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

The journey to remaster Suikoden 1 and 2 into high-definition glory was a meticulous process that took the developers five years to complete. This article delves into the development journey 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 dedication to creating a faithful remaster of Suikoden 1 and 2 led to a five-year development cycle. In an insightful interview with Dengeki Online on March 4, 2025, the developers behind Suikoden I & II HD Remaster (Suikoden 1 and 2 HDR) shared their commitment to quality. Initially announced in 2022 with a planned release in 2023, the project faced delays and is now set to launch this year.

Game Director Takahiro Sakiyama disclosed that the need for thorough debugging and review at the project's end necessitated the postponement. His colleague, Game Director Tatsuya Ogushi, emphasized the importance of a meticulous 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 pivotal step in the revival of the Suikoden franchise. Producer Rui Naito shared the team's overarching vision, emphasizing the significance of this initial step, "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 elaborated on the importance of a strong start, "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 Konami's plans for expanding the Suikoden universe. Producer Rui Naito described the live event as the second step in the franchise's revival, though he remained uncertain about the total number of steps required to fully restore its prominence.

He explained, "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 adaptation based on the events of Suikoden 2, marking the first anime production by Konami Animation. Additionally, a mobile game titled "Genso Suikoden: STAR LEAP" was introduced. While both projects have released teaser trailers, specific release dates remain undisclosed.

As Konami continues to explore new avenues for the Suikoden franchise, fans can anticipate more projects and events aimed at rekindling interest in this beloved 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 for the latest updates on Suikoden I & II HD Remaster by checking out our dedicated article.