Remastered Digimon World OST Available for Download

March 17th, 2016. The official Digimon World -next 0rder- title site updated to reflect the game's launch, adding a page where tamers can enter their -next 0rder- product code to download a digital copy of the remastered Digimon World soundtrack. The total length of the OST is 110 minutes, comprising 36 tracks in all.

A separate section for those that bought the game's digital edition will open up on March 24th, 2016. Each person is limited to five downloads per product code, and the soundtrack will no longer be available after March 17th, 2016.

The DLC section of the site has also added a Hard Mode to the game. After downloading the day one patch, tamers can switch to Hard Mode by speaking to Punimon in Jijijmon's house, and they can also switch back at any time. The full effects of Hard Mode are unknown; the website only states that it increases the strength of the normal enemies the player encounters, and adjusts the game balance.

-next 0rder- Update Adds Hard Mode

March 16th, 2016. The official Digimon World -next 0rder- Twitter account revealed the details on a day one Hard Mode addition to Digimon World -next 0rder-, which adjusts the game balance by modifying the stats of enemy Digimon. Tamers can switch Hard Mode on and off by speaking to Punimon within Jijimon's house, or get more information about the mode by asking the Digimon.

Digimon World -next 0rder- will launch in Japan March 17th, 2016, on the PlayStation Vita for 6,980 yen (7,539 JPY after tax). It is the latest entry in the World series, succeeding directly from Re:Digitize Decode on the 3DS, Re:Digitize on the PSP, and World on the PSX. Tying into Digimon Adventure tri., the game will feature Maicoomon as free downloadable content.

Those that preorder the game will get access to five special DLC Digimon, a remastered copy of the 1999 Digimon World soundtrack, and two original Vita themes, "ver. Nostalgic" and "ver. Dot." Theme ver. Dot features a montage of original Digimon LCD sprites, while theme ver. Nostalgic turns the screen into the layout of a Digital Monster virtual pet. 

Habu Kazumasa: "The Passion of Our Fans Gave Us a Lot of Strength"

November 19th, 2015. In a recent interview with Todd Ciolek of Anime News Network, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth producer Habu Kazumasa explained his decision making process behind the game. Habu has been the producer for Digimon games since 2008, around the era of Digimon Championship on the Nintendo DS. Being directed at both nostalgic fans and newcomers to the franchise, Habu chose the Story series for its easy-to-get-into features, and drew ideas from the franchise's original line of digital toys.

According to Habu, Cyber Sleuth was influenced by new technology and current discussions about virtual reality. He focused on including the most iconic Digimon to the game while introducing almost no new monsters, as opposed to forcing in all of the currently existing one-thousand-plus Digimon. Habu explained that the English version of the game's long-anticipated Hard Mode  will be available from the moment the player starts the game, while the New Game Plus feature will be available after one complete run of Sleuth. He also alluded to modifications made to the strength of certain Digimon's skills, potentially rebalancing a somewhat skewed metagame.

“The localized version of Cyber Sleuth was approved because of a passionate campaign run by fans that had a petition signed by 65,000 people. [...] When we found out we were so cheered that we decided to bring a localized Cyber Sleuth to North America.”

As in previous interviews, Habu emphasized the power of Operation Decode's massive fan petition in persuading Bandai to localize the game. The producer also touched on the idea of making "toys and animation based on this narrative and world," but the success of the game overseas is Bandai's first priority.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth will launch on the PlayStation Vita and PS4 in North America on February 2nd, 2016, and in Europe on February 5th, 2016.