SEGA wants to bring the Sakura Wars series to more platforms, according to a new Weekly Famitsu interview with Sakura Wars series creator Oji Hiroi, director Akira Nishino and scenario writer Satoru Akahori. The plot for a potential Sakura Wars 6 also exists, though an actual game project is not in development.
The Famitsu interview celebrates the 30th anniversary of Sakura Wars with insights from the developers behind the series. According to Hiroi, he came up with the plot for Sakura Wars 6 when there were discussing about making the next game. The plot centers around a female character named Black Swan, who was in cryogenic hibernation. Hiroi is unsure if the plot is still on his computer, but he notes that another person (undisclosed) at the company may have the only other copy of it. Although development is not underway, Hiroi would consider the idea if asked to make a prototype and was paid for the work. He also noted that the use of the numeral 6 rather than the Roman numeral VI would be based on that same plot.
Nishino confirmed that SEGA would like to bring the original games to modern platforms from the original Sakura Wars all the way to Sakura Wars V: So Long, My Love. However, Nishino notes that various circumstances make this desire something that can’t be easily moved forward with. Nishino notes that the team is working hard each day to find a way to bring these games to more platforms. In addition, Nishino said that the has a “vision” for how the story of 2019’s Sakura Wars would continue to its conclusion, but he didn’t confirm whether this could be achieved in a sequel or not.
Akahori previously stepped away from the series after developing Sakura Wars V: So Long, My Love, but he recently returned to the series and can’t say what exactly is in the works. Nishino added that SEGA has more Sakura Wars 30th anniversary initiatives in store following the likes of the recent pop-up stores and Shin Sakura Taisen the Stage: Seiden Tsurugi stage play. More details will be revealed at a later date.
The original Sakura Taisen game released on September 27, 1996 for the SEGA Saturn. The most recent title in the series was the ill-fated Sakura Kakumei mobile game, which ended service in June 2021—six months after the December 2020 launch.
