Back in 2019, developer Edelweiss revealed that Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin was in the works for Nintendo Switch – blending both rice agriculture and action combat into a fresh new experience. If you’ve been keen to learn more about the game’s development journey up to this point, read on!

During a Nintendo World Report interview, the game’s director Nal and CG artist Koichi revealed more details about how the game came to be, along with other tidbits. When asked why they chose Nintendo Switch as the game’s debut platform, the developers shared that they were always interested with the console from the start:

“We’ve been interested in the Nintendo Switch ever since its release. And then we met with some folks from Nintendo and they asked us “why don’t you bring the game to Switch.” And then from there we just started programming and developing the game for Switch and now it’s coming to the Switch hardware.”

Regarding the game’s combat mechanics, both Nal and Koichi also cited Devil May Cry and Terranigma as inspirations. Outside of that, they also looked to several Japanese films for further ideas:

“The action part of the game was sort of inspired by Devil May Cry, but the backbone would be more from the Super Nintendo game Terranigma. We were also inspired by the movies, the Seven Samurai and Princess Mononoke…I kind of got some ideas from characters in the Seven Samurai.”

Well, it certainly sounds like Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is shaping up to be the perfect storm of Japanese style and substance when it launches later in 2020! We’ll report back if and when we hear more in the future!