Sakura Wars 30th anniversary – ‘Sakura Wars 6’ plot exists, SEGA wants to bring series to modern platforms, more

The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu features a massive interview with the creators of steampunk strategy RPG series Sakura Wars in celebration of its 30th anniversary, revealing the existence of a plot for a potential Sakura Wars 6, SEGA‘s desire to bring the original games to modern platforms, and more.

Sakura Wars series creator Oji Hiroi told the magazine that he developed a plot for Sakura Wars 6 when there was talk about making a new entry in the series.

“I only came up with the plot for 6 because there had been discussions about making the next game,” Hiroi said.

“But I do have a plot. There’s a character named Black Swan who is in cryogenic hibernation. She’s a good character.”

Hiroi added that the plot might no longer be on his computer, and declined to reveal the identity of the person who may have the only other copy. He also clarified that the plot’s existence does not mean Sakura Wars 6 is in development, saying he would consider developing the idea if asked to make a prototype and paid for the work.

Hiroi also said that if a Sakura Wars 6 were made based on that plot, the title would use the numeral “6” rather than the Roman numeral “VI.”

“It would be ‘6‘,” he said. “I wonder why we used a Roman numeral when we did V… It’s a mystery (laughs).”

SEGA’s Akira Nishino, who has worked on the Sakura Wars series from Sakura Wars: Hanagumi Taisen Columns onward, and currently serves as a producer, director, and supervisor for various SEGA projects, said that SEGA would like to bring the original games to modern platforms, from the first Sakura Wars through Sakura Wars V: So Long, My Love.

“Of course, we would like to do it as well,” Nishino said when asking about bringing the original games to current systems. “However, there are various circumstances involved, so it’s not something we can easily move forward with. Still, we want to find a way, and we’re working hard each day.”

Nishino also said that he has a vision for how the story of Sakura Wars (2019), also known as New Sakura Wars in Japan, would continue through to its conclusion.

“I have a vision in my mind for New Sakura Wars all the way through to the end,” he said. “But unless a vision is brought into the world, it’s nothing more than a fantasy. I strongly don’t want it to end as just a fantasy.”

Nishino did not directly confirm a sequel or specify how that story could be realized.

Sakura Wars scenario writer Satoru Akahori, who stepped away from the series after Sakura Wars V: So Long, My Love, also revealed that he has recently become involved in something related to the franchise again.

“While I stepped away from Sakura Wars for a while after wrapping up on V, I’ve recently become just a little involved with it again,” Akahori said. “I can’t say what it is yet, but I hope you’ll look forward to it, even if you only catch a glimpse.”

On a related note, Nishino said that SEGA has additional Sakura Wars 30th anniversary initiatives planned beyond previously announced projects, which have included pop-up shops and New Sakura Wars the Stage: Seiden TSURUGI.

“Although we can’t share the details yet, we’re preparing something else big,” he said, without providing further information.

Nishino did not specify whether the teased initiative would be game-related.

Sakura Wars celebrated its 30th anniversary on September 27.

Thanks, @HDKirin.bsky.social.