Vanillaware President Expresses Interest in Muramasa: The Demon Blade Switch Port, Cites Development Priorities

Vanillaware, the acclaimed Japanese game developer behind visually striking titles such as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and Odin Sphere, is once again in the spotlight following recent comments from company president George Kamitani regarding the beloved Wii classic Muramasa: The Demon Blade.

In a new interview with Nintenderos, Kamitani confirmed long-standing fan hopes for a modern port of Muramasa, but emphasized that the studio remains focused on current development priorities before such a project can be considered.

First released in 2009 for the Nintendo Wii, Muramasa: The Demon Blade captivated players with its hand-crafted artwork and fast-paced Metroidvania gameplay set in Edo-period Japan.

The game later received an enhanced version titled Muramasa Rebirth for the PlayStation Vita in 2013, adding new localization and downloadable content.

However, despite consistent demand from fans, Muramasa has yet to make its way onto current hardware such as the Nintendo Switch, which is home to several of Vanillaware’s other updated releases. In the interview, Kamitani was clear in his intentions while remaining reserved about details.

He reaffirmed Vanillaware’s desire to revisit Muramasa, stating, "We would like to port Muramasa.

However, there are issues that prevent us from moving forward at this time." He further clarified the studio’s production plans by saying, "Our main focus right now is taking care of the backlog we have built up—meaning, we're prioritizing the games we already have in our development pipeline." This transparent reveal offers insight into Vanillaware’s bustling schedule.

The studio has recently made headlines with successful Switch ports, including the critically acclaimed 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim in 2022.

Additionally, an enhanced re-release of the PlayStation 2 title GrimGrimoire, called GrimGrimoire OnceMore, is set to launch on the Nintendo Switch on April 4th, 2023 in North America and April 7th, 2023 in Europe via the Nintendo eShop. While Kamitani did not provide specifics about the technical or licensing hurdles preventing a Muramasa port, his remarks confirm that Vanillaware is “hard at work” on other projects, some of which relate to new titles teased within their previous releases.

Kamitani himself is personally involved in a future project that, according to his statements, is several years from completion. Fans of Vanillaware have come to expect high-quality, art-driven experiences on Nintendo platforms, and the interest in a Switch port for Muramasa: The Demon Blade is only likely to intensify.

For now, Switch owners can look forward to returning to the whimsical world of GrimGrimoire OnceMore or revisiting the time-hopping tale of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, both acclaimed for their artistry and gameplay depth.

Any future updates regarding Muramasa will no doubt be eagerly awaited by the Nintendo and Vanillaware communities alike.

Nintendo Wii Switch Vanillaware George Kamitani Muramasa: The Demon Blade consoles Nintendo Switch