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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

As the release of Suikoden I&II HD Remaster on March 6 approaches, Konami has announced a brand-new game in the long-running Suikoden series. Set to release on iOS and Android, Suikoden STAR LEAP is the franchise’s first mobile RPG.

While many fans were happy to see Suikoden getting a new entry after all these years, some seemed disappointed to find out that it’s a F2P mobile game. However, Star Leap’s creators emphasize that the game is being designed to play like a fusion of mobile and console gaming.

Talking to Famitsu in a recent interview, Suikoden Star Leap’s producer Shinya Fujimatsu and director Yoshiki Takeyama provided some insights into the new game. Fujimatsu mentions that Star Leap’s development is being supervised by Konami’s Takahiro Sakiyama, who has been the director of the Suikoden IP since 2003’s Suikoden V.

Commenting on Konami’s choice to add a mobile game to the Suikoden franchise’s repertoire, Fujimatsu says “we want as many people as possible to come in contact with the series, so we chose to make a mobile game as it is the most accessible platform.” On the other hand, he stresses that since the goal is to attract new users to the IP, the developers are making sure Star Leap inherits “the soul” of Suikoden and are working on it with the mindset of making a new numbered entry.

This includes incorporating the series’ balance of light and serious themes, the tempo of its battles, and careful depiction of the new 108 stars (recruitable characters) and their relationships.

Another key point of Star Leap’s development, according to Fujimatsu, is the fusion of mobile and console gaming. The development team’s goal is to deliver visuals, sounds and a story comparable to that of console games, but paired with the accessibility of mobile titles. Another element of mobile gaming to be incorporated into Star Leap is collecting characters though a gacha system and adding them to your party. You will be able to form a party with characters from different eras, giving the game an “all-star” feel.

As Star Leap is being treated as a full-fledged new installment to the series, its events will be part of the Suikoden series’ official history. Its story will begin two years before the events of Suikoden I, but will take players through various eras as they progress in the game, making Star Leap both a prequel and a sequel to titles I through V.

Suikoden STAR LEAP is currently in development for iOS and Android. The release date is TBA.

Suikoden series’ upcoming mobile RPG Star Leap is being designed to offer a console game-like experience, devs say - AUTOMATON WEST

Suikoden Star Leap’s producer Shinya Fujimatsu and director Yoshiki Takeyama talk about the "console game-like" design of the mobile RPG.

automaton-media.com

 

[Scrawnton]

Then put it on console?

 

[Oberstein]

Then put it on console?

 

[Davevil]

Then put it on console?

 

[tamago84]

108 stars of gacha

 

[anyasok]

Then they should have made a non-gacha game. Otherwise, it will be probably end of service in a year or so.
Typical greed and short-sightedness

 

[saintjules]

This brings me back to a question I once had when I saw SaGa games going to mobile.

What is the mindset of developers when they know they have fans of a franchise playing their games mostly on Console and then they put a new installment on a device like mobile? Especially when the franchise has never really been on there to begin with?

Generally with other developers who make this choice, is the assumption that people will follow the franchise wherever it goes to play their games? It seems like alienating part of a fanbase who don't play mobile games. I'd assume they must have the stats to know where their fanbase is. It's an interesting thought not to make it multiplat.

I mean it looks good for what it is, but playing on mobile is just something I could never get into.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Btw, not even the users on /r/gachagaming are happy with this news.

 

[sigmaZ]

 

[Revolutionary]

#FuckKonami, forever and always

 

[lh032]

console like experience on mobile phone?

Which market they try to cater to? LOL

 

[IAmRei]

nay, i dont want to play if it's mobile

 

[Utamaru1706]

This brings me back to a question I once had when I saw SaGa games going to mobile.

What is the mindset of developers when they know they have fans of a franchise playing their games mostly on Console and then they put a new installment on a device like mobile? Especially when the franchise has never really been on there to begin with?

Generally with other developers who make this choice, is the assumption that people will follow the franchise wherever it goes to play their games? It seems like alienating part of a fanbase who don't play mobile games. I'd assume they must have the stats to know where their fanbase is. It's an interesting thought not to make it multiplat.

