Yoshitaka Murayama is considered a legend among gamers for having brought the Suikoden franchise in 1992 as, then, a Konami employee. Initially a QA Tester, he went on to become a writer, director, and producer, leading to the creation of the first three installments, including two spin-offs, in the series he created.
Following his departure from Konami in 2002, he went on to help make 10,000 Bullets for Taito. The game would soon see a limited release in Japan and Europe. He would soon be working on a different project, this time for Atlus, leading to the creation of The Alliance Alive.
In 2020, the name Yoshitaka Murayama became a headline among gaming news platforms when he launched a Kickstarter campaign to begin development on a new IP. Said intellectual property was touted as a spiritual successor to Suikoden, titled Eiyuden Chronicles.
However, on February 14th, right on Valentine’s Day, Rabbit & Bear Studios he has unfortunately passed away. The game maker, who is also credited for creating the beloved Suikoden franchise, died on February 6, 2024, because of “an ongoing illness,” per the announcement.
Murayama’s unexpected passing is certainly sending shockwaves among JRPG fans. However, part of the announcement guarantees that his work with Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes as a scenario writer was “finished”. His friends and co-workers, in a statement, would go on to lament how Murayama will not lay witness to the reactions of his fans once the game releases.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will be launching on multiple platforms, including the PS4 and PS5, on April 21, 2024.
