Interview: Preparing the My Next Life as a Villainess Switch Otome

So, My Next Life as a Villainess is an isekai series about a woman reincarnated into the world of her favorite otome game, and now the Switch otome visual novel based on it called My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom -Pirates of the Disturbance- is about to appear worldwide. To learn more about its development and release, Siliconera spoke with Director Akira Haruse about preparing it.

Jenni Lada: When did development for My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom -Pirates of the Disturbance- start?

Akira Haruse: I believe this concept came to me around 2019, right before the first season of the anime was about to air. At the time, I submitted a total of three concepts: “school of magic,” “magic ministry,” and “cruise ship x pirate.” The IP holder liked the “cruise ship x pirate” theme, so we decided to put that idea into motion. The development truly began in 2020.

There is the completed novel, manga and light novel currently in production, and the anime available so far. How much of each affected the story and development of the game?

Haruse: This project wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the original story. So, we made sure to honor the original world and character traits. From the beginning, we anticipated releasing the game after Season 1 of the anime had streamed. So we based the world’s setting on Season 1 in hopes that it would be easier for fans of the anime to follow the characters into the game’s world. We wanted to do our best to ensure the game didn’t impact the original story too much, so we treated it as an “alternate timeline” of the original story. Since the original story was still ongoing, we wanted to utilize that world, the characters, and the original setting, while creating a foundation with the new game characters for the new plot.

How difficult was it to adapt the My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom characters’ traits into the otome game? Was there a character you especially struggled with?

Haruse: Geordo, Keith, Alan, and Nicol were love interests in the original story, so it wasn’t too difficult to transition them into an otome game plot. On the contrary, balancing Catarina’s personality as the protagonist of this otome game proved more challenging. While we wanted to honor the original story, we aimed to infuse an otome game feel into the storyline and introduce moments that make the heart flutter. We also sought to offer perspectives that aren’t available in the anime and further intensified the otome essence in the game by discussing it with the IP holders. We endeavored to provide variations in the romantic moments and ensure they didn’t all simply culminate in a confession of love in the end.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom introduces the new characters Rozy Lind and Silva. How were those characters made?

Haruse: We wanted to ensure the original characters and their established settings wouldn’t be overshadowed, so we focused on maintaining a balance between them and the game’s new characters and plot. The reason the two new characters are older than Catarina is to distinguish them from the Sorcier men, who are the same age range as Catarina, offering a different vibe. We aimed for one character to embody the loving brother archetype, and the other to be a mix of wild yet dependable brotherly qualities. (Laughs) I also enjoyed the lighthearted bantering between the original Sorcier characters. Their fun childhood friendships are lively, and are part of the heart of My Villainess, so I wanted to build new characters who could fit right in with that cast.

How difficult was it to integrate the otome game original characters into the cast of My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom? What measures did you take to ensure they remained consistent?

Haruse: In terms of the game’s new characters, since we had already obtained approval from the IP holders during the concept approval stage, integrating them into the game was straightforward. While developing the game’s main scenario, I revisited all the novel content from the beginning to the most recent publication to ensure I was familiar with the original settings. I was cautious not to disrupt any aspect of that world while progressing with the game plot. Nevertheless, we left a few Easter eggs for both the original novel and anime fans, and hope it adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the game.

When did you realize the My Next Life as a Villainess otome game would appear worldwide?

Haruse: I believe it was in spring 2022, right after the game was released in Japan. I had heard that the original novels and the anime were gaining popularity overseas, so I find it a blessing that the game also received an opportunity to be embraced by fans of this series. And, I was happy about that myself as well.

Shouta Aoi sang both the anime ending and the opening for the otome game My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom. How difficult was it to book him for that as well?

Haruse: I requested Shouta Aoi, who played Geordo Stuart and sang the anime’s ending, to perform the opening of the game as well. He graciously accepted the offer, and I’m deeply grateful to him. The song exudes a radiant vibe, suggesting an exciting new journey is on the horizon. I genuinely admire the song.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom will come to the Nintendo Switch on November 28, 2023.