Lunar Remastered Collection localisation dispute: Working Designs founder Victor Ireland says he offered classic translations
Lunar, the 1990s JRPG series that began on the Sega CD and later saw ports to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation (PS1), returned to conversation following the recent announcement of the Lunar Remastered Collection.
The remaster package, published under GungHo, drew a largely positive reaction from fans eager to revisit the series.
Much of the public debate has centered on which English localisation would appear in the collection — specifically whether the Working Designs translations that many players remember would be included.
Victor Ireland, founder of Working Designs, told the Retro Hangover podcast that he has proactively offered Working Designs’ English localisations to GungHo for inclusion in the remastered release.
Ireland said the offer remains on the table, that the materials are available at modest cost, and that he is willing to collaborate to ensure what he considers the best possible edition for fans.
According to Ireland, attempts to reach GungHo have so far been met with no reply.
Ireland further described the current remaster effort as underwhelming from his perspective.
He argued that the package appears to be a straightforward “check-the-box” remaster rather than a definitive edition, and he expressed the view that the publisher had not prioritized producing the most complete or fan-focused version possible.
He also recounted earlier contact with Sega prior to the release of the Genesis Mini 2.
Ireland said he was willing to license Working Designs’ localisations for inclusion on the mini console for a small per-unit royalty and to make text corrections where needed.
He declined what he characterized as an “insulting small one-time fee” offered by Sega instead.
Ireland noted that offers of low one-time payments for retro assets are a common practice in the industry, in his experience.
Ireland said he possesses additional material — including uncensored outtakes, audience tapes, and other extras — that could be used to enrich remastered releases.
Fans of the PS1-era Lunar localisations frequently point to the voice work and localisation style as definitive, and many have voiced disappointment at the prospect of remasters shipping without the original Working Designs translations.
The Lunar Remastered Collection announcement leaves open questions for preservation-minded fans and collectors about which assets and localisations will appear in contemporary re-releases.
Ireland’s statements on the Retro Hangover podcast make clear that he believes Working Designs’ contributions remain available and that he sought a collaborative solution with publishers involved in the remastering process.
Lunar, the 1990s JRPG series that began on the Sega CD and later saw ports to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation (PS1), returned to conversation following the recent announcement of the Lunar Remastered Collection.
The remaster package, published under GungHo, drew a largely positive reaction from fans eager to revisit the series.
Much of the public debate has centered on which English localisation would appear in the collection — specifically whether the Working Designs translations that many players remember would be included.
Victor Ireland, founder of Working Designs, told the Retro Hangover podcast that he has proactively offered Working Designs’ English localisations to GungHo for inclusion in the remastered release.
Ireland said the offer remains on the table, that the materials are available at modest cost, and that he is willing to collaborate to ensure what he considers the best possible edition for fans.
According to Ireland, attempts to reach GungHo have so far been met with no reply.
Ireland further described the current remaster effort as underwhelming from his perspective.
He argued that the package appears to be a straightforward “check-the-box” remaster rather than a definitive edition, and he expressed the view that the publisher had not prioritized producing the most complete or fan-focused version possible.
He also recounted earlier contact with Sega prior to the release of the Genesis Mini 2.
Ireland said he was willing to license Working Designs’ localisations for inclusion on the mini console for a small per-unit royalty and to make text corrections where needed.
He declined what he characterized as an “insulting small one-time fee” offered by Sega instead.
Ireland noted that offers of low one-time payments for retro assets are a common practice in the industry, in his experience.
Ireland said he possesses additional material — including uncensored outtakes, audience tapes, and other extras — that could be used to enrich remastered releases.
Fans of the PS1-era Lunar localisations frequently point to the voice work and localisation style as definitive, and many have voiced disappointment at the prospect of remasters shipping without the original Working Designs translations.
The Lunar Remastered Collection announcement leaves open questions for preservation-minded fans and collectors about which assets and localisations will appear in contemporary re-releases.
Ireland’s statements on the Retro Hangover podcast make clear that he believes Working Designs’ contributions remain available and that he sought a collaborative solution with publishers involved in the remastering process.
