Classi5ed’s Lie of Caelum: Spirit, a PSX-style sci-fi mecha JRPG drawing on Xenogears and Phantasy Star, has successfully funded on Kickstarter, clearing its $34,000 goal and currently sitting at over 164% funded with time still on the clock. Scarlet Moon handled PR for the campaign, and the soundtrack features a guest contribution from Motoi Sakuraba (Dark Souls, Tales of, Star Ocean), who is represented by Scarlet Moon Artists.
The guest song brings Sakuraba back to a sound he knows well: the Phantasy Star series (including Phantasy Star Nova and the Phantasy Star OnlinePremium Arrange album) was one of the project’s main inspirations, alongside composers Kurippertronixxx and Mushra (Seed of Nostalgia).
“I’m glad to be part of Lie of Caelum: Spirit as a guest composer. I always enjoy games with a strong, unusual world behind them, and Lie of Caelum’s story sounds like just that kind of project. If backers reach this goal, I’ll do my best to write music that fits what the team is building,” says Motoi Sakuraba.
About Motoi Sakuraba
Motoi Sakuraba is a veteran videogame composer whose scores include Dark Souls, the Tales of series, Star Ocean, Golden Sun, and Baten Kaitos, among dozens of others across more than three decades in the industry. He is represented by Scarlet Moon Artists.
Scarlet Moon has released JAZZ RESORT vol. 3, the latest volume in GENTLE LOVE’s ongoing live jazz series led by saxophonist Norihiko Hibino of Scarlet Moon Artists. The album arrives ahead of an August 28 launch show in Shibuya, and opens with a jazz take on the children’s song heard over the credits of Ghostwire: Tokyo (one of our favorite surprises on the album).
While most people know Hibino from Metal Gear Solid, have you heard his jazz work before? Will you be catching the Tokyo Jazz Resort launch show in Shibuya on the 28th? Click below to read more about the release, including comments from Hibino-san.
Scarlet Moon has released the original soundtrack to Talespinner, composed by Frank van ’t Ende of Scarlet Moon Artists. The score draws on traditional instrumentation to bring the game’s world of Japanese mythology to life, arriving alongside Talespinner’s launch on PC and Nintendo Switch.
Have you been exploring the yokai-haunted world of Talespinner? Does the score’s shift between adventurous and contemplative moods change how you play through a run? Click below to read more about the release, including messages from Frank van ’t Ende and the Flash Cat Games team.
Three visions of a perfect society unfold across a war-torn realm where arcane power, sacrifice, and morals shape the fate of kingdoms.
Monterrey, Mexico (Jan. 23, 2026) — Mana Core Game Studios, an emerging new independent game developer founded by two brothers passionate about narrative-driven experiences, today unveiled their debut title, Utopia: Birth of the Heroes, a medieval fantasy visual novel coming to Steam for PC in 2026.
Fans looking to support the developer can visit the game’s Steam store page to Wishlist the title and get immediate access to Chapters 0-2 via Steam Playtest. This early slice of the story gives players a first look at the world, characters, and moral choices at the heart of the experience, while also providing a meaningful way to support development and help shape the final release.
“We wanted to build a world players can immerse themselves in, where they can agree or disagree with the characters but still feel like they are a part of their world,” says Dante Arjona, co-founder of Mana Core Game Studios. “Every choice in Utopia feels personal because it mirrors something bigger than just the character. It reflects a world players care about and believe in based on their morals and values.”
About Utopia: Birth of the Heroes
Developed by brothers Dante and Daniel Arjona from their Monterrey-based studio, Utopia: Birth of the Heroes is a visual novel set in a medieval fantasy realm ravaged by war and ambition. The story revolves around three distinct protagonists, each driven by a different vision of a perfect society. As players explore their unique backgrounds and motivations, they’ll navigate hardship, political tension, and morally charged choices that ripple across kingdoms and nations.
