Classi5ed’s Lie of Caelum: Spirit, a PSX-style sci-fi mecha JRPG drawing on Xenogears and Phantasy Star, has successfully funded on Kickstarter, clearing its $34,000 goal and currently sitting at over 164% funded with time still on the clock. Scarlet Moon handled PR for the campaign, and the soundtrack features a guest contribution from Motoi Sakuraba (Dark Souls, Tales of, Star Ocean), who is represented by Scarlet Moon Artists.
The guest song brings Sakuraba back to a sound he knows well: the Phantasy Star series (including Phantasy Star Nova and the Phantasy Star OnlinePremium Arrange album) was one of the project’s main inspirations, alongside composers Kurippertronixxx and Mushra (Seed of Nostalgia).
“I’m glad to be part of Lie of Caelum: Spirit as a guest composer. I always enjoy games with a strong, unusual world behind them, and Lie of Caelum’s story sounds like just that kind of project. If backers reach this goal, I’ll do my best to write music that fits what the team is building,” says Motoi Sakuraba.
About Motoi Sakuraba
Motoi Sakuraba is a veteran videogame composer whose scores include Dark Souls, the Tales of series, Star Ocean, Golden Sun, and Baten Kaitos, among dozens of others across more than three decades in the industry. He is represented by Scarlet Moon Artists.
With her voice featured in some of gaming’s most celebrated soundtracks, J’Nique Nicole needs little introduction. The American singer-songwriter and lyricist first reached millions of players as the co-writer and voice behind NieR: Automata‘s renowned theme, “Weight of the World,” along with her vocal work on “A Beautiful Song” and “Memories of Dust” on a soundtrack that went on to win Best Score/Soundtrack at The Game Awards. Since then, she’s lent her voice to Elena’s theme in Street Fighter 6, Wuthering Waves, Gran Saga, and Girls’ Frontline, while building a career as a touring artist across Japan and, this year, becoming the first Black original soundtrack videogame vocalist to perform at Carnegie Hall as part of the NieR Orchestra Concert world tour. Scarlet Moon now represents all three lead vocalists of the NieR series, joining fellow roster artists Emi Evans and Nami Nakagawa.
Read her full biography, credits list, and hear some sample music on her Scarlet Moon Artists page. Check below for an interview with J’Nique Nicole about her style, inspirations, and collaboration with Scarlet Moon.
Scarlet Moon has released JAZZ RESORT vol. 3, the latest volume in GENTLE LOVE’s ongoing live jazz series led by saxophonist Norihiko Hibino of Scarlet Moon Artists. The album arrives ahead of an August 28 launch show in Shibuya, and opens with a jazz take on the children’s song heard over the credits of Ghostwire: Tokyo (one of our favorite surprises on the album).
While most people know Hibino from Metal Gear Solid, have you heard his jazz work before? Will you be catching the Tokyo Jazz Resort launch show in Shibuya on the 28th? Click below to read more about the release, including comments from Hibino-san.
There’s no doubt that Motoi Sakuraba is a legend in the videogame industry. Getting his start in a progressive rock band in Japan, his breakout title was Tales of Phantasia, which has resulted in his contribution to over 18 Tales of titles and scoring some of gaming’s biggest franchises, including Dark Souls, Star Ocean, Valkyrie Profile, Golden Sun, and the Mario Sports series, among many others. While he still remains one of the most prolific composers in games, he’s looking forward to exploring independent games around the world and hopes his music can be of service to those projects.
Read his full biography, credits list, and hear some sample music on his Scarlet Moon Artists page. Check below for an interview with Motoi Sakuraba about his style, inspirations, and collaboration with Scarlet Moon.
Scarlet Moon has released the original soundtrack to Talespinner, composed by Frank van ’t Ende of Scarlet Moon Artists. The score draws on traditional instrumentation to bring the game’s world of Japanese mythology to life, arriving alongside Talespinner’s launch on PC and Nintendo Switch.
Have you been exploring the yokai-haunted world of Talespinner? Does the score’s shift between adventurous and contemplative moods change how you play through a run? Click below to read more about the release, including messages from Frank van ’t Ende and the Flash Cat Games team.
Scarlet Moon has released the official soundtrack for Mahou Arms, composed by Dale North of Scarlet Moon Artists. The soundtrack arrives alongside a brand-new vocal theme, “Distortion,” featuring Pernelle, as the game leaves Early Access behind for its full 1.0 launch.
