Princess Crown English Patch: Translation Dispute Emerges Over Fan Project

Princess Crown English Patch: Translation Dispute Emerges Over Fan Project After years of anticipation, fans of Vanillaware’s cult-classic Princess Crown for the Sega Saturn finally received an English translation patch.

However, the fan-made patch’s release has reignited debate within the blue-chip Saturn translation community, as the original project contributors allege they were not consulted before the update went public.

Princess Crown, developed by a team led by George Kamitani—who would later found Vanillaware, known for titles like Odin Sphere and Dragon’s Crown—was released in 1997 and has maintained a coveted status among retro gaming enthusiasts.

Despite its critical legacy as a spiritual predecessor to Vanillaware’s modern hits, Princess Crown never received an official Western localization, and its Japanese exclusivity persisted even in the subsequent PSP port.

On October 26, 2024, translator eadmaster published an updated English patch for Princess Crown, confirming its compatibility with original Sega Saturn hardware.

Eadmaster stated this release was based upon earlier work by RomHacking community members CyberWarriorX and SamIAm, whose translation project dates back to 2013.

Speaking to concerns from the community, eadmaster clarified, “The patch utilizes code released under the GPL, which enables developers to fork, modify, and share back without needing explicit prior permission from the original authors.

I am open to addressing any misunderstandings or miscommunication, and willing to collaborate further on this patch.” He also mentioned that he is collaborating with MiYakuGaming for a more accurate and uncensored translation of the Japanese script in an upcoming version 0.4 release. Yet this move was met with immediate concern by the original team.

SamIAm stated, "CyberWarriorX and I were neither contacted nor did we approve this release.

The base code and script used are both severely outdated and cause significant issues, including game-freezing bugs that require manipulations to bypass." SamIAm elaborated that the GitHub repository referenced in the new release was intended as a limited snapshot for recruiting technical collaborators back in 2014, missing several years of key scripting and technical improvements since then.

"We currently sit on a near-complete version 0.9, while the patch released by eadmaster was built from an early, incomplete build," he explained.

Both CyberWarriorX and SamIAm point out that many advances in their private development build have never been shared publicly, and the visible translation does not reflect the quality or completion of their internal project. The Princess Crown translation effort is emblematic of the broader challenge facing fan-led localization projects, where progress is dictated by the free time and dedication of volunteers.

Since the community announcement in 2013, updates have been infrequent, often delayed by personal circumstances—a reality acknowledged by both CyberWarriorX and SamIAm in posts through the years.

The original patch thread on RomHacking was eventually locked by moderators in 2024 to stem recurring requests for progress updates. This latest dispute highlights the tensions that can arise when open-source licensing intersects with community expectations of collaboration and recognition.

Yet it also underscores the dedication underpinning fan translation, as persistent teams labor for years with little recognition or reward to make enduring gaming works like Princess Crown accessible to wider audiences.

While it remains to be seen whether the original translators will resume work or release their most up-to-date build, the new patch—despite controversy—offers English-speaking players a means to experience one of the Sega Saturn’s most critically acclaimed titles.

For now, fans must navigate both technical hurdles and ethical considerations as the Princess Crown translation saga continues to unfold.

Princess Crown Vanillaware