Steins;Gate 0 (visual novel)

Steins;Gate 0 (シュタインズ・ゲート ゼロ) is a full-length visual novel serving as a midquel to the original Steins;Gate visual novel. It has been marketed as a "true sequel" visual novel as opposed to being a fan disc like the previously-released Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram. Zero is part of the main canon and narratively -though not chronologically- takes place before the true ending of the original story as it explores events from the Beta Attractor Field's future that contribute via time travel in making the end of the original story possible. Zero primarily takes place in the Beta Attractor Field, starting in world line divergence 1.129848% and depicting divergences ranging from 1.053649% to 1.382733%, as well as a small glimpse of Alpha Attractor Field 0.571082%. Beta AF 1.130209% was also brought into connection with Zero when it was displayed at the end of the anime episode 23(β) countdown timer shown on December 3, 2015 on the official visual novel website.

It was released in Japan on December 10th, 2015 on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PS Vita , and a port for Windows PC is scheduled to be released on August 26th, 2016. An anime adaptation of the visual novel has already been green-lit.

PQube released the visual novel in English in regular and limited editions for Europe and North America on the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita 25th November, 2016.

Preview description
Zero takes place starting in November 2010 in the Beta Attractor Field outside of the Steins Gate. It depicts the Rintarou Okabe who had given up on saving Kurisu Makise after his first horrific failed attempt. Caught in despair, Okabe abandons his "Hououin Kyouma" persona and is tormented by flashbacks of Kurisu's death and the incidents of the Alpha world lines. The Labmems are worried about him, and at Mayuri's recommendation he begins treatment at a mental health clinic.

His life is stirred up again when, while helping out at a university seminar, he meets Kurisu's professor and research supervisor, Alexis Leskinen, along with Leskinen's assistant, Hiyajo Maho. Kurisu had worked in the same lab as them at Victor Chondria University studying artificial intelligence. From them Okabe learns about the "Amadeus" system, which stores the memory of a human and creates an emulation of that person. His life is changed completely when Leskinen asks Okabe to become a "tester" in interacting with Amadeus and Okabe meets Kurisu's "Memories" held within the system.

As a tester Okabe continues to speak with "Kurisu" using a dedicated smartphone application. As their conversations pile up, like in the past Okabe begins to grow closer. However, Okabe is also filled with anguish.

Other plot points include, the labmems hold Christmas and New Year's celebrations to hearten and cheer Okabe up. The girls dress as Santa Claus and shrine maidens and attention is given to the story of Amane Yuki and Daru and their future daughter Suzuha.

Also, while the Labmems are all gathered, a mysterious masked group bearing firearms attacks the lab, and Okabe is struck by the recollection of Mayuri's many deaths in the Alpha world lines. This is a world line where the PhoneWave no longer exists, and there should be no other reason for SERN to target them, but...

Though it will draw from the Epigraph Trilogy light novels and the stories from various drama CDs, Zero is not a "game-ification" of those stories but will have its own new scenario. Characters not seen in the original visual novel and anime will also be joining the cast, such as Hiyajo Maho, Amane Yuki, Shiina Kagari; Fubuki (Katsumi Nakase) and Kaede Kurushima, Mayuri's cosplay friends; Alexis Leskinen; and Judy Reyes, a professor of physiological psychology.

Release
On March 28th, 2015, Chiyomaru Shikura, executive director of Mages. Inc., held a TwitCast, in which he announced the visual novel. It was originally slated for release on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PS Vita on November 19th, 2015. However, on October 13th, 2015, 5pb. announced that the game would be delayed until December 10th, 2015 in order to improve product quality. On March 31st, 2016, a port for Windows PC was announced. The port is slated for release on June 26, 2016.

The English release of the title by PQube for PlayStation 4 and PS Vita was announced on May 25, 2016. The title lauched in September 23, 2016.

Zero has been given an "ages 15 and up" rating by CERO in Japan.

Staff

 * Planning and Author: Chiyomaru Shikura
 * Producer: Tatsuya Matsubara
 * Character Design: huke
 * Scenario: Naotaka Hayashi, Toru Yasumoto, Masaki Takimoto, Tsukasa Tsuchiya
 * Music: Takeshi Abo

Gameplay
Zero features a new twist on the "phone trigger" system introduced in the original work. The protagonist Okabe's old mobile phone has been changed to a smartphone, and the story's route can be changed using two applications installed on the new device.

