The creator of the classic JRPG series Suikoden and Eiyuden Chronicle, Yoshitaka Murayama died. The announcemet comes via a statement by Rabbit and Bear Studio, which is currently developing Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes.
Murayama, who originally created Suikoden while working at Konami, passed away on February 6, 2024 due to complications from an illness. At the time, he was working as a scenario writer for Rabbit and Bear Studios to develop Suikoden spiritual successor Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. That is set to release in April 2024.
The statement was signed by fellow designers Junichi Murakami and Osamu Komuta, as well as Junko Kawano. Kawano worked with Murayama on the original Suikoden. His colleagues expressed regret that he would not get to see the fan reaction to Eiyuden Chronicle, but vowed to press on with development nonetheless.
Here is the full statement shared on the Rabbit and Bear website:
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.
Back in December, 2023, Rabbit and Bear Studios announced in a Steam development log that Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes had entered the bug-fixing stage of development ahead of its release on April 23, 2024. A short while before that, the studio also released 6 minute long trailer highlighting the features of the game, including combat systems and some of the characters.
Yoshitaka Murayama, creator of Suikoden and Eiyuden Chronicle series, died on February 6, 2024. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will release on April 23, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
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