Ys VIII for PS Vita launches July 21 in Japan, for PlayStation 4 in 2017 [Update]

New characters Ricotta and Hummel revealed.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA will launch for PS Vita on July 21 in Japan, and for PlayStation 4 in 2017, the latest issue of Dengeki PlayStation reveals. Both versions were previously given a “summer 2016” release window.

According to Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo, while the PS Vita version is being released first, development on the PlayStation 4 version is progressing side by side with the PS Vita version.

The magazine also reveals two new characters: a 12 year-old girl named Ricotta (voiced by Nozomi Yamamoto) who uses a whip-mace, and a 24 year-old man named Hummel (voiced by KENN) who uses a bayonet.

Ricotta is a girl who lived on The Isle of Seiren before Adol was shipwrecked and washed ashore, and knows the traits of the Ancients very well. She is waiting for the return of her father, who went out to explore the island, but… According to Toshihiro Kondo, she knows the island in detail and is the bright mood maker of the group. She joins the party in search of her father.

Hummel is a holed up courier on The Isle of Seiren who has pride in his work, but still keeps the requested goods adrift. He wields the latest weapon, known as a gun. According to Toshihiro Kondo, although those at the underside of society shouldn’t interact with the general public, he joins Adol for a certain purpose. Guns are rare in this world, and up until now, it appears Adol has yet to have seen one.

There is also information about some of the tools you’ll use on your adventure, including:

Grip Glove – Move up walls crawling with ivy.
Luminescence Stone – Faintly lights up the dark.
Gale Wings – Greatly increases your dash speed, and lets you use a ramming attack by dashing as well.

Additionally, voice actors for previously announced characters are also revealed: