Last week, Koei Tecmo’s studio Gust initiated an intriguing player questionnaire regarding Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom & the Guide of Memories, a fresh mainline title in the Atelier series and the follow-up to Atelier Yumia.
Given Karia’s passion for food, the gameplay of Atelier Karia will place significant emphasis on an “eating mechanic.” The protagonist will enhance her abilities and alter her appearance (with over 100 distinct forms) based on her diet, and she’ll have the ability to consume nearly anything in the game.
As a natural progression of this mechanic, Gust’s developers are contemplating the inclusion of an alternate, more rotund appearance for Karia, which she might adopt after indulging in large quantities of food (similar to Rorona in Atelier Resleriana). The primary aim of the survey is to gauge player enthusiasm for this potential feature and identify areas for improvement.
As anticipated, the responses to the plump Karia concept have been overwhelmingly positive across both English and Japanese-speaking communities on X. Beyond the GTA San Andreas references, it appears that most players—and even newcomers discovering the game via the viral survey—are inclined to vote in favor of Karia gaining a fuller figure.
“Of course we love it!! Now make her legs even fatter!”
“God-tier mechanic!?”
Notably, one recurring critique concerning the proposed plump Karia design that resonates in both communities is: “Not enough tummy; Not enough thighs.” “If you’re going to make her plump, I want her to be a bit plumper,” expressed one Japanese user in a post. Others have even urged Gust to fully embrace the idea, suggesting details like fattening her neck, upper arms, and even fingers.
It’s important to note that the illustration presented in the survey is still in the conceptual phase, and the final design may differ. However, given that studio Gust is known for being receptive to player input, there’s a possibility that they might incorporate an even plumper Karia if demand is strong enough. This hinges entirely on the survey’s outcomes—so if you’re keen on seeing the new Atelier protagonist adopt a fuller form, be sure to share your opinion.
The survey will remain open until August 23.
Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom & the Guide of Memories is scheduled for release in Early 2027 across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.