As a tester given access to Amadeus, Okabe is able to communicate with "Kurisu" through a dedicated app, and "Kurisu" is able to contact him at will as well...

Further, in place of the emails from the previous work, a messaging app called RINE, which was developed by Daru, is used to respond to Okabe's friends. Even the digital stickers used in the app are expected to effect the course of the game.



Plot
The story of Steins;Gate 0 consists of fourteen unnumbered sections that are woven together and lead to six endings.

For the plot summary see: Steins;Gate 0 - Plot Summary

Promotion
On March 28th, 2015 Chiyomaru Shikura, executive director of Mages. Inc., held a TwitCast to announce the new visual novel and its green-lit anime adaptation.

On June 23, 2015, 5pb. Games USA released a teaser tweet about the new title as well.

Kurisu's birthday and death anniversary event
On July 25, 2015, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5pb. 5pb.] began an event celebrating Kurisu's birthday on the visual novel's official site, which they announced would last from July 25 0:00JST through July 28 23:59. The event was made up of a splash page before visiting the main site. It contained a short description of Kurisu's life and achievements as a scientist and featured birthday messages from her professor, Alexis Leskinen, and university senior, Maho Hiyajo. A new illustration from huke of Kurisu was offered as a downloadable wallpaper as well. Even the page source reflected the event, with the standard logo and text of Steins;Gate 0 in the comment at the top of the page's code changed from

to

On July 28th, a further twist was added to the event by changing it to a commemoration of Kurisu's death anniversary in the Beta attractor field. The artwork by huke became a darker monochrome, and the messages from Alexis Leskinen and Maho Hiyajo echoed their birthday messages, but the tone of them was changed to become Leskinen and Maho paying their last respects to Kurisu. The page source comment was adjusted to include her date of death as well.

Japanese First Printing Release Bonuses
On August 12th on the visual novel's official site, 5pb. announced that the first print copies of Steins;Gate 0 will come with a download code for the PS4 of the original Steins;Gate visual novel that has been remastered to 1920x1080, which 5pb. has no plans to make available otherwise. The contents of the HD remastered version will be the same as the original, sans trophy system. Though the code is only for PS4, it will be included in with the editions of Steins;Gate 0 for PS3 and PS Vita as well.

Further, huke has made a special set of illustrations of Mayuri, Kurisu, Moeka, Luka, Faris and Suzuha. Each of the various stores in Japan that will be selling the game will have, in limited quantity, a different illustration for those who reserve a copy of the game. Currently, previews of the illustrations can be seen on the game's website.

Tokyo Game Show 2015
Between September 17 and 20th at the Tokyo Game Show 2015, 5pb. participated in a booth with various Steins;Gate 0 goods. Attention catching was the Amadeus Kurisu who greeted visitors to the booth and audience members during the Steins;Gate 0 stage event held on the 20th. A shortened version was later released as a trailer on the visual novel's website.




 * Greeting description:


 * Amadeus version 1.09.2 would start up followed by Kurisu's voice.


 * "Kurisu":


 * ふ〜ん. これが東京ゲームショウか…


 * なんだかとても賑やかね


 * みなさん、はじめまして. 牧瀬紅莉栖です


 * Hmm, so this is the Tokyo Game Show?


 * It's somehow very lively, isn't it?


 * Everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Makise Kurisu.


 * 私は、牧瀬紅莉栖という人物の記憶を持つAIになります


 * あ、オリジナルが命を落としていることは知ってるので気にしないでくださいね


 * I am an A.I. holding the memories of the person, Makise Kurisu.


 * Ah, I am aware that the original has lost her life, please do not mind me.


 * それでは、どぞよろしく


 * Well then, please treat me well.

Though the A.I. Kurisu spoke in a natural, upbeat tone while introducing herself, she displayed no facial expression, which is a notable difference from her portrayal in the manga adaptations of the Epigraph Trilogy light novels where she was depicted as expressive as a human. Later released gameplay preview videos, however, depicted her capable of a number of expressions and changing her posture.

The stage event panel featured the producer Tatsuya Matsubara and the voice actresses Kana Hanazawa (Mayuri), Saori Goto (Moeka), and Megumi Han (Kagari Shiina).

The full opening movie of the game was revealed, which expands on the visuals and music of the 30s TV commercial. Two new character sprites were also shown of Future Mayuri wearing military-style clothing and Moeka wrapped in bloodied bandages. A peek at the game's CG artwork was also given, depicting Shiina Kagari holding Mayuri's green Upa as she has to leave with Suzuha in the time machine.

