According to the new Famitsu, the game will finally see release in about 3 months. It will also be getting a limited 3DS LL bundle:

This was sooner than I expected for some reason. Having since basically steeled myself to just importing Atlus releases as they come out in Japan, I fear for my wallet when it comes time to convince myself to import a 3DS along with the game. Hoo boy.

That makes a 2013 release for North America likely.

possibly in that week before christmas slot like persona 4 was.

Colour me Hellof excited.

I'm down! Project x Zone, Soul Hackers and SMT: IV = Love.

Hey, I did it! (sans the actual importing)

In the meantime, there's that tantalizing bundle with amazing(ly bad) demon art that actually looks better when it's just in black and white.

The scan also seems to mention a Sound and Art Collection promo thing (think Catherine), probably for preorders. It's kinda hard to see.

Oh yeah, I've long since come to terms with nabbing a Japanese 3DS in some capacity since I'll be back there for work soon enough and don't want to be left dry depending on American imports. I have ways of getting around price hikes at places like Play-Asia thanks to my having a Japanese mailing address I can get orders forwarded from, so it ultimately won't be as bad as I'm making it out to be. I was just hoping to have a little more time to getting my budget up to snuff since I'm super close to finally just buying my first 3DS in general for Fire Emblem.

And oh dear god, no thank you to that bundle. I've bought all of my Atlus games post-Catherine from Japan, but there are still certain lines I'm not willing to cross. The soundtrack and art thing imply that it's a first print run at retail sort of thing, since the kanji used in the Famitsu scan is 先着購入 and not something like 先行予約.

Any time someone mentions this game I go to http://megaten4.jp/ and let the song loop about 3 times.

The more you know.

Not a fan of the 3DS look on that bundle.

Oh, same difference! You just gotta get in there early. Now I'm wondering if I should stick to Tsutaya or go Amazon, but Amazon Japan seems to be last minute about detailing the bonus goods.

@explodemode: The music was obtainable by download (through some minor browser hacking), but the links appear to be gone now. If you search around a little, you can still find it pretty easily! The music is easily one of my most anticipated features of the game.

I'm only playing Nocturne now and this plus the lack of Vita games means I'm definitely buying a 3DS by the end of summer.

Box art!!!!!!!!!!!!

It looks like the characters in Catherine decided to raid Sephiroth's wardrobe, and then that somehow caused the end of the world.

I can't say I disagree with you, except about the Sephiroth part. Sephiroth didn't wear no stylish ascot, no sirree.

HRM I WONDER WHO IS THE LAWFUL HERO AND WHO IS THE CHAOTIC HERO.

at least strange journey wasn't immediately apparent from the gat damn box art

Chaotic dude obviously knows how to have fun.

all of the face he's covering with his hand?

totally going to be demon parts

also I hope we get lady gaga lawful hero again

Not that it wasn't made immediately obvious the moment both started exhibiting personality.

still, if it is coming from the boxart it is setting up expectations; at least in strange journey it took you a little bit to suss out the character traits of lady gaga and jimeboo.

I took pictures of the rest of the Famitsu pages here! Linked because of bigness.