Fans of classic JRPGs from Square Enix have 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 like Octopath Traveler. Looking forward, Square Enix has shown it has no plans to slow down. Games including an HD update for Chrono Cross, the remake of Live A Live, and Triangle Strategy will 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 of Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default, Takashi Tokita of Live A Live, and Yauaki Arai of Triangle 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.
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 be Live A Live, followed by Actraiser. The Live A Live remake was just recently announced, while Actraiser Renaissance launched in September 2021.
The list, of course, certainly went on from there. Live A Live and Actraiser Renaissance were 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, and Chrono Trigger are 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 Renaissance redesigned the original game's visuals entirely, plus expanded the game in a meaningful way. Live A Live is retaining a significant amount of the original game's visuals, but overhauling it with an exciting new aesthetic. Meanwhile, Chrono Cross will 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, older JRPG fans are more than excited to have these games on hand again, too. Expect to hear much more about Square Enix's JRPG remake plans in the years to come.