{"rewrite":{"id":"r_9c324451974131221e4c211e","clusterId":"c_dd3d4e058ca8f53772043597","slug":"tiny-metal-2-adds-overwatch-writer-and-anime-project-area35-says","model":"deepseek-v4-1-flash","headline":"TINY METAL 2 Adds Overwatch Writer And Anime Project, AREA35 Says","summary":"Hiroaki Yura, the representative and creator of studio AREA35, discussed TINY METAL 2 at Tokyo Game Show 2026 in an interview at the studio's booth. Yura said the project began because he loves Nintendo's Famicom Wars and decided to make a strategy game himself when no remake appeared. The sequel follows the original TINY METAL, which he said removed unit congestion and added flanking attacks, plus visibility rules where enemies cannot be attacked unless spotted and radar reveals them. Development is ongoing, and Yura described the team as about 200 people, up from roughly 13 years ago. New character Lysandra is a shop clerk designed by Yusuke Kozaki, not a playable unit. Former Blizzard writer Michael Chu wrote the story, with script localization handled by a writer credited on Ace Attorney titles. An anime adaptation is in progress through contacts including CG director Hiroyasu Kobayashi.","whyItMatters":"AREA35 is answering the remake era by funding new IP and new staff, which Yura framed as the reason to back the title now.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eTwo outlets that ran the Tokyo Game Show interview disagree on the size of the team. Game Spark puts the studio at about 200 people, up from roughly 13 years ago. Inside says the company has grown to about 120 people and later appended a correction notice dated October 5, 2026. The interview was conducted at AREA35\u0026#39;s booth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYura gave more detail on how Michael Chu\u0026#39;s script moved between languages. Because Chu cannot write Japanese, he wrote the story first; Hirotaka Inaba, credited on the Tantei Jinguuji Saburo series and Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, then localized it. Yura described the process as incorporating Japanese DNA and turning it back into English.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe anime push has its own origin. Yura said a barista in an Atlanta cafe talked with him about anime in depth, which convinced him American awareness of the medium had climbed. He wants the adaptation to carry story that games cannot, since players choose the timing in a game while anime moves from A to B.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther projects tied to the booth:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eA real robot exhibition, a collaboration with Asratec\u0026#39;s Wataru Yoshizaki, arranged through an introduction from Yoichi Ochiai.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eProject Phoenix, which Yura said is still alive.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLysandra grew out of advice Yura received at Paris Games Week that the cast needed a character players would want to marry. TINY METAL 2\u0026#39;s UI team is American staff who studied UX at game design schools, and the tutorial is optional and built to be entertainment itself. The development team\u0026#39;s average age is 29.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Yura on TINY METAL 2: the team is about 200 people now, and the average age is 29. \"We're developing with power incomparable to ourselves 13 years ago.\"","twitterPost":"Lysandra is not a playable unit in TINY METAL 2. She's a shop clerk designed by Yusuke Kozaki, added after advice at Paris Games Week that the cast needed someone to fawn over.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"AREA35 talked TINY METAL 2 at TGS2026, and the details are a mix of staffing, cameo credits, and a long-running pitch about new IP. The sequel to TINY METAL now has a writer from Blizzard, an anime adaptation in motion, and a new shop clerk character. Yura says the team is about 200 people.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/04/173139.html\",\"title\":\"I love 'Famicom Wars' led to a 200-person development, anime adaptation, and hiring an 'Overwatch' writer-'TINY METAL 2' and AREA35's 13-year ambition【TGS2026】\"},{\"source\":\"Inside\",\"url\":\"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/10/05/188753.html\",\"title\":\"I Love 'Famicom Wars' Led to a 120-Person Development, an Anime Adaptation, and an 'Overwatch' Writer - TINY METAL 2 and AREA35's 13-Year Ambition【TGS2026】\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":15563,"outputTokens":1368,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1791178163,"createdAt":"2026-10-05T05:24:30.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-10-05T05:28:21.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T05:28:21.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_dd3d4e058ca8f53772043597","canonicalTitle":"“『ファミコンウォーズ』大好き”から200人規模開発、アニメ化、『オーバーウォッチ』ライター起用へ―『TINY METAL 2』とAREA35、13年越しの野望【TGS2026】","representativeArticleId":"a_2d48a2f98bca4eaff2945f89","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Tiny Metal 2\"],\"studios\":[\"AREA35\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-10-04T03:00:03.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-10-05T03:20:02.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T05:28:21.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Inside","url":"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/10/05/188753.html","title":"“『ファミコンウォーズ』大好き”から120人規模開発、アニメ化、『オーバーウォッチ』ライター起用へ―『TINY METAL 2』とAREA35、13年越しの野望【TGS2026】"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/04/173139.html","title":"“『ファミコンウォーズ』大好き”から200人規模開発、アニメ化、『オーバーウォッチ』ライター起用へ―『TINY METAL 2』とAREA35、13年越しの野望【TGS2026】"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Tiny Metal 2"],"studios":["AREA35"],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["AREA35 representative Hiroaki Yura discussed TINY METAL 2 in an interview at Tokyo Game Show 2026.","TINY METAL 2 development follows the original TINY METAL, which Yura said added flanking attacks and visibility rules to a Famicom Wars-inspired foundation.","New character Lysandra is designed by Yusuke Kozaki and works as a shop clerk rather than a playable unit.","Former Blizzard writer Michael Chu wrote the TINY METAL 2 story, with script localization handled by a writer credited on Ace Attorney titles.","Yura said the TINY METAL 2 anime adaptation is progressing through contacts including CG director Hiroyasu Kobayashi."]}