D3Publisher has made waves in the global gaming community with the recent worldwide launch of Full Metal Schoolgirl for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
As a new IP combining high-octane action with roguelite mechanics, Full Metal Schoolgirl marks an ambitious multiplatform release from the experienced Japanese publisher.
In an exclusive interview, producer Nobuyuki Okajima shed light on the game’s development journey, its debut on Nintendo Switch 2, and the creative decisions behind its standout features. Nobuyuki Okajima, producing with D3Publisher, explained that his role is to steer the product direction and define its target audience, ensuring both quality and profitability.
While Okajima is involved in many facets of production, he highlighted the importance of shaping the game's vision and working closely with the development teams—excluding direct development, which is handled by expert game creators like Yukes. Full Metal Schoolgirl started as a title for PS5 and PC, but the announcement and power of Nintendo Switch 2 quickly led the team to expand the release.
Okajima shared, “Although development began for PS5 and PC, the Switch 2’s strong hardware compatibility enabled us to bring the game to Nintendo’s platform without issues.
We found no major obstacles during the adaptation process.” This demonstrates D3Publisher’s commitment to delivering top-quality experiences across multiple platforms and leveraging advanced hardware. The concept for Full Metal Schoolgirl evolved organically, with Okajima noting that initial plans centered on fast-paced action gameplay featuring weaponized schoolgirls.
Through collaboration with Yukes, the team refined the concept, ultimately integrating roguelite elements and an engaging narrative about vengeance against a corrupt corporation.
Okajima emphasized that these components resulted from ongoing iteration to ensure the gameplay loop remained engaging and balanced. A notable surprise for fans has been the inclusion of an English dub.
Okajima confirmed that English voice acting was part of the plan from early on, but the English voice actors’ talents as singers led to an inspired decision to incorporate English lyrics and a hard rock soundtrack.
These enhancements have further broadened the game’s appeal to Western audiences. On the technical front, Okajima addressed potential questions from players regarding controls and accessibility.
While there are currently no plans to support mouse input for Joy-Con 2, the game takes advantage of the gyro sensor.
Regarding quality of life updates, he confirmed most animations are skippable and requested features will be proactively considered for future updates.
As for Steam Deck, Okajima clarified that while the game is not officially supported due to its high-end default settings, players should still be able to run Full Metal Schoolgirl on lower graphics settings. Fans of D3Publisher’s past works, like Earth Defense Force, may be wondering about localizations or crossover DLCs.
Okajima indicated that while there are no current plans for localizing EDF 2, 3, and 4.1 for Switch in the West, the team remains open to such opportunities.
Regarding future DLC, he expressed appreciation for fan interest in crossover costumes, though concrete details remain under wraps for now. With global simultaneous launches becoming increasingly standard in the industry, D3Publisher’s successful worldwide rollout of Full Metal Schoolgirl demonstrates its ability to meet the expectations of a demanding audience.
Okajima reflected that such launches help avoid frustration from Western fans and that delivering a same-day release internationally is a source of pride for the company. Full Metal Schoolgirl is now available for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Steam, further solidifying D3Publisher’s reputation for quality multiplatform action releases.
As a new IP combining high-octane action with roguelite mechanics, Full Metal Schoolgirl marks an ambitious multiplatform release from the experienced Japanese publisher.
In an exclusive interview, producer Nobuyuki Okajima shed light on the game’s development journey, its debut on Nintendo Switch 2, and the creative decisions behind its standout features. Nobuyuki Okajima, producing with D3Publisher, explained that his role is to steer the product direction and define its target audience, ensuring both quality and profitability.
While Okajima is involved in many facets of production, he highlighted the importance of shaping the game's vision and working closely with the development teams—excluding direct development, which is handled by expert game creators like Yukes. Full Metal Schoolgirl started as a title for PS5 and PC, but the announcement and power of Nintendo Switch 2 quickly led the team to expand the release.
Okajima shared, “Although development began for PS5 and PC, the Switch 2’s strong hardware compatibility enabled us to bring the game to Nintendo’s platform without issues.
We found no major obstacles during the adaptation process.” This demonstrates D3Publisher’s commitment to delivering top-quality experiences across multiple platforms and leveraging advanced hardware. The concept for Full Metal Schoolgirl evolved organically, with Okajima noting that initial plans centered on fast-paced action gameplay featuring weaponized schoolgirls.
Through collaboration with Yukes, the team refined the concept, ultimately integrating roguelite elements and an engaging narrative about vengeance against a corrupt corporation.
Okajima emphasized that these components resulted from ongoing iteration to ensure the gameplay loop remained engaging and balanced. A notable surprise for fans has been the inclusion of an English dub.
Okajima confirmed that English voice acting was part of the plan from early on, but the English voice actors’ talents as singers led to an inspired decision to incorporate English lyrics and a hard rock soundtrack.
These enhancements have further broadened the game’s appeal to Western audiences. On the technical front, Okajima addressed potential questions from players regarding controls and accessibility.
While there are currently no plans to support mouse input for Joy-Con 2, the game takes advantage of the gyro sensor.
Regarding quality of life updates, he confirmed most animations are skippable and requested features will be proactively considered for future updates.
As for Steam Deck, Okajima clarified that while the game is not officially supported due to its high-end default settings, players should still be able to run Full Metal Schoolgirl on lower graphics settings. Fans of D3Publisher’s past works, like Earth Defense Force, may be wondering about localizations or crossover DLCs.
Okajima indicated that while there are no current plans for localizing EDF 2, 3, and 4.1 for Switch in the West, the team remains open to such opportunities.
Regarding future DLC, he expressed appreciation for fan interest in crossover costumes, though concrete details remain under wraps for now. With global simultaneous launches becoming increasingly standard in the industry, D3Publisher’s successful worldwide rollout of Full Metal Schoolgirl demonstrates its ability to meet the expectations of a demanding audience.
Okajima reflected that such launches help avoid frustration from Western fans and that delivering a same-day release internationally is a source of pride for the company. Full Metal Schoolgirl is now available for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Steam, further solidifying D3Publisher’s reputation for quality multiplatform action releases.
