Square Enix and Red Art Games on widening the audience with Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International
On December 9, Red Art Games is releasing a new version of Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. This new version, called Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International, is not only getting a physical release in the West, but also adds newly-included French, Italian, German, and Spanish localizations. It also allows players to use Japanese voices in addition to English voices.
Ahead of the International version's release, RPG Site had a chance to ask questions to Romain Mahut, Business Development & Communications Manager at Red Art Games, as well as Square Enix's Akitoshi Kawazu, General Director of the ‘SaGa’ series and creator of ‘SaGa’. You can read our conversations below.
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International is set to release on December 9. Physical copies can be pre-ordered exclusively from VGP in North America or Red Art Games in Europe.
Red Art Games on Bringing 'SaGa' to more audiences
RPG Site: What made you want to work on Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered specifically to make it more accessible with FIGS localizations (as opposed to other Square Enix releases)?
Romain Mahut: The initial idea was to give a Western physical release to Minstrel Song Remastered, which was the latest Romancing SaGa game to have been announced when we started talking to the SaGa team over in Japan. Quickly, discussions evolved into creating a brand new version of the game that would include more options, localization-wise. Most of us at Red Art Games are longtime gamers. We remember a time when a lot of great games never left Japan. And when they did, they only included English translations, which most people (in European countries) could not understand.
So releasing localized versions of those hidden Japanese gems in the West — and to give them beautiful physical editions — is an idea that excites us.
Romain Mahut: The initial idea was to give a Western physical release to Minstrel Song Remastered, which was the latest Romancing SaGa game to have been announced when we started talking to the SaGa team over in Japan. Quickly, discussions evolved into creating a brand new version of the game that would include more options, localization-wise. Most of us at Red Art Games are longtime gamers. We remember a time when a lot of great games never left Japan. And when they did, they only included English translations, which most people (in European countries) could not understand.
So releasing localized versions of those hidden Japanese gems in the West — and to give them beautiful physical editions — is an idea that excites us.
RPG Site: How did you get in touch with Square Enix and end up working on this official re-release for Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered? How did this partnership come about?
Mahut: This is a funny story. One day, I was looking at my Twitter timeline (it wasn't called X yet back then) and saw a tweet from Masanori Ichikawa, SaGa Series Producer, saying that he would like to bring the SaGa games to more gamers around the world. So I sent him a DM, to which he replied. We started talking, and then we met him and other members of the SaGa team in Japan a couple of months after that. The rest, as they say, is history.
Mahut: This is a funny story. One day, I was looking at my Twitter timeline (it wasn't called X yet back then) and saw a tweet from Masanori Ichikawa, SaGa Series Producer, saying that he would like to bring the SaGa games to more gamers around the world. So I sent him a DM, to which he replied. We started talking, and then we met him and other members of the SaGa team in Japan a couple of months after that. The rest, as they say, is history.
RPG Site: How did the team approach releasing this as a separate game (SKU) rather than patching the original release, and do you worry about confusing potential users who find both versions on digital console storefronts?
Mahut: While this can seem like an unusual way to go about things in the West where Square Enix publishes its games directly, they frequently partner with third parties in Asia to release its games with various language options. Red Art Games, being the digital and physical publisher of this new International version, patching the original release was not possible.
Confusing users is a risk that we are aware of, so that's why we made sure to give our version a new title and digital store icons. We've also added disclaimers in the Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International press releases.
Mahut: While this can seem like an unusual way to go about things in the West where Square Enix publishes its games directly, they frequently partner with third parties in Asia to release its games with various language options. Red Art Games, being the digital and physical publisher of this new International version, patching the original release was not possible.
Confusing users is a risk that we are aware of, so that's why we made sure to give our version a new title and digital store icons. We've also added disclaimers in the Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International press releases.
RPG Site: Speaking of storefronts, are there plans to bring Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International to PC or mobile in some form?
Mahut: We only have plans for the console versions.
Mahut: We only have plans for the console versions.
RPG Site: Hypothetical question. Assuming there were no issues and budget limitations, what other Square Enix title would you like to release like Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International?
Mahut: I am afraid that I can't go into specifics on that subject. But let's just say that we are not short on ideas. As longtime Japanese games fans, working with Square Enix on their games is like a dream come true.
Mahut: I am afraid that I can't go into specifics on that subject. But let's just say that we are not short on ideas. As longtime Japanese games fans, working with Square Enix on their games is like a dream come true.
RPG Site: Over the last few years, Red Art has worked on multiple publishing and distribution deals for small and big publishers. Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International seems like the biggest project yet. Can you go into how long this was in the works and the challenges?
Mahut: As a relatively unknown company, Red Art Games had to prove itself to Square Enix. Such a big company cannot just lend its IP to anyone who asks. We had to show that we were serious about the project and that we had the know-how. From our first conversations to the project being greenlit, almost two years had passed. What made the project even more complex is the addition of the localization.
We didn't just release physical versions of the game, our dev team also had to integrate the new text into the game and make sure that everything worked properly. Of course, once that was done, Square Enix checked that everything worked.