Have you been keeping tabs on Mahou Arms? Are you excited to dive into the game and its soundtrack? Click below to read more about the release, including messages from the developer and Dale North.
Scarlet Moon is thrilled to partner with PAON, a new band comprised of vocalist/songwriter Pernelle and composer/producer Lemm, to release their debut EP Philosophie du Soi. We wanted to do a deep-dive with the band to explore their inspirations, tools used, and get a teaser as to what the “PAON Narrative Universe” has in store for us going forward. Please enjoy and discussion and grab the album from Scarlet Moon Records if you haven’t already.
Three visions of a perfect society unfold across a war-torn realm where arcane power, sacrifice, and morals shape the fate of kingdoms.
Monterrey, Mexico (Jan. 23, 2026) — Mana Core Game Studios, an emerging new independent game developer founded by two brothers passionate about narrative-driven experiences, today unveiled their debut title, Utopia: Birth of the Heroes, a medieval fantasy visual novel coming to Steam for PC in 2026.
Fans looking to support the developer can visit the game’s Steam store page to Wishlist the title and get immediate access to Chapters 0-2 via Steam Playtest. This early slice of the story gives players a first look at the world, characters, and moral choices at the heart of the experience, while also providing a meaningful way to support development and help shape the final release.
“We wanted to build a world players can immerse themselves in, where they can agree or disagree with the characters but still feel like they are a part of their world,” says Dante Arjona, co-founder of Mana Core Game Studios. “Every choice in Utopia feels personal because it mirrors something bigger than just the character. It reflects a world players care about and believe in based on their morals and values.”
About Utopia: Birth of the Heroes
Developed by brothers Dante and Daniel Arjona from their Monterrey-based studio, Utopia: Birth of the Heroes is a visual novel set in a medieval fantasy realm ravaged by war and ambition. The story revolves around three distinct protagonists, each driven by a different vision of a perfect society. As players explore their unique backgrounds and motivations, they’ll navigate hardship, political tension, and morally charged choices that ripple across kingdoms and nations.
Through multiple perspectives and narrative paths, Utopia challenges players to weigh the cost of their ideals and consider the consequences of each decision. Every choice shapes not only the characters’ relationships and personal journeys but also the fate of the world they hope to change. The result is a deeply immersive experience where the pursuit of utopia reveals just how fragile that dream can be.
Key Features
An Arcane Fantasy World – Utopia is set in a war-torn medieval fantasy world, filled with arcane magic and rich lore that enhances storytelling and immerses players in the game world. Character-Driven Narrative – Deep character arcs for three distinct protagonists, allowing players to immerse themselves in each character’s perspective and motivations. Emotional Engagement and Moral Themes – The story’s focus on idealism and the struggles of creating Utopia evokes a deep emotional response. As the player grapples with complex moral dilemmas and political decisions, their in-game choices will not only shape their character’s journey but also the world around them. Multiple Outcomes – With various outcomes based on player decisions, Utopia provides strong replay value and encourages the exploration of all possible story outcomes. Composed for Player Connection – An evocative and emotionally driven musical score by Scarlet Moon’s Peter Reid Jones that enhances the story and draws the player deeper into the world of Utopia, with more composers to be confirmed!
See all of these elements brought to life in the Utopia Announcement Trailer:
Fans can Wishlist and Follow the game on Steam to stay informed on launch updates and future playable opportunities. They can also follow Mana Core’s development journey on Twitter and Instagram via @ManaCoreGS.
We’re excited to have the opportunity to speak with electronic duo mojera once again, after speaking with them last year about their then-new release, arika EP. This time, they have a new album titled Sequential, and we wanted to speak with them about the album, their annual Christmas single, and more. Game music fans should be particularly interested in the work of mojera as the duo is comprised of composer Mitsuto Suzuki and performer Non. Their works in games are highly regarded, and I’ve been a longtime fan of their collaborations as well as Suzuki-san’s past game and original album works.
Let’s dive in to learn more about Sequential and more.
We had such a blast making our first game music holiday gift guide last year that we thought we’d make it a regular thing! Not only will you find some amazing physical game music items for the game music fan on your shopping list, or for you, but we’ve also included a special discount for Scarlet Moon’s Bandcamp catalog if you make it down to the bottom. Vinyl is always a great gift for under the tree, but our CD offerings are perfect stocking stuffers. Let’s dive in!
