Yoshitaka Murayama, the creator of the Suikoden series and the scenario writer for Eiyuden Chronicles, has passed away. Read on to learn more about his career and legacy in the JRPG space.
Beloved JRPG Creator Yoshitaka Murayama Passes Away
Rabbit&Bear Studios Mourn the Passing of Murayama
Yoshitaka Murayama, the scenario writer for the upcoming JRPG Eiyuden Chronicles by Rabbit&Bear Studios, has passed away due to complications from his ongoing illness. Rabbit&Bear Studios posted an update on their website about Murayama’s untimely passing on February 6 and that his passion, vision, and legacy will live on through their release of Eiyuden Chronicle.
They dedicated a heartfelt message to him saying:
"His hard work on Eiyuden Chronicle as [a] 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."
Image via Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes - Kickstarter Trailer
They also mention that they wanted to "maintain his legacy and vision" regarding the game, and that "he would have wanted the rich world he has created with Eiyuden Chronicle to live on."
Lastly, Rabbit&Bear Studios will have an update about organizational and Kickstarter rewards changes in the near future.
Murayama’s Legacy
Art by Fumi Ishikawa
Yoshitaka Murayama was known for creating and producing the first three Suikoden games under Konami, where he worked his way up the ladder from QA all the way up to director until he left in 2002. He worked on other games such as 10,000 Bullets for Taito, which was a Japan and EU-exclusive game, and The Alliance Alive for Atlus.
He started his final work when he founded Rabbit&Bear Studios in 2020 and launched a Kickstarter campaign for Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes, which was a spiritual successor to Suikoden. The campaign was immensely successful, becoming the third highest-funded game on the platform. As Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is set to release on April 21, 2024, we at Game8 extend our sincere condolences to Murayama’s family and friends for their loss.
Sources:
Rabbit&Bear Studios - Official Statement
Kickstarter - Most Funded Games
Kickstater - Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes - Main Page
