Yoshitaka Murayama, the creator of the Suikoden and Eiyuden Chronicle franchises has passed away. Indie developer Rabbit and Bear Studios – the developer of Eiyuden Chronicle, founded by Murayama – confirmed in a statement that the designer died earlier this month, on February 6, due to “complications with an ongoing illness.”
Murayama started his career in game development upon joining Konami in 1992, where he would go on to create and oversee the Suikoden franchise until his departure in 2002. He later founded Rabbit and Bear Studios, and through Kickstarter, in 2020, successfully funded the development of upcoming Suikoden-inspired RPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, on which he also served as the main scenario writer. A prequel, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, was released in 2022.
Rabbit and Bear Studios’ statement reads as follows: “It’s with a heavy heart and deep sadness we must inform you that the scenario writer and head of Rabbit and 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.”
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is due out April 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
