"People of Note," a turn-based RPG musical, is announced; playable demo makes first appearance at Annapurna Interactive's booth [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/948/G094865/20250926005/
Writer: Katsuura Umi | 2025/09/25 16:19 (UTC)
Iridium Studios, based in Los Angeles, California, is developing a new turn-based RPG titled “People of Note” (available on PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S). A world-first playable demo of the game is currently on display at TGS 2025, and publishing rights are handled by Annapurna Interactive, whose official announcement coincided with this event.
The game is set in “Note,” a dazzling, dystopian world where various music genres clash. The protagonist, “Cadenza,” is a young vocalist who failed at the singing competition “NoteWorjee” and lost her eligibility to participate.
Realizing she couldn’t satisfy judges with solo performances, she travels across rock-centric Durandis and EDM-focused Lumina, recruiting talented individuals isolated by their overwhelming abilities to form her band.
Meanwhile, a shadowy force known as the “Harmonic Convergence” secretly works to destroy Note’s natural harmony and disrupt world balance. Cadenza and her companions must unite their abilities and fight back to protect music’s potential.
The gameplay of “People of Note” follows familiar RPG conventions: players control Cadenza as she explores maps, advances the story through dialogue with NPCs and solving puzzles. When encountering enemies, turn-based battles begin. The portion experienced during this demo focused on an early tutorial segment set in Durandis, a town inhabited by hard-rock enthusiasts. Cadenza’s lively personality—bouncing energetically around the dystopian world and displaying expressive animations during cutscenes—evokes classic Disney musicals.
The demo included two puzzles. One required redirecting sound from speakers that only move in straight lines by using multiple amplifier-equipped speakers at different angles, ultimately triggering a sensor to open the door. Walls featured reflective surfaces that bounced sound like mirrors—these mechanics were used effectively and proved manageable during early stages of gameplay.
When speaking with Iridium Studios’ Game Director Jason Wishnow, it was revealed that players who find puzzles tedious can opt to disable all puzzles entirely through settings. Additionally, an option exists to skip turn-based battles altogether—an indication that the game is being developed with a broad audience in mind.
Image Gallery No.005 thumbnail / Turn-based RPG musical “People of Note” unveiled; first public showcase of playable demo at Annapurna Interactive booth [TGS2025] Image Gallery No.010 thumbnail / Turn-based RPG musical “People of Note” unveiled; first public showcase of playable demo at Annapurna Interactive booth [TGS2025]
During the demo, players controlled a three-member party: Cadenza (the protagonist wielding her microphone as a weapon), Fred (a large, middle-aged guitarist), and Cynthia (a DJ battling on turntables). Each character has unique abilities beyond basic attacks—such as self-healing or bolstering allies. The combat system evaluates attack performance based on timing input relative to a ring-shaped gauge displayed on screen; damage output varies depending on the rating achieved, such as “Perfect” or “Good.”
The game employs numerous music-specific terminology like “Time Signature” (tempo markings) and “Stanza” (verse), which might confuse players unfamiliar with music. However, the core gameplay centered on rhythm and sound is intuitive and easy to pick up.
This demo featured an unconventional band consisting of a musical singer, hard rock guitarist, and EDM DJ. According to Wishnow, in the final version, the game will feature 11 regional stages, introducing band members rooted in genres ranging from pop and rap to Celtic music. Depending on which party members are selected, all these diverse musical styles merge into unique “mashups.”
While the exact form of this music system remains unclear, Wishnow explained that 11 genre-specific arrangements are prepared for each battle theme. With a total of 13 battle tracks implemented in the game, this amounts to an estimated 143 individual tracks created.
For instance, when a rapper character takes action, the BGM shifts into a rap-style arrangement; then, if a Celtic music member acts next, the track transforms accordingly into a Celtic style. Wishnow stated that achieving such complex arrangements using AI was impossible and emphasized that every piece—from composition to orchestration—was crafted entirely in-house by Iridium Studios’ own musicians.
Jason Wishnow of Iridium Studios watching over players enjoying “People of Note” Image Gallery No.012 thumbnail / Turn-based RPG musical “People of Note” unveiled; first public showcase of playable demo at Annapurna Interactive booth [TGS2025]
There’s a reason “People of Note” is described not as a “musical RPG,” but rather an “RPG musical.” The game features rich cinematic sequences where Cadenza and her companions advance the story through singing and performing, resembling animated musical films. This quality can already be glimpsed in the recently released reveal trailer.
Wishnow likened the title to “the meeting of Final Fantasy XIII and Frozen,” highlighting its unique genre blend—and also conveying a strong impression that it’s an ambitious music-driven work born from the remarkable dedication of Iridium Studios’ in-house musicians.
“People of Note” is expected for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S sometime in 2026. At TGS 2025 (Hall 6 central), a large booth features a Japanese-language playable demo—visitors are encouraged to try it out.