reliance on Origin Artifacts be reduced, and exclusive Origin options limited?
Balancing this appropriately is challenging, but we can explore ways to reduce reliance.

41. Was the non-functioning Immortality mechanic of Linzy (Thanatos) intentional? Is there a QA team?
Yes, we have a QA team. Regarding Immortality, I questioned this thoroughly, and the response was it was included as part of the concept. However, I criticized that if it’s included, it should at least work properly. As for Larimar, she’s indeed stronger than intended, but the “Judgment” mechanic was purposeful.

42. Any plans to update the list of Souls sold in the shop?
No current plans. The Awakening Shop was introduced as an alternative rather than revamping the existing options.

43. Was skipping Q&A during the live stream related to the airport tragedy?
No. It wasn’t related. Given the voice actor’s presence, we decided to finish neatly rather than drag things out. However, I’ve been reconsidering. My comments during live sessions, intended casually, carry more weight than I realized, and misunderstandings arise when my words are taken as official positions. Moving forward, I’d like to take pre-submitted questions and address them systematically.

44. Can we edit the Town preset outside the Town?
This will be implemented soon.

45. Can raid accessibility be improved by standardizing levels?
It’s an interesting idea, but I’m unsure if adjusting levels alone would resolve gaps caused by ark level, artifact grade, etc. Moreover, players who invested time or money into leveling might oppose standardization. While I agree with the intent, finding a balance will require careful consideration.

46. Is Weiss’s illustration final?
The final version came out yesterday, so no, that wasn’t the final version. Similar issues arose with Mephistopheles (Dawn)’s Artifact illustration, where preliminary designs were mistaken for final ones. This led to effects being implemented prematurely. While it was an error, it was also frustrating.

Q: Can mid-stage or lower-quality illustrations be revised later?
A: For smaller assets like Evertalk illustrations, adjustments are unlikely. For prominent assets, minor tweaks are made if necessary, but they’re often not announced to avoid backlash like “the earlier version was better.”

47. Can advanced 3D modeling be utilized further?
We’ve created MMD and VTuber models but lack clear use cases.

Q: How about a feature where certain commands make characters dance?
A: It could be fun, but MMD is difficult to work with and lacks accessibility. It’s something we’re considering but with reservations.

48. Could reaching bond level 40 offer more than just a single sticker?
We’re exploring ways to enhance the emotional and prestige elements of such milestones. While sweeping character-wide changes are unlikely due to workload, gradual additions could be feasible.

49. Could the World Boss partner system be reused?
Its complexity and low accessibility made it unpopular. Repurposing it elsewhere may yield similar results.

Q: Could it work in rogue-like content you’re developing?
A: Combining two poorly-received systems might be disastrous, but it’s worth considering as a risky experiment.

50. Any plans to overhaul older models to match current standards?
We categorize older models as 2.0 and newer ones as 3.0. Overhauling everything is infeasible due to sheer volume. Updating cosmetics seems more practical.

51. Why wasn’t Jade buffed despite her role in the January 23rd event, unlike Edith?
Balance patches are rolled out sequentially. While Jade is on the list with Adrianne for future adjustments, she didn’t make the January 23rd update.

Q: When is the next round?
A: No timeline has been provided.

52. Are market trends being researched thoroughly?
While bunny outfits are a proven success, attributing a game’s rise solely to them overlooks multifaceted factors. For instance, Blue Archive gained traction through multiple interconnected elements.

53. Any plans to add detailed designs to underwear for artistic expression?
Detailed depictions would raise content ratings. While desirable, regulatory constraints make it unfeasible. Even recent Origin skins pushed boundaries but stayed within limits.

54. There’s criticism about promising improvements but showing little progress.
We aim to honor commitments but acknowledge past delays. Poor communication compounded frustrations. I’m grateful to those who’ve continued engaging despite these issues.

55. Any plans for an official forum or event to enhance communication?
No plans currently, but today’s feedback has me reconsidering. Smaller-scale efforts like the 0.5-year anniversary event had mixed reactions, with some finding limited attendance disappointing.

56. Any plans to repurpose the sticker system introduced at the café event?
While full repurposing is undecided, we’re considering integrating them as in-game stickers.

57. Are there plans for more offline events this year?
Not yet. The team remains cautious due to logistical uncertainties.

58. Is marketing entirely handled by Kakao?
Yes. Promotional efforts like the initial billboard campaigns in Gangnam were managed by Kakao, leaving us focused on development.