Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma will conclude the storyline introduced in Spike Chunsoft’s acclaimed adventure games 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors and Virtue’s Last Reward while shifting the series in a more cinematic direction, publisher Aksys Games announced at the 2016 Game Developers Conference.
Taking place between 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward in terms of continuity, Zero Time Dilemma will replace series-standard visual novel scenes with cinematic sequences in a bid to eliminate downtime between puzzles. Specific story scenes will also have randomized outcomes, altering the course of the game’s narrative in unpredictable ways throughout.
While veteran players can expect to see the return of many familiar characters, Zero Time Dilemma will feature a story that does not require any knowledge of prior series entries. The story’s standalone nature makes it an ideal candidate for a future Steam release, marking the series’ first-ever appearance on PCs.
Aksys Games previously produced an English-language version of Spike Chunsoft’s Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc via Steam, and a PC version of its sequel Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is currently in development. When asked whether 999 or Virtue’s Last Reward would also see a PC release, company sales manager Daniel Miscevich claimed that “the company didn’t know the answer to that question,” according to a Game Informer report.
Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma will launch on June 28th for the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS. The game will be available digitally and at retail in North America, while its European launch will be digital-exclusive. Portable console and PC versions of Zero Time Dilemma will hit Japan on June 30th.
