The journey to remaster Suikoden 1 and 2 into high-definition glory took the developers a meticulous five years, driven by a deep commitment to honor the essence of the original games. Dive into the details of how the team approached this ambitious project and what lies ahead for the Suikoden franchise.
Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster’s Development Time Was Longer Than Expected
Developers Wanted To Honor The Originals
The Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster project spanned five years, a testament to the developers' dedication to crafting a remaster that remains true to the beloved classics. In an insightful interview with Dengeki Online on March 4, 2025, the team behind Suikoden I & II HD Remaster (Suikoden 1 and 2 HDR) shared their journey in creating a high-quality remaster.
Initially announced in 2022 with a planned release in 2023, the game faced delays and is now set to launch this year. Takahiro Sakiyama, the IP and Game Director for the Suikoden Gensho series, explained that the need for thorough debugging and review led to the postponement of the original release date.
Tatsuya Ogushi, the Game Director for Suikoden 1 and 2 HDR, elaborated on their approach, stating, "Rather than being bold, we started by grasping the situation. After confirming and discussing with Sakiyama, including the quality line, it became clear that there were many areas that needed to be worked on, and that we needed to deal with them firmly."
Reviving the Series
The remaster is not merely a standalone project but a crucial first step in the revival of the Suikoden franchise. Rui Naito, the Suikoden series Producer, outlined their vision for the future, emphasizing the importance of a solid foundation. He communicated to the production team, "The most important thing was that this was the first step in reviving the Suikoden IP, so we needed to make sure we didn't stumble here. So, ‘make it solid’ is the basic order." Naito further stressed, "In the case of Suikoden I&II HDR, I told Sakiyama and his colleagues to ‘make something solid’ because if we put out a half-baked work at the starting point that will be the flow of reviving the series, it will end here."
Gensou Suikoden Live Revealed New Anime, Mobile Game, and More
During the recent Gensou Suikoden Live event on March 4, 2025, Konami unveiled exciting new projects aimed at revitalizing the Suikoden IP. Naito described the live event as the second step in this revival process, though he remained uncertain about the total number of steps needed to fully bring back the franchise.
He highlighted their ongoing efforts, saying, "For this reason, we have been reworking Suikoden I & II HDR and pursuing a strong commitment to the upcoming mobile Suikoden STAR LEAP and Suikoden II anime." Naito added, "After we have been able to deliver this accumulation well, I think we will be able to think about what to do next."
Konami also announced "Suikoden: The Anime," an anime adaptation based on the events of Suikoden 2, marking a first for Konami Animation. Additionally, a new mobile game titled "Genso Suikoden: STAR LEAP" was revealed. Both projects have released teaser trailers, though specific release dates remain undisclosed.
As Konami continues to expand the Suikoden universe, more projects and events are in the pipeline, signaling a bright future for this cherished franchise.
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune & Dunan Unification Wars is scheduled for release on March 6, 2025, across multiple platforms including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Stay tuned for the latest updates on Suikoden I & II HD Remaster by checking out our dedicated article below!
