We’ve learned some tragic news – Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama has passed away due to complications of an ongoing illness.
Murayama passed away back on February 6th and will not be able to see his final game launch. The news was confirmed by Rabbit & Bear Studios earlier this morning.
His final game, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, is set to launch on April 23rd, 2024 across Windows PC (via Steam), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
After graduating from Tokyo University in 1992, Murayama went job hunting and applied at Konami, where he was quickly hired and got his start. He was hand picked for a team that would build a new game, and the rest is history.
Murayama went on to write, produce, and direct the legendary Suikoden and its sequel Suikoden II, their spinoffs Suikogaiden, and his final title at Konami, Suikoden III. He left Konami and went freelance, working on several games before Eiyuden Chronicle.
High definition remasters of his first two Suikoden games, Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars, are in development for Windows PC (via Steam), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4.
Here’s the full message from Rabbit & Bear Studios:
Hello everyone,
It’s with a heavy heart and deep sadness we must inform you that the scenario writer and head of Rabbit & Bear Studios, Yoshitaka Murayama, has passed away on February 6th due to complications with an ongoing illness.
Murayama first began this journey of the creation of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes in 2020 through the support of his very loving fans on Kickstarter.
Throughout the three-plus-year-development of the game, it was always the passion from his fans that continued to drive his creative vision and motivate him to put his all into the project.
His hard work on Eiyuden Chronicle as scenario writer was finished but as his co-workers and friends, it saddens us to know that he won’t get to see the reactions from his fans.
However, even with those feelings we need to accept the reality that he is no longer with us and continue to push his dream forward by releasing Eiyuden Chronicle to the world.
We want to maintain his legacy and vision with this game and know that he would have wanted the rich world he has created
with Eiyuden Chronicle to live on.His family sincerely appreciates your prayers and support but asks for privacy and that no flowers, mail, or other offerings be sent.
We will have more information on organizational changes to Rabbit & Bear as well as changes to some of the Kickstarter rewards
in the near future.For now, we appreciate your continued support.
Rabbit & Bear Studios,
Junko Kawano
Junichi Murakami
Osamu Komuta
Suikoden and Suikoden II influenced me so much in my younger years and helped me truly embrace and love Japanese RPGs. His writing and characters are so iconic and so timeless, they remain in my heart forever and I’m always thankful for his work.
I had the amazing opportunity to finally chat with Murayama-san and interview him on Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. I’m insanely excited for the game, though it will be bittersweet knowing it is his final game. Rest in peace, Murayama-san. ご冥福をお祈りします.
