八咫烏 Merui@yatagarasu_meru
A Letter from the Reverse: 1999 Development Team
Dear Timekeeper:
The content of this letter contains spoilers. It is recommended that you read it after completing the Version 3.7 story.
Recently, we have been carefully following the discussions and questions regarding Rhiannon and Merel. Previously, as the Version 3.7 story had not yet been fully presented, it was not appropriate for us to clarify our intentions and considerations through early spoilers. Now, with Version 3.7 officially released, many Timekeepers have already begun experiencing the story. At this point, the development team has some heartfelt words to share with everyone who has accompanied us along the way.
We understand that every character and every story carries unique weight in your hearts. Merel's story holds the expectations and emotions of many Timekeepers. Your discussions and questions are valuable feedback to us, and they drive us to continuously reflect and improve.
Merel was first conceived at the beginning of 2025 and met everyone in Version 2.8. In her first appearance, she was a young guard who faced a cruel world with a straightforward personality. Though timid at heart, she still fulfilled her duties as a guard.
A few quiet complaints, moments of secretly slacking off, and her love for chocolate-flavored rations—these small details formed everyone's first impression of Merel.
Throughout the entire 3.0 series, we walked a long journey with her and witnessed her growth together—a student of the SPDM who longed for an ordinary life, a guard adventuring in the Antarctic snowfields, a deserter fleeing the front lines after experiencing the brutality of war, and an operative who learned to stand on her own during the war on the steppes… Merel's character arc was a seed we quietly planted at the very beginning of the 3.0 series. This seed accompanied us throughout the main storyline. Through meeting different people and enduring unexpected trials, she grew within the story. Her traits, together with everyone's love, shaped a more vivid Merel—one you could truly be proud of.
Yet, the tragedies beneath the "Storm" have never ceased. Various factions have turned the "Storm" into a testing ground for their struggles. Beyond the "Storm," battlefields like relentless meat grinders have mercilessly crushed countless peaceful lives. Pushed forward by these unseen tragedies, everyone longs to return to better times—Merel did too. But in the end, she chose to leave the hope of survival to those around her. Because of this, we also find it difficult to stay calm in the face of her "exit."
In this "Storm," Merel has completed her journey of growth. We feel regret over both her birth and her departure, and we understand the disappointment and dissatisfaction many of you feel. Merel was never created for the sake of "sacrifice." Her growth and transformation, as well as the courage and resolve she displayed in facing the "Storm," have not only moved us but also deeply shaped the course of the story, becoming an irreplaceable force in the narrative direction of the entire 3.0 series.
Throughout the 3.0 series, many previously unrevealed aspects of the worldbuilding have gradually been unveiled. At the end of Version 3.7, as Merel disappears into the rain curtain, Vertin follows a golden thread to find Rhiannon. This encounter is a key clue in advancing the exploration of the truth behind the "Storm." In fact, the truth of the "Storm" had long been foreshadowed. Together with everyone, we stood before the stage of the rain curtain, experienced a "reunion" with Mr. Duncan, and witnessed the dialogue between Hummingbird and Ramona. Each transformation of the rain curtain stage seems to signal a curtain call, yet we have always respected every character upon that stage.
Rhiannon was not created to dilute or overwrite Merel's presence and arc, nor to present a "better if-line Merel." She represents a hope we wish to share with everyone. Like Merel, she searches for herself beneath the rain curtain—a young, adorable yet somewhat clumsy genius Arcanist. She has cast aside the burdens of self-doubt and the need for validation, growing into the familiar yet unfamiliar "companion" she is today. In the many stories yet to be unveiled, she will surely have her own place.
As we write these words, we also understand that not every player can accept Merel's "departure" at the end of the 3.0 series. Here, we would like to sincerely apologize for some of our previous inappropriate expressions. We fully acknowledge your criticism and suggestions, and we will be more cautious in our narrative design moving forward.
At the same time, we have noticed concerns regarding the future direction of the game, with some worrying that we may deviate from our original vision. Please trust that "Reverse: 1999" was born from the development team's genuine love for retro trends, arcane studies, and human history. The lives of people beneath the "Storm" will always remain one of the most important foundations of the game's storytelling. Through portraying diverse individuals, we hope to present more complex and evocative eras and stories—like scenes from films: from the banquets of elites to the daily lives of ordinary people, from technological explosions to myths and legends, from arcane creatures to even the arrival of extraterrestrial civilizations.
In the upcoming 4.0 series, the perspective of cultural exploration will shift toward British legends and ancient myths—fields we have yet to deeply explore. In our longer-term plans, we are ready to introduce more new maps, characters, and factions, while familiar old friends will continue to journey alongside you.
This path—we have never forgotten the direction we set out with. The most important foundation of "Reverse: 1999" has always been good content. We believe that only by consistently delivering warm, high-quality versions and stories can we live up to your support and expectations. Thank you once again for your supervision and understanding. The road ahead is long, and we hope to continue this journey together with all Timekeepers, protecting this enduring adventure.
—Reverse: 1999 Development Team