I mean it looks good for what it is, but playing on mobile is just something I could never get into.

It's because mobile platform is currently have the biggest share compared to consoles and PC combined, and Konami is clearly want to expand the franchise in order to get new players, hence the decision to go free-to-play, since it completely eliminates the initial costs required to play the game, which is the biggest barrier for many people to play a game.

Besides, Konami seemed trying to follow other similar mobile games like Genshin, Honkai Star Rail, ZZZ, or Heaven Burns Red, where these games have console-tier quality + free-to-play, and some even scored big.

The problem now is how Konami monetized the game, in which Japanese games are sometime notorious for their cash grabs, and how they handles the game's updates, since games from Hoyoverse usually have 6 weeks time between patches, some of them even includes new areas, and they also have a huge update every year that introduces new region, which greatly expands the game.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

This looks like an snes or 2010 mobile game. They should have had a look at the present ones.

 

[Pallas]

This brings me back to a question I once had when I saw SaGa games going to mobile.

What is the mindset of developers when they know they have fans of a franchise playing their games mostly on Console and then they put a new installment on a device like mobile? Especially when the franchise has never really been on there to begin with?

Generally with other developers who make this choice, is the assumption that people will follow the franchise wherever it goes to play their games? It seems like alienating part of a fanbase who don't play mobile games. I'd assume they must have the stats to know where their fanbase is. It's an interesting thought not to make it multiplat.

I mean it looks good for what it is, but playing on mobile is just something I could never get into.

Thought crossed my mind as well. I think this is more or less an attempt to draw new players to the series. Suikoden does need more exposure, mobile is the best way to do that. As far as the gacha stuff, from what I’ve read it’ll have 108 stars of Destiny like the other games and are recruitable like you would in the other games. I think the gacha stuff is for characters outside the 108 stars I’m guessing, costumes, and I would not be shocked if they do something similar to Re:Universe SaGa game and add motifs or styles.

I could see that being attached to gacha. Micro transactions from the game could also be used to help fund future remasters of the other games or maybe a new installment on consoles.

But who knows. I’ll check it out if it goes global(would be dumb if it didn’t), I need a replacement for SaGa Re:universe anyway.

Also I saw this posted on Facebook. Idk if it’s official l Konami or some fan made it.

 

[diffusionx]

And now we know why Suikoden I+II took so long to release.

 

[The Lunch Legend]

Alabama

 

[Evil Calvin]

I've downloaded a lot of mobile games. I don't like them.

If they are free then there are a ton of ads, microtransactions.......or gated in order to continue

If they are a paid game, the controls are usually shit.

Everyone chasing that Candy Crush money I guess (or Fortnite and COD mobile I guess).

 

[Sooner]

Then put it on console?

They mean console experience that is cheap or free to start, but cost $6,324 to finish within a reasonable amount of time.

It takes a very stupid type of gamer to appreciate that pricing model, one that you don't often find on consoles.

 

[RuneFactoryFanboy]

Who's it being developed by? Konami internal teams or some external mobile-only studio? That is typically a big indicator of what this was intended to be.

We have seen this story way too many times. Remember when Another Eden supposed to be a console quality game to rival Chrono Trigger? Instead it ended up being a cheap looking paperdoll tweening gacha trying to cash in on nostalgia.

The trailer makes the game look like Konami trying to cash in on Suikoden 1/2 nostalgia. In no way did it make me feel this was a game of passion to revitalize the franchise.

 

[Roman Empire]

So why not make it a console experience instead of the mobile predatory model?

 

[saintjules]

It's because mobile platform is currently have the biggest share compared to consoles and PC combined, and Konami is clearly want to expand the franchise in order to get new players, hence the decision to go free-to-play, since it completely eliminates the initial costs required to play the game, which is the biggest barrier for many people to play a game.

Besides, Konami seemed trying to follow other similar mobile games like Genshin, Honkai Star Rail, ZZZ, or Heaven Burns Red, where these games have console-tier quality + free-to-play, and some even scored big.