Through multiple perspectives and narrative paths, Utopia challenges players to weigh the cost of their ideals and consider the consequences of each decision. Every choice shapes not only the characters’ relationships and personal journeys but also the fate of the world they hope to change. The result is a deeply immersive experience where the pursuit of utopia reveals just how fragile that dream can be.
Key Features
An Arcane Fantasy World – Utopia is set in a war-torn medieval fantasy world, filled with arcane magic and rich lore that enhances storytelling and immerses players in the game world. Character-Driven Narrative – Deep character arcs for three distinct protagonists, allowing players to immerse themselves in each character’s perspective and motivations. Emotional Engagement and Moral Themes – The story’s focus on idealism and the struggles of creating Utopia evokes a deep emotional response. As the player grapples with complex moral dilemmas and political decisions, their in-game choices will not only shape their character’s journey but also the world around them. Multiple Outcomes – With various outcomes based on player decisions, Utopia provides strong replay value and encourages the exploration of all possible story outcomes. Composed for Player Connection – An evocative and emotionally driven musical score by Scarlet Moon’s Peter Reid Jones that enhances the story and draws the player deeper into the world of Utopia, with more composers to be confirmed!
See all of these elements brought to life in the Utopia Announcement Trailer:
Fans can Wishlist and Follow the game on Steam to stay informed on launch updates and future playable opportunities. They can also follow Mana Core’s development journey on Twitter and Instagram via @ManaCoreGS.
Scarlet Moon Productions had the honor of attending and presenting at Gamer’s Rhapsody this past weekend, and we wanted to make available our slides from the Game Music for Daily Living presentation which explores the use of game music to help you sleep, relax, exercise, and celebrate holidays such as Christmas and Halloween. Embedded music samples act as references and encourage you to seek out other resources and music releases for even more music to use throughout your day!
Scarlet Moon Records is extremely proud to be able to reveal Prescription for Sleep: Game Music Lullabies, an album of videogame music tracks arranged and performed live for sleep and relaxation. The album features Norihiko Hibino on saxophone and AYAKI on piano, performing together at GENTLE LOVE. There’s a website dedicated to the album, which can be found here.
Each week we’ll be unveiling two track titles leading up to the May 19, 2014 release date on Loudr and other digital retailers. So far Donkey Kong Country’s “Aquatic Ambiance” has been announced (sample below) alongside Secret of Mana’s “A Wish…” (exclusive sample on GameSpot).
Scarlet Moon Records is pleased to announce the release of the Saturday Morning RPG Original Soundtrack featuring Vince DiCola and Kenny Meriedeth. Fans of DiCola’s work on Rocky IV and Transformers: The Movie will feel right at home with his signature synth rock sound with orchestral accents.
The album features 27 tracks, including the full Saturday Morning RPG soundtrack, pieces of music that have been submitted for the game and may be featured in future episodes, an unreleased vocal theme titled “No Risk No Glory,” and a rock/chip arrangement by Grant “Stemage” Henry and Dmitry “C-jeff” Zhemkov and an FM synthesis version of the game’s battle theme by Jake “virt” Kaufman.
A limited-print physical edition is available from Bandcamp and Amazon, while the digital version sold on Loudr will include the bonus single, “Christmas Adventure,” released separately for the Christmas holiday. The album is also available via iTunes and Amazon MP3.
The first release out from Scarlet Moon Records is Dale North’s Dragon Fantasy Book II Original Soundtrack. This 43-track album marks the triumphant return of the classic JRPG soundtrack that many enthusiasts, myself included, have been yearning for. North, a singer and songwriter first and foremost, draws on this background to craft catchy melodies around every turn.
I had a blast coming up with the track names with Muteki’s Adam Rippon. We hope you enjoy them!
A limited physical edition, available via Bandcamp and Amazon, features 37 tracks and is adorned with artwork from the game. The Bandcamp version includes an immediate download of the full 43-track version.
