LIVE A LIVE 2 Rumored to Be in Development

A new leak suggests Square Enix and Team Asano are quietly working on a sequel to the beloved SNES classic, and the details are wild.

A fresh rumor has surfaced online, and if it turns out to be true, you are going to want to pay attention. Word is spreading that LIVE A LIVE 2 is currently in development, though nothing has been officially confirmed by Square Enix just yet. Still, the buzz is strong enough that it is worth breaking down what is being said and where it is coming from.

For context, the original LIVE A LIVE launched on the SNES back in 1994. It was a niche title for a long time, only reaching a wider audience years later through fan translations. Eventually, Square Enix brought it back in style, remaking the game in the HD-2D art style and releasing it in 2022 under Team Asano.

That remake apparently did well enough, or was cheap enough to produce, that a follow-up seems to have entered the pipeline not long after. According to the latest information, LIVE A LIVE 2 has reportedly been in the works since at least 2024. This claim traces back to a leaker named Midori, who has a pretty solid track record when it comes to Square Enix news.

Midori first hinted at this by asking fans if they would be interested in a new entry in the series. Around the same time, they also mentioned that Team Asano was not just busy with Dragon Quest HD-2D and Octopath Traveler, but was also quietly developing a sequel to one of their earlier titles. That earlier title is believed to be LIVE A LIVE.

Now, a second leaker, Nash Weedle, has added fuel to the fire by confirming that LIVE A LIVE 2 is still moving forward behind the scenes. Nash claims to have inside information suggesting the sequel will move away from the structure of the first game and introduce completely new settings.

Among the eras being considered are an ancient Egyptian chapter, a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk chapter, and one centered around Norse mythology and Vikings.

The entire format should be faithful to the original equation, where each individual story will gradually converge into something bigger through a bigger plot twist. Considering the information provided thus far, it looks like LIVE A LIVE 2 will continue to follow the same format as its prequel, which consists of seven individual chapters from seven different eras, followed by one concluding chapter that brings everything together.

Honestly, the original LIVE A LIVE was not a game that clicked with everyone right away, and that includes plenty of longtime RPG fans. Some chapters, like the Wild West story or the fighting tournament arc, felt a little thin compared to standout sections like the ninja chapter, which had way more content and personality packed into it.

If LIVE A LIVE 2 is real, there is hope that Square Enix and Team Asano use this opportunity to flesh out each chapter a bit more so every era feels equally substantial. There is also an interesting angle here involving how Square Enix handles smaller-scale projects.

HD-2D titles are generally less expensive to produce compared to large-scale, fully 3D productions, which makes them a smart way for the company to keep releasing content steadily. This matters because Square Enix previously confirmed that a number of internal projects had been canceled, without specifying which ones.

If LIVE A LIVE 2 has survived that round of cuts, that alone says a lot about how much confidence the company has in this project moving forward.

One concept that could be considered for development is having the story and narrative of LIVE A LIVE 2 follow a similar format to that of Dragon Quest IV, wherein the characters go through their own stories in separate sequences before converging at the very end of the game. This particular story format can definitely work with a sequel that follows multiple ages and stories.

Right now, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding what Team Asano is actually working on next. The team recently wrapped up The Adventures of Elliot, and there has been no confirmation on whether they are handling the rumored Dragon Quest Zenithian Trilogy remake either.

Since Dragon Quest VII was handled in a different visual style compared to its HD-2D siblings, there is a chance the Zenithian Trilogy could follow a similar non-HD-2D approach, which leaves even more room for LIVE A LIVE 2 to be the project currently occupying the studio's time.

What makes this rumor especially exciting is the idea that Square Enix might be willing to revisit more of its SNES-era library for future sequels. If LIVE A LIVE 2 does end up releasing, it could open the door for similar treatment for other underappreciated SNES titles like Chrono Trigger, Treasure of the Rudras, Treasure Hunter G, or Bahamut Lagoon.

All of these are games with passionate niche followings that would benefit from the same kind of modern remake or sequel treatment.

Until Square Enix makes anything official, everything here should be treated as a rumor and nothing more. That said, the sourcing behind this particular leak is strong enough that it feels worth discussing seriously, especially for fans who have been hoping for a LIVE A LIVE 2 for years. Whether or not this ends up becoming a reality, the possibility alone is enough to make this one of the more exciting pieces of RPG news floating around right now.