Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a special live stream dedicated entirely to the beloved Suikoden series. The franchise hasn't seen a new entry since a Japan-only side story released over a decade ago for the PSP, so the anticipation around this event was palpable. The announcements, however, stirred a mix of emotions among the community. Fans were thrilled to learn about a new Suikoden anime, tentatively titled "Suikoden: The Anime," which will be based on the storyline of Suikoden 2. This marks the first production from Konami Animation. Although details on the anime's appearance and international availability are scarce, a brief scenery clip was shared:
This news is particularly exciting for long-time Suikoden enthusiasts and could serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers, provided the anime becomes widely accessible.
The second major reveal, however, left fans with mixed feelings. A new game, "Suikoden Star Leap," was announced, boasting stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler's 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds. Set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, Star Leap retains the series' signature feature of 108 characters. Despite its visual appeal and narrative promise, the game is slated for a mobile-only release, which might not sit well with all fans. Moreover, the inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization strategies has raised concerns, especially for a series traditionally known for its premium console and PC releases. The community will have to wait and see how these monetization decisions impact the gameplay and the ability to collect all 108 characters.
In the meantime, Suikoden fans have something to look forward to with the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the form of "Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars." A new trailer for this collection was showcased during the live event, and it's set to launch tomorrow, March 6.
