Rhapsody in Scarlet Revealed for PS5, Xbox and PC With Magic, Beasts and 1920s New York Setting

Konami Announces Rhapsody in Scarlet, a Stylish Action Adventure Where Jazz, Magic and Beast Combat Collide

The game was announced during the September 3, 2026 PlayStation State of Play and State of Play Japan presentations. Konami describes it as a story-driven action adventure built around fast combat, customizable combinations of magic abilities and powerful beasts.

Rhapsody in Scarlet takes players to 1920s New York, where skyscrapers, automobiles, jazz clubs and Prohibition-era nightlife provide the backdrop for a secret conflict involving people who can use magick.

Players take control of Ellie Myers, a young magus who arrives in New York with a very different dream. She wants to become a jazz singer.

Instead, she becomes involved in a mysterious conspiracy connected to a mafia organization and an elite group of magi known as the Seekers.

The game is currently confirmed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. Konami has not announced a release date yet.

Rhapsody in Scarlet Announcement

Konami officially announced Rhapsody in Scarlet on September 3, 2026.

The announcement included an initial trailer showing the game's combat and visual style, followed by a story trailer introducing Ellie, Ilya and the central conflict.

The announcement is notable because Rhapsody in Scarlet is a completely new IP rather than another entry in one of Konami's established franchises.

That makes the project particularly interesting.

Konami is already known for major series such as Metal Gear, Silent Hill and Castlevania, but Rhapsody in Scarlet is attempting to create a new identity around a very different combination of ideas.

The game's official tagline and presentation focus heavily on the relationship between magick, beasts and music.

A 1920s New York Unlike Anything Else

The setting may be Rhapsody in Scarlet's biggest selling point.

The game recreates New York during the 1920s, a period associated with jazz, Prohibition, rapidly expanding cities, new automobiles and major social changes.

Konami says the development team researched architecture, fashion, vehicles and nightlife from the period to build the game's world.

But this is not intended to be a realistic historical recreation.

The developers have added an entire supernatural layer beneath the historical setting.

Magic users operate secretly within the city.

Mystical beasts exist alongside ordinary people.

And an underground conflict is threatening to break through the glamorous surface of New York.

The result is a world where jazz clubs and skyscrapers can exist alongside magical battles and supernatural creatures.

Who Is Ellie Myers?

Ellie Myers is the protagonist of Rhapsody in Scarlet.

She is a young magus who travels to New York because she wants to pursue a career as a jazz singer.

Ellie values freedom and does not like being controlled by authority.

That personality becomes particularly important when she encounters the Seekers, an organization with its own rules and hierarchy.

Ellie is voiced by Cherami Leigh in English and Akari Kito in Japanese.

Her primary beast companion is Sköll, which fights alongside her and allows Ellie to combine magical powers with beast abilities.

This relationship appears to be central to both the game's story and combat system.

Ilya Jones Is Ellie’s Opposite

Another major character is Ilya Jones, the young leader of the Seekers.

Ilya is highly skilled and carries a strong sense of responsibility.

Unlike Ellie, she values order and structure.

That immediately creates friction between the two characters.

Ellie is independent and dislikes rules.

Ilya has been raised to respect responsibility and authority.

The two repeatedly clash, but their relationship gradually develops as they fight together and investigate the conspiracy surrounding the mysterious mafia organization.

Ilya is voiced by Hannah Grace in English and Saori Onishi in Japanese.

The contrast between Ellie and Ilya appears to be an important part of the game's narrative.

Rhapsody in Scarlet Combat Explained

Combat is designed around combinations rather than simply using one weapon repeatedly.

Ellie can combine magic with beast abilities to create different attack sequences.

The game supports:

Close-range attacks
Long-range attacks
Area-of-effect magic
Beast techniques
Switchable beast abilities
Customizable combinations
Battlefield control

Konami says players can adapt their combinations to different enemies and situations.

That suggests combat will reward experimentation rather than forcing every player into one optimal strategy.

A player might prefer close-range attacks and aggressive beast techniques.

Another player could build around ranged magic and area attacks.

The ability to switch between beasts should also allow players to react to different combat situations.

The Beast System Could Be the Game’s Biggest Mechanic

The relationship between Ellie and her beasts is more than a visual feature.

Beasts appear to function as an important part of the player's combat toolkit.

Ellie can command her companions while using her own magick, allowing attacks from different ranges to be combined.

This creates the possibility of chaining several abilities together.

For example, players may be able to begin an encounter with a long-range magical attack, switch into a beast technique and then finish with a close-range combo.

The official material does not yet reveal the complete list of beasts or abilities, so the full depth of the system remains unknown.

However, Konami has clearly positioned this mechanic as one of the game's defining features.

The Story Revolves Around a Hidden Mafia Conspiracy

Rhapsody in Scarlet begins with Ellie pursuing her dream of becoming a jazz singer.

That dream quickly changes after she becomes involved in an unexpected incident.

She meets Ilya and becomes connected to the Seekers.

The investigation eventually leads the pair toward a mysterious mafia organization operating behind New York's glamorous surface.

What initially appears to be a conflict between different groups of magi gradually develops into something much larger.

Konami says Ellie and Ilya eventually face a battle capable of threatening the balance of the entire world.

That gives the game a much larger story than its 1920s setting might initially suggest.

Jazz Is Part of the Game’s Identity

Music is not simply background decoration in Rhapsody in Scarlet.

Jazz is closely connected to the game's identity.

Konami says the soundtrack is inspired by the sounds of the 1920s and is designed to blend the energy of jazz with the game's action.

The opening theme is called “Cool/Hot” and features Emi Meyer alongside the Japanese jazz group SOIL & “PIMP” SESSIONS.

