Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy is regarded as one of the great works of Italian literature. The book is currently out of stock in Japan – due to an event in Fate Grand/Order.
What similarities exist between gacha games and classical literature? At first glance, perhaps little. However, in Japan, the works of classical authors frequently see a rise in popularity thanks to a particular mobile game.
This refers to Fate/Grand Order, one of the most popular mobile games in Japan. The free-to-play game is set in the Fate/stay night universe, which was created by game developer Type-Moon, known in this country for various successful anime adaptations. The narrative aspect of Fate/Grand Order is presented in a visual novel style, while the combat occurs in a turn-based strategy format.
A current event in the mobile game has resulted in The Divine Comedy, an Italian classic authored by the famed poet Dante Alighieri, being sold out in numerous bookstores in Japan (see embedded tweet). In this book, the author narrates a journey through the nine circles of hell from a first-person viewpoint.
Important news: Due to limited inventory, we have opted to reprint the complete edition of Dante’s Divine Comedy as soon as feasible. Demand is 130 percent greater than last year, likely linked to Fate/Grand Order. The reprint is expected to be available in mid-June.
In March, the author was first introduced as a playable character during a smaller event. The latest storyline update for Fate/Grand Order is now fully centered around the nine circles of hell, offering players Dante Alighieri as a companion.
Players who wish to grasp the new narrative and all its references to the literary source material must obtain a copy of The Divine Comedy and read it personally. With FGO being immensely popular in Japan, the update is now significantly influencing sales of this 14th-century Italian classic.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first occasion fans of Fate have created a surge at Japanese bookstores. The lore of the Fate universe is deemed quite intricate, and awareness of classic European literature is not widespread in Japan.
To date, Fate/Grand Order has adapted The Phantom of the Opera, The Count of Monte Cristo, and the stories of Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, among others.
The fact that a mobile game has triggered an ancient book to sell out is eliciting amusement online. On Reddit, one user comments: “Gacha is compelling people to purchase and read classic literature? Finally, something about gacha that I can endorse.”
However, Fate/Grand Order isn’t merely a stroke of luck for literature. The mobile game has generated its publisher Aniplex and parent company Sony revenues of US$7 billion through September 2023. The game has also been available in the German App Store since August 2022.
Have you had any experiences with gacha games like Fate/Grand Order? Are you enthusiasts of the Fate anime adaptations? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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