The journey to remaster Suikoden 1 and 2 into high-definition glory has been a meticulous process, taking the developers a full five years to ensure a faithful recreation of these classic games. Dive in to discover how the team approached the project and what the future holds for the Suikoden franchise.
Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster’s Development Time Was Longer Than Expected
Developers Wanted To Honor The Originals
The commitment to excellence in remastering Suikoden 1 and 2 stretched the development timeline to five years. In a revealing interview with Dengeki Online on March 4, 2025, the developers behind Suikoden I & II HD Remaster (Suikoden 1 and 2 HDR) shared insights into their painstaking process of recreating these beloved titles.
Initially announced in 2022 with a planned release in 2023, the project faced delays, now set to launch in 2025. Takahiro Sakiyama, the IP and Game Director for the Suikoden Gensho series, explained that extensive debugging towards the end of development led to a necessary review and subsequent postponement.
Tatsuya Ogushi, Game Director for Suikoden 1 and 2 HDR, emphasized a cautious 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 isn't just a standalone project; it's the first stride in breathing new life into the Suikoden franchise. Rui Naito, the Suikoden series Producer, outlined their vision for the franchise's future, emphasizing the importance of a solid foundation.
Naito conveyed 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." He 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 future projects for the Suikoden franchise. Naito described the live event as a crucial second step in the revival process, though he remained uncertain about how many steps would be needed to fully restore the IP to its former glory.
He noted, "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 adaptation of Suikoden 2's storyline, marking the first venture into anime production for Konami Animation. Additionally, a mobile game titled “Genso Suikoden: STAR LEAP” was revealed. Both projects have released teaser trailers, though specific release dates remain undisclosed.
The Suikoden franchise continues to expand with more projects and events on the horizon, as Konami aims to reignite the passion for this cherished series.
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 to our updates for the latest on Suikoden I & II HD Remaster!
