D4 Enterprise, known for its EGGCONSOLE series that revives classic computer games for the Nintendo Switch, has recently withdrawn its rerelease of the iconic role-playing game Burai Jouken. This decision comes in the wake of concerns raised by the original creator, Takeo Iijima, regarding copyright permissions.
Background on the Controversy
Originally launched for the PC-8801 in 1989, Burai Jouken made its way back into the gaming world on February 20, 2025, through the EGGCONSOLE platform. This reissue coincided with an announcement from another company, Mebius, which was also preparing to release the MSX2 version of the game for the same platform.
However, it soon became apparent that D4 Enterprise had not secured the necessary permissions from Iijima, the copyright holder. In a public statement shared on social media, Althi, the owners of the Riverhill Soft catalogue, issued an apology to both customers and Iijima, acknowledging the oversight and clarifying that the MSX2 version is the “legitimate” release of the game. Consequently, the PC-8801 reissue has been discontinued and removed from sale.
Insights from the Creator
On social media platform Twitter/X, Iijima expressed his frustrations regarding the EGGCONSOLE release. He revealed that he had not been contacted prior to the game’s publication and had been actively seeking its removal for some time. Despite his efforts, he noted a lack of response from D4 Enterprise, stating, “I received neither an apology nor any contact from EGGCONSOLE’s publisher.” Ultimately, it was his direct outreach to Althi that prompted the game’s withdrawal from the market, leading him to consider the matter resolved.
Previous Incidents
This incident is not an isolated one for EGGCONSOLE. Earlier in August, the company faced backlash for unauthorized use of the MS-DOS-compatible PC98 emulator owned by M2, for which they also issued an apology. Such occurrences highlight ongoing challenges within the gaming industry regarding copyright and intellectual property rights, emphasizing the importance of securing permissions before launching reissues of classic titles.
