Suikoden 2 Anime Announced Alongside New Mobile Gacha Game

Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a live stream dedicated solely to the beloved Suikoden series. The franchise, which hasn't seen a new entry since a Japanese and PSP-exclusive side story more than a decade ago, sparked a range of emotions with its latest announcements. Fans were thrilled to hear about a new Suikoden anime (yay!), and a brand new Suikoden video game at last (okay, sure!), but the news of gacha mechanics in the mobile game left some feeling apprehensive (oh no!).

The newly announced anime, titled "Suikoden: The Anime," is set to adapt the events of Suikoden 2 and marks Konami's first venture into animation. While we didn't get much in terms of visuals or accessibility details beyond Japan, a brief scenery clip was shared:

This development is exciting for dedicated Suikoden fans and could serve as an engaging introduction for newcomers if the anime becomes widely available.

The second major announcement, however, has elicited mixed feelings among the fanbase. A new game, "Suikoden Star Leap," was revealed, boasting stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler with its 2D sprites set against 3D backgrounds. The game is set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, and it retains the series' signature feature of 108 characters.

However, "Suikoden Star Leap" is slated for release exclusively on mobile platforms, and it will incorporate gacha mechanics along with ongoing monetization. This has disappointed many fans, given the series' history of premium releases on consoles and PCs. The inclusion of gacha elements raises concerns about whether monetization will impact the game's enjoyment and the ability to collect all 108 characters. We'll need to wait and see how these elements are implemented.

In the meantime, Suikoden enthusiasts can look forward to 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.