Expelled from Paradise fans, we finally have a clearer look at the franchise’s next game — and good news, this one is not locked behind Japan-only vibes.
Toei Animation has revealed that its upcoming game with developer Studio51 Inc. is officially titled Expelled from Paradise -The Stellar Angel-. The game is being made as a visual novel, and it is currently planned for a winter 2026 release on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
Most importantly for us in Malaysia and the wider SEA region: the game will support English and Japanese. That is a big deal, especially for visual novels where the whole experience depends on reading, tone, and story details. No need to wait and pray for a fan patch, bro.
Why this matters for SEA fans
Expelled from Paradise has always sat in that interesting space between anime movie, sci-fi action, and hardcore otaku recommendation. It is not the biggest mainstream title here compared to Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen, but among anime fans who like Gen Urobuchi-style sci-fi and cyberpunk-flavoured stories, it has a proper cult following.
A Steam release also makes this much easier for Malaysian players to access compared to niche console-only anime games. If the pricing lands properly in RM, this could be an easy pickup for fans who want a story-heavy anime game without importing anything. Switch owners also get a portable option, which suits visual novels nicely — very lepak-on-the-bed energy.
Toei Animation is publishing the game, while Studio51 Inc. is developing it. For now, the key confirmed details are the title, platforms, release window, and language support. No local pricing, exact release date, or SEA-specific preorder details have been announced yet.
The anime side is also moving
The game reveal comes as the Expelled from Paradise franchise is already preparing for its anime comeback.
A new feature-length sequel film titled Rakuen Tsuihō -Expelled from Paradise- Kokoro no Resonance — also translated as Heart’s Resonance — is scheduled to open in Japan on November 13. Earlier announcements had used the title Rakuen Tsuihō: Liberated from Paradise, but the newer title branding now points to Kokoro no Resonance.
The sequel is bringing back the core creative team from the original movie, which is probably the biggest reason longtime fans should pay attention. Seiji Mizushima returns as director, Gen Urobuchi of Nitroplus is back on script, Masatsugu Saitō returns for character design, and NARASAKI is composing the music. Toei Animation is again handling the animation production.
That staff lineup matters. Urobuchi’s name alone tells you this probably will not be some soft, disposable cash-in. The original film had a very specific flavour: glossy sci-fi visuals, virtual-world themes, and big philosophical questions wrapped inside action anime packaging.
A franchise with real history
The first Expelled from Paradise film debuted in Japan back in November 2014 across 13 cinemas and sold 110,000 tickets. Its Japanese Blu-ray and DVD release later moved more than 70,000 copies, which is strong for a theatrical anime project of that size.
It also picked up the Best Animation of the Year Award at the 24th Japan Movie Critics Awards in May 2015.
Outside Japan, Aniplex of America screened the movie in 15 cinemas in the United States in December 2014, before releasing it on Blu-ray across North, Central, and South America in June 2015. More recently, the film returned to Japanese cinemas in November 2024 as Expelled from Paradise -Impelled by 10th Anniversary-, a 4K anniversary screening celebrating 10 years of the franchise.
So yes, this visual novel is not coming out of nowhere. With a sequel film on the way and an English-supported game arriving on Switch and Steam, Expelled from Paradise looks like it is gearing up for a proper second wave.
For Malaysian anime fans who missed the original back in the day, now is probably the right time to catch up before 2026 hits.
Source: Anime News Network