Mahut: As a relatively unknown company, Red Art Games had to prove itself to Square Enix. Such a big company cannot just lend its IP to anyone who asks. We had to show that we were serious about the project and that we had the know-how. From our first conversations to the project being greenlit, almost two years had passed. What made the project even more complex is the addition of the localization.
We didn't just release physical versions of the game, our dev team also had to integrate the new text into the game and make sure that everything worked properly. Of course, once that was done, Square Enix checked that everything worked.
RPG Site: How do you like your coffee? If you don't like coffee, what is your favorite beverage?
Mahut: I love coffee-flavored desserts, but I don't drink coffee. My go-to beverage, as everybody who knows me can attest, is Coke Zero. It's probably bad for me, but I just love it!
Mahut: I love coffee-flavored desserts, but I don't drink coffee. My go-to beverage, as everybody who knows me can attest, is Coke Zero. It's probably bad for me, but I just love it!
Square Enix on the Future of 'SaGa'
RPG Site: Romancing SaGa 2 Revenge of the Seven was the first SaGa game to get a physical release for modern platforms in the West. Romancent SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International follows it. How does it feel for you to have this classic available not only physically, but also in additional languages?
Akitoshi Kawazu: I recently had the opportunity to visit London, and I could really feel how times had changed, as there were almost no game shops (but plenty of otaku-themed stores!) I’m glad, though, that there are still gamers who want to pick up physical copies of games even though the main method of purchasing them has evolved, and I take great pride in being able to bring physical versions of the SaGa franchise to those who desire them. Fans being able to experience our games in their own languages have a much richer experience, which is absolutely wonderful.
Akitoshi Kawazu: I recently had the opportunity to visit London, and I could really feel how times had changed, as there were almost no game shops (but plenty of otaku-themed stores!) I’m glad, though, that there are still gamers who want to pick up physical copies of games even though the main method of purchasing them has evolved, and I take great pride in being able to bring physical versions of the SaGa franchise to those who desire them. Fans being able to experience our games in their own languages have a much richer experience, which is absolutely wonderful.
RPG Site: You've now worked on Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- multiple times for its original release, remaster/PC release, mobile, and now the new International version. How do you feel about the game all these years later? What is its legacy to you?
Kawazu: Video games are first and foremost designed for specific platforms, and porting them to other platforms would generally necessitate a redesign. However, it’s not feasible to rebuild a game from the ground up, so remasters and remakes are strategies that are often employed. Minstrel Song was a 3D remake of the original 2D Romancing SaGa that added full voices and served as the base for this remaster. Fully voiced RPGs are a bit of a rarity even today. While the freeform scenario system and high difficulty action command battles are indeed some of the game’s defining characteristics, I would also point to the map skills that are fully integrated into the player’s adventures as another defining characteristic.
Kawazu: Video games are first and foremost designed for specific platforms, and porting them to other platforms would generally necessitate a redesign. However, it’s not feasible to rebuild a game from the ground up, so remasters and remakes are strategies that are often employed. Minstrel Song was a 3D remake of the original 2D Romancing SaGa that added full voices and served as the base for this remaster. Fully voiced RPGs are a bit of a rarity even today. While the freeform scenario system and high difficulty action command battles are indeed some of the game’s defining characteristics, I would also point to the map skills that are fully integrated into the player’s adventures as another defining characteristic.
RPG Site: In the last few years for the SaGa series, we've seen a remaster of Minstrel Song, a brand new entry in Emerald Beyond, a remake in Romancing SaGa 2, and another remaster in SaGa Frontier 2. There are still some titles in the SaGa series that haven’t been remastered or remade yet, but more broadly speaking, could you tell us about your future plans for the series?
Kawazu: One of our goals is to make all of our past titles playable on modern platforms. There may be some business-related limitations that may make this a bit complex, but it’s something we’re actively looking at solving. We also want to do our best to bring new titles in the future so that the franchise isn’t relegated to the history books. We’re also looking at exploring more live service titles and ways for SaGa fans old and new to interact with each other, and at some point, I’d like to have an in-person event overseas as well. That said, making all these a reality is something that requires tremendous effort!
Kawazu: One of our goals is to make all of our past titles playable on modern platforms. There may be some business-related limitations that may make this a bit complex, but it’s something we’re actively looking at solving. We also want to do our best to bring new titles in the future so that the franchise isn’t relegated to the history books. We’re also looking at exploring more live service titles and ways for SaGa fans old and new to interact with each other, and at some point, I’d like to have an in-person event overseas as well. That said, making all these a reality is something that requires tremendous effort!
RPG Site: How do you like your coffee? If you don't like coffee, what is your favorite beverage?
Kawazu: Luca Galante, the developer of Vampire Survivors, gifted me an espresso machine, and the espresso it makes is so delicious that it’s scary.
Kawazu: Luca Galante, the developer of Vampire Survivors, gifted me an espresso machine, and the espresso it makes is so delicious that it’s scary.