The 2009 original has become severely outdated compared to the entries created on the Dragon Engine, so after 16 years, the project has received numerous changes. Producer Ryosuke Horii admitted at the Tokyo Game Show that the remake has become much larger in scope than expected.
The creators have preserved Kiryu's emotional arc but added new plot accents. For example, the additional episode Dark Ties will tell about Yoshitaka Mine's past and return to a heavy political tone, while Morning Glory will feature expanded scenes with orphaned children.
Changes have also affected side stories: almost all side stories have been rewritten or completely replaced. Players will once again see popular activities like bowling.
The team has updated the appearance of several key characters. According to Horii, this was necessary to preserve the spirit of the original while giving it a fresh look. He noted that reworking Rikiya's image required special care.
The developer admitted that achieving the level of quality that fans have come to expect while maintaining the pace of work has been a serious challenge. The first gameplay videos and comparisons with the original have already appeared online.