Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty — Team Ninja’s critically acclaimed title — was revealed on March 3, 2023
The game’s morale system adds a very unique spin to the traditional Soulslike formula.
We interviewed Masakazu Hirayama, Director of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, over an email Q&A session.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty was released in a year with many non-FromSoftware Soulslike games and became one of the more successful titles of the bunch. It introduced a morale system, which was very unique to the genre. It also went past the open-world design and chose a closed-level design to depict the intensity and flow of each battlefield. The game quickly became a fan-favorite thanks to some of these elements and the memorable boss fights.
It has since released three major DLC updates, each adding more battlefields and bosses for players to enjoy. However, with the third DLC being termed the “final major update,” we wondered what Team Ninja plans to do with the game in the future. With that and many other questions in mind, we spoke with Masakazu Hirayama, Producer and Director of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, over an email Q&A session.
With the recent release of the Complete Edition, to what capacity and extent can we see the post-launch support for Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty?
Hirayama: After the release of the Complete Edition, we will fix bugs and other issues as necessary.
The decision to go with a semi-open world has worked well for Wo Long, but did you, at any point, consider creating it as a completely open world? If so, what would have been the major differences?
Hirayama: We did consider a completely open world in the early planning stages, but we decided on the current format after extensive discussions, including the need to create a sense of tension and density in battles, and the need to mesh battle elements such as “morale” to stand out as a part of the battlefield.
Zhang Liang in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – via Koei Tecmo.
Will the studio, at some point, explore ideas for a potential Nioh 3 or a sequel to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty? Or will the main focus be on new IPs?
Hirayama: At this moment, there are no plans for sequels or new IP to talk about. However, I feel that the historical time period after the one in Wo Long has its own unique appeal as the era of strategists, and we’d really like to depict it through action and story, so if the opportunity arises, we’d like to take on the challenge of a sequel.
Wo Long currently supports cross-generation co-op, but there is still no cross-platform. Is that something that will eventually be added later on?
Hirayama: Due to constraints of online specifications, we have no plans for cross-platform play.
Blindfolded Boy in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – via Koei Tecmo.
Although Upheavel of Jingxiang is considered to be the final DLC of the game, is there a chance that the team will decide to come back with another massive content update?
Hirayama: There are currently no plans for another major update.
Which of the main bosses from Wo Long is your personal favorite and why?
Hirayama: I like Lu Bu and Zhang Liang, but the one I have a personal attachment to is Zhang Jiao. He is the first half-demon boss we created while developing the game, and as we adjusted the battle system and game balance, we went through a lot of trial and error with this character to the extent that he was almost nothing like his initial form, so it makes him a bit special.
Zhang Jiao in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – via Koei Tecmo.
Was there ever a feature or piece of content that didn't make it to the final cut? If so, could you tell us a bit about it?
Hirayama: There were a number of generals that were not part of the main story that we agonized over giving up. In particular, Gan Ning is a personal favorite of mine, and I wanted to include him, but we made the final decision not to include him after considering the story and battlefield. But I was very happy we got to include him in the second DLC.
Shortly after Wo Long's release, the game received criticism for the PC port. And while Team Ninja addressed the situation, has it changed the studio's quality standards for future projects?
Hirayama: We would like to apologize for the inconvenience caused to everyone who has played the PC version of the game since launch. Within the studio, we have shared our knowledge on how we have addressed the problems that occurred in updates, as well as optimization and functional deficiencies, and we will make systematic improvements so that we do not repeat the same mistakes in future development.
Lu Bu in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – via Koei Tecmo.
The Soulslike genre has received much recognition in the past few years, and it was evident with the several Soulslike releases in 2023. How do you feel about that trend, and will we see more competition within this genre?
Hirayama: Moving forward, I think that there will be a time when games will be required to be more unique. For us, we are always looking to grow and deliver new experiences and excitement with ‘action’ at the core.
Anything else you would like to discuss? Something we haven’t touched upon yet.
Hirayama: I’d like to thank everyone who has played Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, as it’s been almost a full year since it was released. And to those who haven’t played the game yet, I hope you will try Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition, which will be released on February 6 and includes all three DLCs and collaboration content.
Lastly, Rise of the Ronin, which is developed by Team NINJA and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, will finally be released on March 22. After enjoying the Three Kingdoms of China, we hope you will enjoy the world of Bakumatsu-era Japan!
Mudassir is a seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering the stories behind our favorite virtual worlds. Armed with a trusty notepad and a keen curiosity, he dives headfirst into the gaming industry's most exciting personalities. His knack for insightful questions and his ability to connect with developers and gamers alike makes his interviews a must-read. While on the lookout for the next person to interview, Mudassir keeps himself busy by writing news surrounding the gaming universe.
Experience: 4+ Years || Senior Journalist || Education: Bachelor's in Psychology.
