"Where Does the Cuteness of 'Azur Promilia' Come From? A Visit to Manjuu Games"

Visiting Manjuu Games, the Home of Azur Lane and Azur Promilia

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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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Shanghai Putuo Information Industry Park. Until the early 2020s, this name was likely familiar to many. It was a hub where several Chinese gaming companies gathered, including miHoYo before the launch of the HoYoverse brand and Hypergryph, the developer of Arknights. While some of those companies have since moved elsewhere to accommodate their growth, others have stayed and expanded within the park. Manjuu Games was one of the latter.

After achieving sensational popularity in Japan and China with Azur Lane, Manjuu Games unveiled its new title, 'Azur Promilia,' back in 2024. By seamlessly translating the character design sensibilities carried over from Azur Lane into 3D, and presenting a wondrous world where characters coexist with adorable creatures known as 'Kibos', Azur Promilia emerged as one of the most anticipated next-generation open-world games. With a recent publishing agreement with Nexon and a domestic CBT, Azur Promilia is drawing closer to Korean players. We paid a direct visit to the headquarters of Manjuu Games, where the game is being developed.

아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
The Putuo Industry Park on a gloomy day in the aftermath of Typhoon Bavi ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
While many of the companies that were based here moved elsewhere, Manjuu Games remains ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Blurring faces was required, but it was surprising they allowed photos of the actual development floor ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
A dining table where developers can enjoy meals alongside Cabbirds ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Snacks of all kinds are an essential part of development ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Not just microwaves, but air fryers and even egg steamers? ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
True to Manjuu, a studio that has mastered cute character design since Azur Lane ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Stepping deeper into the dining area ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Various facilities, including a recording studio, are located here. Other areas were in use and could not be photographed ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Developers hard at work on another floor ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Curtains were set up in various spots, which turned out to be shoe racks when asked ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Tatami mats in the lounge area—an essential requirement for anime game developers (?) ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Development power stems from snacks ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
And proof once again that Chinese game studios = cat lovers ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
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아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Cuteness that needs no further explanation. The only regret was not being able to take more photos to avoid disturbing the cat ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
In addition to the lounge, sofas are placed in spare hallway spaces to provide areas to relax ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Taking it a step further with capsule-style sleeping pods? ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Cozy and clearly well-used, sleeping pods are a developer's best friend (?) ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Concluding today's tour after capturing a staple of Chinese studios: delivery food pickup trays ©INVEN
아주르 프로밀리아 Azur Promilia
Manjuu Games adds cuteness all the way to the exit, building anticipation for Azur Promilia and the expertise behind it ©INVEN
This article was originally written in Korean and translated with the help of AI. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. [Read Original]