Let me tell you, the gaming grapevine’s been buzzing like a Chocobo on caffeine ever since Team Asano’s head honcho Tomoya Asano started dropping hints about their 2025 lineup. As someone who’s spent more hours grinding JRPGs than sleeping, I’ve been piecing together clues like a treasure hunter in a dungeon crawl. From HD-2D wizardry to sequel speculations, here’s what we actually know – and what’s pure wishful thinking.
The HD-2D Renaissance Isn’t Slowing Down
Let’s start with the concrete stuff – Square Enix’s visual sorcery with their HD-2D engine is getting a workout. We’ve already seen:
-
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake (basically pixel art crack cocaine)
-
Live A Live’s glow-up from 1994 fossil to modern masterpiece
Now they’re cooking up Dragon Quest 1 & 2 remakes as a bundled package. But here’s the kicker – Asano specifically said "various things" are coming. My gut says we’re getting at least one surprise HD-2D remake. My money’s on Chrono Trigger getting the treatment, though I’d sell a kidney for Xenogears in this style.
Bravely Default: The Sequel That’s Playing Hard to Get
Oh, Bravely fans – we’ve been blue-balled since 2021’s Bravely Default 2. The rumor mill’s working overtime:
-
🕵️♂️ June 2024 leaker teasers about a sequel
-
🎣 Asano’s February tweet: “We’ll have Bravely news this year!” (Spoiler: radio silence since)
Here’s the tea – Square Enix loves their Switch 2 launch window surprises. I’m betting 2025 brings either:
-
Bravely Third with job system improvements
-
A complete trilogy remaster (with actual character models that don’t look like plastic dolls)
But let’s keep it real – Asano’s team has overpromised before. Remember when they said Triangle Strategy would get DLC? Crickets.
The Dark Horse Candidates
While everyone’s obsessing over Bravely and DQ remakes, don’t sleep on these possibilities:
| Project | Probability | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Live A Live Sequel | 40% | Remake sold surprisingly well |
| New Original IP | 35% | Team’s due for fresh ideas |
| Tactics Ogre Reborn 2 | 25% | Let me dream, okay? |
That Various Daylife game they made? Might as well be buried in the Phantom Zone. But here’s a wild thought – what if they’re reviving Final Fantasy Dimensions with HD-2D pizzazz?
The Switch 2 Factor
Timing’s everything. With Nintendo’s next-gen console expected in early 2025, Team Asano could be:
-
Frontloading launch titles
-
Creating tech showcase games
-
Remastering classics as system sellers
Imagine booting up Switch 2 to a HD-2D collection featuring:
-
Chrono Trigger
-
Secret of Mana
-
Bahamut Lagoon
My wallet just screamed in anticipation.
Managing Expectations (Because Square Enix Gonna Square Enix)
Let’s take a cold shower for a second. Square’s track record includes:
-
Announcing games 5 years before release
-
Cancelling promising projects (RIP Deus Ex)
-
Prioritizing graphics over gameplay
Asano himself admitted the Bravely tease might’ve been premature. My advice? Get hyped, but keep the excitement dial at 7/10 until we see actual gameplay footage.
So what’s the play here? Keep your save files ready and your materia organized. 2025 could be either JRPG heaven or another case of development hell – but with Team Asano’s magic touch, I’m leaning toward the former.
CTA: Wanna stay ahead of the curve? Follow me for real-time updates when Asano finally stops being coy. And hey, drop a comment – what classic JRPG deserves the HD-2D treatment most? (No wrong answers, except saying "The Bouncer." We don’t do that here.)