Rhapsody in Scarlet Brings Magic and Beasts to 1920s New York on PS5

Konami Digital Entertainment has announced Rhapsody in Scarlet, a new action game for PlayStation 5 revealed during today’s State of Play and State of Play Japan presentations. The game combines magic-wielding combat with beast companions in a jazz-filled 1920s New York setting, emphasizing customizable combo-driven action as its core gameplay mechanic.

What the Announcement Covers

Rhapsody in Scarlet centers on Ellie, a young magus who came to New York to pursue a career as a jazz singer but becomes caught up in a conflict involving a mysterious mafia organization. After a certain incident, she meets Ilya Jones, the leader of the Seekers—a magus organization—and the two form an unlikely partnership despite their opposing values. As they fight together, they uncover a conspiracy threatening to destabilize the world’s balance.

The game’s defining feature is its dynamic action system. Rather than focusing on traditional weapon-based combat, Rhapsody in Scarlet lets players build highly customizable combos by blending Ellie’s magic with commands to her beast companion, Sköll. Combat mixes close-range and long-range attacks, area-of-effect spells, and beast techniques, with players adapting their approach to different enemies and situations.

Ellie is voiced by Cherami Leigh in English and Akari Kito in Japanese. Ilya is voiced by Hannah Grace in English and Saori Onishi in Japanese. Ilya was raised under Harold, her father and head of the Sorcellerie Quarter, and is described as an exceptionally talented magus with a strong sense of responsibility—a contrast to Ellie’s freedom-focused personality.

The setting itself plays a major role in the experience. Konami conducted on-site research to recreate 1920s New York’s architecture, fashion, vehicles, and speakeasies, capturing the era’s rapid technological change and shifting social landscape. The developer blended historical accuracy with fantasy elements like Beasts, magic, and a hidden magical district. Jazz-inspired music ties the swing-filled soundtrack directly to the action, creating what Konami describes as a unified audiovisual experience.

Why This Matters

Action games with magic-based combat systems have carved out their own space in the genre, but Rhapsody in Scarlet’s emphasis on beast summoning and customizable combo-building sets it apart from the melee-focused action titles dominating the market. The 1920s setting is relatively uncommon in action games, and the pairing of historical atmosphere with fantasy magic systems offers a distinctive aesthetic direction.

The game’s dual-protagonist narrative—centered on two characters with fundamentally opposed philosophies who gradually bond through shared struggle—reflects a storytelling approach that values character development alongside action sequences. For PS5 players, this represents a new IP from an established publisher known for its game catalog.

What’s Next

Players can add Rhapsody in Scarlet to their PS5 wishlist starting today. Konami will share additional details in future updates, and the game will be featured in Konami Press Start, a streaming program airing on the publisher’s official YouTube channel on September 3 at 8am PT and September 4 at 12am JST.