The journey to bring Suikoden 1 and 2 to modern audiences through the HD Remaster has been a meticulous five-year endeavor. This article delves into the developers' dedication to preserving the essence of the original games and outlines the future prospects 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 took five years to complete, reflecting the developers' commitment to delivering a remaster that honors the originals. In a recent interview with Dengeki Online on March 4, 2025, the developers of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster (Suikoden 1 and 2 HDR) shared insights into their painstaking process of crafting a high-quality remaster.
Initially announced in 2022 with a planned release in 2023, the game's launch was delayed to ensure its quality. Suikoden Gensho series IP and Game Director Takahiro Sakiyama explained that the need for thorough debugging and review led to the postponement. Suikoden 1 and 2 HDR Game Director Tatsuya Ogushi emphasized 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 step in revitalizing the Suikoden franchise. Suikoden series Producer Rui Naito outlined their vision, emphasizing the importance of a solid foundation for future endeavors. He stated, "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 added, "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
At the Gensou Suikoden Live event on March 4, 2025, Konami unveiled several exciting projects aimed at reviving the Suikoden IP. Naito described the event as the second step in this revival process, though he remains uncertain about the number of steps needed to fully bring back the franchise.
He highlighted ongoing efforts, stating, "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 announced "Suikoden: The Anime," an anime adaptation based on Suikoden 2, marking a first for Konami Animation. Additionally, a mobile game titled "Genso Suikoden: STAR LEAP" was revealed. Both projects have teaser trailers available, though no official release dates have been announced yet.
The Suikoden franchise is poised for a robust revival, with more projects and events planned to keep the beloved IP in the spotlight.
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 article below!
