Fans of classic JRPGs fromSquare Enixhave been spoiled lately. The iconic JRPG publisher has been bringing back classic games in various formats over the past several years, as well as releasing new RPGs likeOctopath Traveler. Looking forward,Square Enixhas shown it has no plans to slow down. Games including an HD update forChrono Cross, the remake ofLive A Live, andTriangle Strategywill ensure fans are sated looking forward, too. But Square Enix’s plans don’t end there.
Square Enix recently started a podcast featuring the producers behind its biggest retro JRPG projects, including Tomoya Asano ofOctopath TravelerandBravely Default, Takashi Tokita ofLive A Live, and Yauaki Arai ofTriangle Strategy. The SQEX Asano Development Teams Radio podcast isn’t intended to be a place game announcements or reveals, but the trio wasn’t able to hold everything back. During their conversations, they casually acknowledged that Square Enix plans to continue working on HD-2D releases and remakes going forward.
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Asano says that the plan to focus on HD-2D releases and remakes came directly from Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda and began with a list of potential candidates. Asano describes starting by removing games like Mahjong that would certainly be shot down, and focusing on Super Famicom (SNES) titles. The first two games from the list that were decided on were said to beLive A Live, followed byActraiser. TheLive A Liveremakewas just recently announced, whileActraiser Renaissancelaunched in September 2021.
The list, of course, certainly went on from there.Live A LiveandActraiser Renaissancewere just the first two games to be approved. What’s next for Square Enix’s HD-2D plans remains to be seen. The hint at other SNES JRPGs potentially being a focus is certain to pique many Square Enix fans' interest, though.Secret of Evermore,Illusion of Gaia,Front Mission,Romancing SaGa, andChrono Triggerare just a few possibilities.
A bigger question going forward, bigger even than which game will be next, is what format the game will take.Actraiser Renaissanceredesigned the original game’s visuals entirely, plus expanded the game in a meaningful way.Live A Liveis retaining a significant amount of the original game’s visuals, but overhauling it with an exciting new aesthetic. Meanwhile,Chrono Crosswill be a very standard remaster. Square Enix’s choice of format will define the quality of experience, which is exciting in its own way.
What’s important, though, is that Square Enix is willing to bring back its classic games at all. There are so many amazing games from both Square and Enix’s past that have never been accessible for younger generations of gamers. Of course, olderJRPG fansare more than excited to have these games on hand again, too. Expect to hear much Enix’s JRPG remake plans in the years to come.
