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A Preview Session with Hideaki Ito

Anime Expo 2025 wasn’t just about the announcement of upcoming anime seasons and series; it was also an opportunity to spotlight highly anticipated video games from Japan. During the event, I had the chance to dive into Varlet during an in-depth preview with developer Hideaki Ito.

During a special session at Anime Expo 2025, I had the opportunity to preview Varlet with developer Hideaki Ito of FyRyu Games. This session offered a hands-on experience with the game while also learning more about what players can expect.

Welcome to Kousei Academy

Kousei Academy is the first school to implement the virtual reality network known as Johari. Soon after, an urban legend spreads about students disappearing and being replaced by entities called Glitches. The rumor turns out to be true, prompting a group of students to form the Student Support Services (SSS). The SSS works to rescue classmates who have been consumed by the Glitches and lost within the system. Players take on the role of a new student who becomes the SSS leader. Together they must uncover the sinister plot responsible for unleashing the Glitch.

Playthrough of Varlet

During my session, I got to play Varlet for 30 min in a room located at FyRyu Games booth at Anime Expo 2025.

The demo begins with the Student Support Services team confronting Minami Kuwahara, a student overtaken by her ego. This quickly escalates into a boss battle where the player and their party must fight a corrupted Kuwahara. Working as a team, we coordinated our attacks based on positioning and which abilities yielded the best results. After some trial and error, we finally defeated the boss and managed to rescue Kuwahara from the Glitches’ control.

The second half of the demo introduces the player to the other members of Student Support Services. We meet some of the core characters, including Sota Kodaki and Noa Hatsuse. The demo ends with the new student heading home alongside another character, opening the chance to build a bond. This moment allows players to spend time together and begin developing their relationship outside of school.

Behind Varlet

During my demo session, Hideaki Ito shared insights about the game and offered tips during the boss battle. When asked how much influence Persona had on Varlet, he acknowledged it as a major inspiration. The series strongly influenced the game’s setting and themes, but the team also aimed to craft their own experience.

When asked which part of Varlet he’s most excited for players to experience, Ito cited the communication aspect. Spending time with other characters was inspired by Persona, but the team added an extra layer of depth. Who the player chooses to spend time with—and where—affects not just relationships, but also the overall story.

More to Come

Varlet is set to launch on August 28th, 2025, for the PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Additional information about the game will become available in the future.

This special report is part of 8Bit/Digi‘s coverage of Anime Expo 2025. If you attended the event, please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: Anime Expo provided me with a pass for the weekend.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.