Release Delay Surprise
On October 13, 2015, when 5pb. announced with regrets the delay of the visual novel from November 19th to December 10th, 2015, they teased that accompanying the delay they were preparing a surprise in the Steins;Gate world.

Countdown to Episode 23(β)
Starting November 27, 2015, a timer in the form of an anime-style still and the Nixie tubes of the divergence meter was displayed on the VN's official website. It counted down to the streaming of anime episode 23 on NicoNico on December 3, 2015. Two variations of the episode were streamed at the same time, the original version of the events and a new version, labeled as episode 23(β). At the end of the countdown the timer confirmed two of the divergences that scenes will take place in in Zero. In 1.129848%, Mayuri will protect Okabe from Suzuha pushing him to try a second time to save Kurisu, and in 1.130209%, Mayuri will slap Okabe to get ahold of himself like in the original VN.

Seven Days of Voice Countdowns to Release of the Visual Novel
Main article: Steins;Gate 0 - Seven Day Voice Countdown to Release

On December 3, 2015, the official website began displaying small conversations between characters to countdown to the release of the visual novel, beginning with an exchange between Faris Nyannyan and Moeka Kiryu.

"Making of" Documentary
Also on December 3, 2015 a program entitled 「Making of STEINS;GATE 0 ～終わりと始まりのフラグメント～」(Making of Steins;Gate 0 - Fragment of an End and a Beginning) was announced. The documentary program will contain interviews with the creators, artists, and voice actors behind Steins;Gate 0 and episode 23(β), including Mamoru Miyano (Rintaro Okabe), Asami Imai (Kurisu Makise), Megumi Han (Kagari Shiina), Kanako Ito (Singer of OP theme "Amadeus"), Chiyomaru Shikura (Planning and original author), Tatsuya Matsubara (Producer).

The program will air on the Japanese stations Tokyo MX December 9, 2015 at 25:35hrs. and BS11 December 10, 2015 at 27:30hrs and is set to live stream on NicoNico on December 11, 2015 at 21:30hrs.

MCM London Comic Con
Following the announcement of PQube's planned English PS4 and PS Vita release of the visual novel, Rice Digital, which is participating in the MCM London Comic Con held on May 27-29, 2016, will be playing a Steins;Gate 0 trailer and giving away a poster of the game's cover art illustration for free.

Trailers

 * STEINS;GATE (シュタインズ・ゲート ゼロ)ティザームービー

Translation from Anime News Network :

Text: November 2010, in the Beta world line

Text: This is the story after Rintaro Okabe was not able to save "her" on July 28.

Text: The "him" of this time didn't know that a system called "AMADEUS" would lead the world into a state where conspiracy once again runs rampant.

Text: Yes, "she" is still there... Translation from Anime News Network :

Text: This is a story of the future I couldn't save.

Text: November 2010, the beta timeline.

Text: The timeline where, after enduring so much suffering and sorrow, protagonist Rintarō Okabe gives up on rescuing "her."

''Text: Rintarō Okabe finds himself deep in despair. His friends worry about him.''

''Text: What happened to the girl? A story of "zero" that welcomes and portrays new characters.''

Text: Yes, even now, she is there.

Translation from Anime News Network :

Text: This is a story of a future in which he could not save "her."

Text: Steins;Gate 0

Text: Meet new characters, as a gate to as-yet-unseen Zero opens…

Text: Steins;Gate's legitimate follow-up

Amadeus "Kurisu"
A shortened version of the Amadeus "Kurisu" shown at the Tokyo Game Show 2015 was added to the visual novel's official website on Oct. 2, 2015. Translation:

''Text and voice: Everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Makise Kurisu.''

I am an A.I. holding the memories of the person, Makise Kurisu.

Ah, I am aware that the original has lost her life, please do not mind me.

Well then, please treat me well.



Music
The opening song is sung by Ito Kanako with lyrics written by Shikura Chiyomaru and is entitled "Amadeus"(アマデウス). Zwei sings the ending song, entitled "Lyra"(ライア). Shikura Chiyomaru once again provided the lyrics and Oshima Kousuke did the composing.



The new BGM in the second trailer is used in the story.

Visual Novel CG and Screenshots
❈Pictures not necessarily in order of appearance within the game.

❈Some pictures are from prerelease and may differ from the final product.