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

The journey to remaster Suikoden 1 and 2 into high-definition glory spanned five years, reflecting the developers' dedication to creating a remaster that honors the essence of the original games. Dive into the details of how the team approached this 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 Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster project took a meticulous five years to complete, as the developers were determined to produce a remaster that stayed true to the originals. 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 crafting this high-quality remaster.

Initially announced in 2022 with a planned release in 2023, the project faced delays and is now set to launch this year. Suikoden Gensho series IP and Game Director Takahiro Sakiyama 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, emphasized the team's 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 just a standalone project but a crucial first step in reviving the Suikoden franchise. Suikoden series Producer Rui Naito outlined their vision for the franchise's future, emphasizing the importance of a solid foundation.

Naito communicated this vision to the production team, saying, "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

The recent Gensou Suikoden Live event on March 4, 2025, unveiled exciting new projects for the Suikoden franchise. Producer Rui Naito described the live event as the second step in the IP's revival, though he remained uncertain about the total number of steps needed to fully bring back the series.

He elaborated, "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 the events of Suikoden 2, marking the first project for Konami Animation. Additionally, a new mobile game titled "Genso Suikoden: STAR LEAP" was revealed. Both projects have released teaser trailers, though official release dates are yet to be announced.

Konami is actively working on more projects and events to rejuvenate the Suikoden franchise and bring it back into 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 updated with the latest news on Suikoden I & II HD Remaster by checking out our dedicated article below!