Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a special live stream dedicated entirely to the beloved Suikoden series. The franchise, which hasn't seen a new entry since a Japanese and PSP-only side story over a decade ago, sparked a wide range of expectations. The announcements brought a mix of excitement and concern: a Suikoden anime (yay!) and a brand new Suikoden video game for mobile (okay, sure!), but with gacha mechanics (oh no!).

Let's dive into the anime first, titled "Suikoden: The Anime." This series is based on the events of Suikoden 2 and marks the first production from Konami Animation. While we didn't get a detailed look at the visuals or learn about its international availability, a brief scenery clip was shared:

This is thrilling news for Suikoden enthusiasts and could serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers, provided the anime becomes widely accessible.

The second major announcement, however, has left fans with mixed feelings. A new game, "Suikoden Star Leap," was unveiled, showcasing stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler's 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds. Set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, it retains the series' signature 108 characters.

However, the game is slated for release exclusively on mobile platforms, which might not deter die-hard fans but raises concerns due to the inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization. This is a departure from the series' tradition of premium releases on consoles and PCs. Fans will need to wait and see how these monetization strategies impact gameplay and the ability to collect all 108 characters.

In the meantime, Suikoden fans can look forward to the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the "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.