This is an unusual choice for an action game.

Instead of relying entirely on orchestral fantasy music, Rhapsody in Scarlet is using jazz to create a distinct atmosphere.

That could help separate it from other supernatural action games.

Historical Details Meet Fantasy

One of the most interesting aspects of the project is the way Konami is combining real historical influences with fictional fantasy.

The developers researched:

1920s architecture
Period automobiles
Fashion
New York nightlife
Prohibition-era locations
Jazz culture

They then placed magic users and supernatural beasts inside that environment.

This creates a world where the player can move through recognizable historical influences while discovering a completely fictional magical society hidden underneath.

Rhapsody in Scarlet Platforms

Konami has confirmed three platforms:

PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S
PC via Steam

The official game website and Konami announcement both list these platforms.

The game is currently described as a single-player experience.

There is no confirmed Nintendo Switch 2 version at this time.

There is also no announced release date.

Konami is currently allowing players to wishlist the game while development continues.

Is Rhapsody in Scarlet Open World?

Konami has not described Rhapsody in Scarlet as an open-world game.

The currently confirmed information focuses on action combat, story progression, characters and its 1920s New York setting.

Therefore, players should not assume that the game will offer a fully open-world version of New York.

The city could contain explorable areas and interconnected locations, but the exact structure has not yet been revealed.

More gameplay information should clarify this later.

What Makes Rhapsody in Scarlet Different?

The game has several elements that immediately distinguish it.

First, the setting is unusual.

1920s New York is rarely used as the foundation for a large supernatural action game.

Second, the combat system combines magic and beast abilities instead of relying on conventional weapons.

Third, jazz is integrated into the game's identity.

Fourth, the story combines a hidden magical society with a mysterious mafia conspiracy.

And finally, Ellie and Ilya provide a character dynamic built around freedom versus order.

Together, these elements give Rhapsody in Scarlet a recognizable identity before Konami has even announced its release date.

What We Know About the Characters

Currently confirmed characters include:

Ellie Myers

The protagonist and a young magus who travels to New York to pursue jazz singing. She fights alongside Sköll and uses a combination of magic and beast abilities.

Ilya Jones

The young leader of the Seekers. She is disciplined, talented and strongly committed to maintaining order.

Sköll

Ellie's beast companion and an important part of her combat system.

Konami has indicated that additional characters will be revealed later.

Rhapsody in Scarlet Release Date

There is currently no confirmed release date for Rhapsody in Scarlet.

Konami's official information lists the release date as to be announced.

This means players should ignore unofficial claims suggesting a specific launch month or year beyond what Konami has confirmed.

The game is still in development, and the official website currently encourages players to wishlist it.

What Could Be Revealed Next?

The first announcement provides only an introduction to the game's world.

Future reveals could provide much more information about the combat system, beast roster, magical abilities, additional characters and the structure of New York.

Konami may also reveal more about the mafia organization and the Seekers.

A release date announcement will likely arrive later once the developer is ready to establish a launch window.

For now, the game's first trailers are primarily designed to establish its identity.

Confirmed Information

The following details have been officially confirmed:

Rhapsody in Scarlet is a new Konami action-adventure game.
It was announced on September 3, 2026.
The game is set in 1920s New York.
Jazz is a major part of the game's atmosphere.
Ellie Myers is the protagonist.
Ellie is a young magus.
Ellie wants to become a jazz singer.
Ellie fights alongside the beast Sköll.
Players combine magic and beast abilities.
Combat supports close-range and long-range attacks.
Area-of-effect abilities are available.
Players can switch between beasts.
Ilya Jones is the leader of the Seekers.
Ellie and Ilya have contrasting personalities.
A mysterious mafia organization is central to the story.
The game is single-player.
PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam are confirmed.
The release date has not been announced.
The game is currently available to wishlist.

Rumors and Speculation

Konami has not confirmed a specific release date.

The developer has also not revealed the complete roster of beasts, the full list of magical abilities or the total number of playable characters.

There is currently no confirmed Nintendo Switch 2 release.

The exact structure of the game's New York environment is also unknown, so claims that it will be a fully open-world game should be treated as speculation.

Why Rhapsody in Scarlet Could Become a Major New IP

The biggest challenge for Rhapsody in Scarlet will be turning its unusual concept into a strong gameplay experience.

The setting alone is not enough.

The magic and beast systems need to provide satisfying combat.

The relationship between Ellie and Ilya needs to develop naturally.

And the 1920s New York setting needs to feel like more than a visual theme.

The early reveal is promising because Konami has clearly connected the game's major elements.

The jazz influences are tied to the setting.

The magic system is connected to the beasts.

The characters are connected to the central conflict.

And the historical environment provides the foundation for the fantasy story.

If these systems work together effectively, Rhapsody in Scarlet could become one of Konami's most distinctive new projects.

Conclusion

Rhapsody in Scarlet is one of the more unusual new games revealed during September's State of Play events.

Instead of another conventional fantasy world, Konami is taking players to 1920s New York and filling its jazz clubs, skyscrapers and streets with hidden magick, supernatural beasts and secret organizations.

Ellie Myers sits at the center of the story.

She arrives in New York hoping to become a jazz singer but becomes involved in a dangerous conspiracy involving the Seekers and a mysterious mafia.

The combat system could be the game's biggest attraction, allowing players to combine Ellie’s magick with beast abilities to create customizable attacks.

The project is currently confirmed for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam.

There is no release date yet, but Konami has already opened wishlists and promised more information in the future.

For now, Rhapsody in Scarlet deserves attention because it is attempting something different.

If Konami can successfully combine its stylish combat, supernatural world, jazz-inspired atmosphere and character-driven story, this new IP could become a standout action game when it eventually launches.