Square Enix Launches New Studio, RPG Project With Tales Producer Hideo Baba

Square Enix announced on Tuesday that it has established Studio Istolia, a new Tokyo-based studio working on a new RPG project tentatively titled "Project Prelude Rune." Former Tales series brand manager and producer Hideo Baba is the new studio head, and is also the producer on "Project Prelude Rune."

Square Enix describes the new project:
The project aims to build a new RPG with a new fantasy: unfolding across a vast land teeming with life. Nurtured by the earth, the many peoples of this land dare to dream, fighting for what is just—and this is their tale.

The studio's name originates from the Greek word for "story." Studio Istolia aims to "provide unforgettable stories that will inspire players in their own lives, and bring new game experiences to everyone around the world."

The new studio is currently hiring, with positions for battle, map, and UI planners; character, map, monster, motion, effect, and UI designers; battle, tool, event, sound, and UI programmers; and technical support.

Baba had worked on Namco's (later Bandai Namco Entertainment) Tales RPG series since the PlayStation 2 version of Tales of Destiny in 2006. His next game in the series, Tales of Innocence, saw him become the series' producer until his last title in the series, 2015's Tales of Zestiria.​