Annapurna Interactive, together with Iridium Studios, has revealed details about the upcoming musical turn-based RPG People of Note. The game will be released in 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The story centers on Cadence, a young pop star who suffers defeat at the prestigious Noteworthy Song Contest. Realizing that solo talent alone isn’t enough, she decides to form a band and embarks on a tour through the fantastical world of Nota. However, a sinister conspiracy brews behind the scenes: dark forces intend to destroy the harmony of this musical world. To save it, Cadence and her allies will not only have to perform on stage but also fight—in battles accompanied by their own songs.
The developers enlisted a truly star-studded cast. Players will recognize the voices of Erica Ishii (known from Ghost of Yōtei), Joe Zieja (from Fire Emblem: Three Houses), Griffin Burns (involved in Genshin Impact), Debra Wilson (worked on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor), and Erika Lindbeck (voicing characters in Persona 5 and Horizon Zero Dawn). The main character, Cadence, is voiced by Heather Gonzalez, while the vocal parts are performed by singer LEXXE. The full cast list can be found on the project’s official Steam page.
Iridium Studios calls People of Note “the first full-fledged musical RPG where the combat system is built on rhythm and harmony.” In the turn-based battles, players will select notes and measures, create musical combinations, strengthen attacks, or harmonize the team with melodies.
People of Note is the spiritual successor to the studio’s previous game Sequence, which already used rhythm mechanics in its combat system. But the new project promises a far more ambitious realization of the concept. Players can look forward to songs recorded with live vocalists, orchestral arrangements, and a visual style inspired by concert performances and 1980s music videos.