The problem now is how Konami monetized the game, in which Japanese games are sometime notorious for their cash grabs, and how they handles the game's updates, since games from Hoyoverse usually have 6 weeks time between patches, some of them even includes new areas, and they also have a huge update every year that introduces new region, which greatly expands the game.

Interesting, thanks. The question now is are the devs just saying to other platform holders either play this here on mobile or you're SOL? Bigger picture mentality. I might still try to play it anyway.

Thought crossed my mind as well. I think this is more or less an attempt to draw new players to the series. Suikoden does need more exposure, mobile is the best way to do that.

I definitely agree on trying to reach a new audience. I just would like to see it come to Console in some way as well. Maybe it might later on.

 

[Rambone]

I'm glad Konami is giving the Suikoden series some love. We got the first two games remastered here in the next day, a anime in the works and another unique game to be launched. I read gacha and mobile, vomited into my mouth a little. I guess I can understand why (that mobile money) but is Suikoden really all that popular to draw in the mobile crowd. Seems like a risky project to cash in on some nostalgia. I'll give it a shot if there is a masterpiece hidden away in it but I don't have high expectations here.

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

Konami is deeply saddened to announce that Suikoden STAR LEAP will officially be leaving app stores on March 12, 2026, and ceasing operations entirely on May 2.

 

[Scrawnton]

The.m

They mean console experience that is cheap or free to start, but cost $6,324 to finish within a reasonable amount of time.

It takes a very stupid type of gamer to appreciate that pricing model, one that you don't often find on consoles.

Genshin Impact disproves this.

 

[Shadowstar39]

This brings me back to a question I once had when I saw SaGa games going to mobile.

What is the mindset of developers when they know they have fans of a franchise playing their games mostly on Console and then they put a new installment on a device like mobile? Especially when the franchise has never really been on there to begin with?

Generally with other developers who make this choice, is the assumption that people will follow the franchise wherever it goes to play their games? It seems like alienating part of a fanbase who don't play mobile games. I'd assume they must have the stats to know where their fanbase is. It's an interesting thought not to make it multiplat.

I mean it looks good for what it is, but playing on mobile is just something I could never get into.

Its similar to the "modern audience" bs. Its to get new players. They don't care about existing fans. If they did it wouldn't of taken 20 years for a new suikoden game.
They also don't care about Westerners. Japan and greater Asia is known for mobile lovers. They play on their phones and are ok with mtx and f2p.

Also younger gamers are all on board with Gaas, microtransaction and playing on your phone. They didn't grow up with console or handheld gaming as much and higher ups know this. Again they don't care about us (or me a 46 year old Suikoden lover who owns every console release, even the ds teirkries and ps2 tactics) .

Maybe if the remasters collection sells gangbusters they may open their eyes and make a new console game. Teirkries was the last on the ds. A 2.5d in the style of octopath but with suikoden, would be amazing. Doing that would mean less budget so more chance of it happening. So many ips Konami has but are greedy fucks. All they care about is casino games and pachinko. (why is a machine that you have no control over popular in Japan in the first place? At least pinball you control the flipers and takes skill).

 

[Shadowstar39]

And now we know why Suikoden I+II took so long to release.

Yep, It didn't make sense as it was done 2 years ago. Who delays a game 2 years. I was pissed. I love suikoden. They wanted to tie in with this shit.

 

[Utamaru1706]

Interesting, thanks. The question now is are the devs just saying to other platform holders either play this here on mobile or you're SOL? Bigger picture mentality. I might still try to play it anyway.

Well, it depends on the devs and Konami themselves, whether they have plans and the resources to release the game on multiple platforms or not, since porting and maintaining a game on multiple platforms is definitely not cheap + requires more manpower, even more if they want to do a simultaneous release.

But IMHO, Konami prolly waiting for the platform holders to come and help them in porting the game by foot some of the bills, so if the game somehow failed on that platform, then they didn't lose too much.

 

[Hollywood Hitman]

Mobile?

 

[dispensergoinup]