"Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster: A 5-Year Journey to Faithfulness"

The journey to bring Suikoden 1 and 2 back to life in stunning HD has been a meticulous five-year endeavor. Dive into the story behind the remaster and discover the future plans 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 delivering a faithful remaster of Suikoden 1 and 2 took the development team a dedicated five years. In a detailed 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 meticulous approach to remastering these beloved classics.

Originally announced in 2022 with a planned release in 2023, the project faced delays, pushing the launch to this year. Suikoden Gensho series IP and Game Director Takahiro Sakiyama explained that the team's relentless debugging efforts uncovered areas needing further refinement, necessitating the delay.

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 cornerstone for reviving the entire Suikoden franchise. Suikoden series Producer Rui Naito outlined their vision, emphasizing the importance of a strong start. He instructed the production staff, "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 stressed the need for a robust foundation, adding, "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 Gensou Suikoden Live event on March 4, 2025, Konami unveiled exciting new projects for the Suikoden universe. Naito described this as the second step in the franchise's revival, though he remained uncertain about the total number of steps needed to fully restore its prominence.

He shared, "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 continued, "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 adaptation focusing on the events of Suikoden 2, marking a first for Konami Animation. Additionally, a new mobile game, "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, aiming to bring the cherished franchise back into the spotlight.

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune & Dunan Unification Wars is set to launch on March 6, 2025, across multiple platforms including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Stay updated with the latest on Suikoden I & II HD Remaster by checking out our comprehensive article below!