Square Enix just dropped in on Xbox Developer Direct, surprising us all with a sneak peek at this beloved action-RPG series with fresh screenshots on its official website and Twitter account. The images showcase various monstrous foes, breathtaking landscapes, and heart-pounding scenarios featuring our protagonist, Val. The gameplay is smoother than butter, and we’ve snagged some juicy new details.

The original creator, Koichi Ishii, is overseeing the art transformation, and we’re getting fresh designs of classic Mana creatures from the brilliant series illustrator Airi Yoshioka. Drumroll, please—the game is hitting our screens this summer!

Initially unveiled at The Game Awards in December, Visions of Mana puts you in the shoes of Val, a carefree blade-wielder. But hold on tight; things take a dramatic turn when a childhood friend is chosen as an Alm (yeah, it’s a big deal). They’re on a journey to the Mana Tree to rejuvenate the flow of mana power, and guess what? You’re tagging along as their trusty guard.

Sure, we’ve seen our fair share of Mana ports and remakes lately (hello, Secret of Mana), but this is the first full-blown mainline of roughly 15 years. In a blog post on Xbox’s official site, Mana series producer Masaru Oyamada spills the beans on why the recent surge in ports and remakes paved the way for this epic comeback.

“It’s been around 10 years since I took over as Mana series producer, but one of my ambitions from the beginning was to put out a completely new game on consoles,” he spills.

Curious minds might wonder why they didn’t jump straight to a new entry. Oyamada explains, “However, there had already been quite a gap since the previous entry when I took the reins of the series, so I was a little unsure as to how many fans actually wanted to see a new Mana game.”

So, they went for the strategic move—releases various remakes and remasters, renewing interest among old fans and giving newcomers a taste of Mana magic. After the stellar reception of the Trials of Mana remake, it became crystal clear: Visions of Mana was more than just a dream. It was destiny.

Gamer Techie Duds, brace yourselves for an enchanting journey into the world of Visions of Mana, set to launch this summer for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It’s time for you, our gaming community, to gear up for a nostalgic adventure filled with mana, magic, and the long-awaited return of our beloved Mana series!