No, it's not Persona/SMT-related. EDIT: It is! Kinda! Hype!
 
Early reports indicate that the latest Famitsu reveals a new Atlus game. They're finally getting their hands dirty with their first internally developed title on HD consoles. 'Catherine' is being described as a horror-tinged action-adventure title, with apparently an "erotic taste to the art". It does have some key staff working on it from the Persona team however. The game is scheduled for a Winter 2010 release date in Japan, so a localised NA/EU release would be hitting in 2011 at the earliest, if at all, though it seems pretty likely.

It's obviously early days, but how do you guys feel about this? As much as I want to see Persona 5, that game has to be in the works, and Atlus are capable of developing multiple projects simultaneously. It may be a good thing for Atlus to develop their tools and get used to the new platforms beforehand. Perhaps more importantly, it also gives hope of persona showing up on the 360.

I'm guessing we'll see more of this come TGS as well as other projects, but for now i'm waiting for a press release.
 
THE PLOT THICKENS!
 

Gallery

As detailed below, Catherine is the first HD game from Atlus. It's being made with key members of the Persona staff. Included in the staff list are Katsura Hashino as producer and director, Shigenori Soejima as character designer, and Shouji Meguro as sound composer.

While the game's name is Catherine, the main character is actually a 32-year-old salaryman named Vincent (voiced by Koichi Yamadera). Catherine (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro) is a stylish 22-year-old girl who apparently has the charms of a young girl.

The game begins when Vincent, a vegetarian who has no ambition in work or love (I'm not sure if he's literally a "vegetarian," or if the term "vegetarian" is some sort of metaphor for his personality) runs into the mysterious Catherine one day. At night, he has nightmares.

The nightmares serve as an action component for the

game. Set in a world with an unending stairway, Vincent has to make it to the top of the stairs, or he will not be able to awaken.

Based off Game Jouhou's summary, it's a bit unclear how the game will progress. However, it does seem that even during the nightmare action parts, you'll end up working through the story and encountering events.

During a staff interview, Hashino said that as their first HD game, rather than trying out a true RPG, the team was excited about trying out something new. It looks like Catherine will be just that, as Hashino said it will be more adult oriented than past titles from the team. It's not all style, though. Hashino promised a deep play experience with plenty of gameplay for players to sink their teeth into.

Soejima said that there are some shockingly adult scenes in the game. When you play these scenes, they'll be even more stimulating, although in a difference sense.

Meguro confirmed the adult leanings of the title, saying that the keywords for the game's music are "classic," "adult oriented" and "erotic." He also promised 5.1ch sound.

Meguro also made a comment that has Persona fans excited. He said that due to Catherine, he believes for the time being the staff won't be asked about their next title. However, at some point next year, perhaps he'll be able to respond "Regarding the RPG, Hashino and I are..."

A hint at Persona 5?"

Atlus is taking that long awaited step into HD with the new multiplatform title Catherine. In development for Xbox 360 and PS3, Catherine is an action adventure game with a horror taste.

(update, after having seen some pics): Uhh... yeah, it definitely has an erotic taste to the art. The main visual on the first page of Famitsu's reveal shows a nearly naked girl spreading her legs apart. The only thing blocking us from seeing too much is the head of some dude with balling eyes.

Catch copy in the Famitsu article says somethign to the effect of: "The man who continues to rise every night in his dreams."

Atlus has key Persona staffers working on the game. Katsura Hashino is the game's producer and director, Naruki Fukushima is character designer, and Masahi Meguro (OP NOTE: It must be Shoji Meguro) is sound composer."

sounds awesome. more stuff by atlus is always great.

Finally, a notable current gen. Atlus game that's published on a console other than the PS3.

Erotic taste to the art, huh?  As luck would have it, that's one of my favorite word arrangements.  I'm on board.

oh man, I am so psyched cause this will probably mean at least a chance of P5 for 360.

Horror... eroticism... RapeLay 2: Day of the Tentacle?

Woohoo for Atlus on 360(I don't have a PS3). I'm always interested in a new game from Atlus, whatever it may be.  Now if they were to ever announce that Persona 5 was going to be on 360...I would lose a lot of incentive to ever buy a PS3.    For some reason, though, I expect Persona to stay PS3 only.  No real reason for thinking that, I just do.

HD Erotica from the Persona team. Good to see they're taking that social link system to he next step.

So... Vincent, that mysterious NPC from Persona 3 Portable, might not be a character in Persona 5 after all: 

" HD Erotica from the Persona team. Good to see they're taking that social link system to he next step. "

This game is definitely seems interesting, but it's way too early to tell if I'll like it since I know almost nothing about it right now and who knows when it'll get localized. I am glad it's coming to the 360 though.

"Have nothing to do with your problems"
And the game has nothing to do with Persona.  i c wut u did thar, Atlus.

Very very very interested to see what Atlus' current-gen graphics framework is like.
@Icemael said:

" @SlashseveN303 said:

" HD Erotica from the Persona team. Good to see they're taking that social link system to he next step. "

I hope you get to meet up with some mysterious, foxy ladies and go to the meat dimension, if you know what I'm saying. "

" @SlashseveN303 said:

" HD Erotica from the Persona team. Good to see they're taking that social link system to he next step. "

I hope you get to meet up with some mysterious, foxy ladies and go to the meat dimension, if you know what I'm saying. "

Says Masahi Meguro is the sound composer. I guess Shoji Meguro really is working on Persona 5 (or something).

" Says Masahi Meguro is the sound composer. I guess Shoji Meguro really is working on Persona 5 (or something). "

" Says Masahi Meguro is the sound composer. I guess Shoji Meguro really is working on Persona 5 (or something). "

Looking at both pictures presumably relating to the character Vincent again, I can't help but notice the guy in the scan doesn't have P3P's mole.

" Looking at both pictures presumably relating to the character Vincent again, I can't help but notice the guy in the scan doesn't have P3P's mole. "

" According to people in the GAF thread with the magazine, there's a picture of the character in a diner, where he has everything but the mole (including the same eye color).  It's got to be Vincent. "

" @iAmJohn said:

" According to people in the GAF thread with the magazine, there's a picture of the character in a diner, where he has everything but the mole (including the same eye color).  It's got to be Vincent. "

Alright.  Yeah, I really couldn't think he would be anybody else with all of the "evidence" hinting towards them being the same character. "

" I haven't played the portable version, but is there anything else to this character other than him being there to tease a future game? "

" I haven't played the portable version, but is there anything else to this character other than him being there to tease a future game? "

I expect that this game is a way for Atlus to get use to how to build games on the PS3 and 360. Hope it's a interesting game with the whole adult theme and the fact that Atlus is making it meaning it'll have lots of dark tones.

cool, the mysterious man drinking alone looks like Spike from Cowboy Bepop.... the personality too.

Well I'm glad that the rumors are cleared up. I'll be looking into this game.

I'm glad Atlus is making games on the current Gen systems.

This is relevent to my interests.

While I generally dislike more of their games than I like, I have to give props to Atlus for always trying new and different stuff. I've never been much of a Persona fan, and I didn't really like Demon's Soul's, but 3D Dot Game Heroes is one of my favorite games this year, and I'll give Atlus the benefit of the doubt and check out anything they release. 

The guy in the lower left corner looks like he is wearing a school outfit as in Persona 4 or possibly 3.  Maybe Persona 4 MC?

" @FluxWaveZ said:

" Looking at both pictures presumably relating to the character Vincent again, I can't help but notice the guy in the scan doesn't have P3P's mole. "

According to people in the GAF thread with the magazine, there's a picture of the character in a diner, where he has everything but the mole (including the same eye color).  It's got to be Vincent. 
 
Oh by the way, guys, it's coming out this year in Japan. "

FUCK YES. 
 
Also, thanks for sharing.

So the mysterious Vincent has finally been revealed, huh? Cool, cool. I might pick this up if the previews interest me some more.

So now that we solved (at least partially) the mystery of Vincent, let's focus on the lady with the spread legs.

I think she's cool.

If I recall, Atlus generally reveals games in magazines and the reveals tend to be close to the actual release dates for their games. So if it is out this year, we can hope to see it by next spring/summer.

" I'm glad Atlus is making games on the current Gen systems.

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

It raises my hope for Persona 5 on PS3/360.

"

Holy rusted metal, Batman. I just realized something. 
 
Endurance Run. 
 
Please let it happen. I know it's a year away. But still.

" While I generally dislike more of their games than I like, I have to give props to Atlus for always trying new and different stuff. I've never been much of a Persona fan, and I didn't really like Demon's Soul's, but 3D Dot Game Heroes is one of my favorite games this year, and I'll give Atlus the benefit of the doubt and check out anything they release.  "

" I also added in an updated andriasang article. "Shockingly adult scenes" people. Don't miss it. Also, Persona 5 will likely be announced next year if it happens. "

Wait, are those scans in-game or animated cutscenes? If they're in-game then DAAAAAAMN. Atlus done good.

" @Steve_C said:

" I also added in an updated andriasang article. "Shockingly adult scenes" people. Don't miss it. Also, Persona 5 will likely be announced next year if it happens. "

Fuuuuck, there goes one of my biggest hopes for an announcement at TGS.  Well, at least Catherine doesn't look too bad.  The game, I mean. "

" I saw a hypothesis on GAF that the 'die in real life if you die in your dreams' thing Vincent talks about could be the hook of P5. "

I don't mind having to wait longer for a Persona 5 if Catherine means that they'll be able to try out some new things and see what they can do on these next gen (current gen?) platforms. Also this game seems interesting enough that it might be the first non-Persona Atlus game that I pick up.

" The guy in the lower left corner looks like he is wearing a school outfit as in Persona 4 or possibly 3.  Maybe Persona 4 MC? "

Its hard for me to get hype seeing Atlus is saying this is an "Adult" game with "erotic elements." Dont get me wrong, im all for it. But is the US going to be for it. Will Atlus be able to localize it without having to lessen the ero. If you look at the scans, the US media will have a field day with this game (im looking at you FOX News). Obviously we dont know how much ero is going to be in it, but right now i dont see the US letting us get our hands on it.