Shadow launches are all the rage, it seems. Only days after the Oblivion remaster broke the internet with its simultaneous announcement and launch, GOG just told the world it will be re-releasing the 2003 Windows port of Breath of Fire IV now—like, right now. The game is now available for purchase exclusively on GOG, making the cult-classic JRPG natively playable on modern PCs for the first time. The announcement comes only hours after the digital distribution platform teased the game on BlueSky.
It’s worth noting this is currently the only way you can buy and play Breath of Fire IV on a modern platform. The game was most recently re-released way back in 2016 for the PS Vita and PlayStation 3 but was de-listed in 2019.
In typical GOG fashion, this re-release also comes with a number of quality-of-life changes that should make diving back into the classic JRPG more in line with modern gaming conventions. Here’s the full list of features as listed on the game’s official GOG page. As always, it will be entirely DRM-free.
- Full compatibility with Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- 2 localizations of the game included (English and Japanese).
- Improved DirectX game renderer.
- New rendering options (Windowed Mode, Vertical Synchronization Control, Gamma Correction, Integer Scaling, Anti-Aliasing, and more).
- Improved audio engine (restored missing environmental sounds and audio configuration).
- Improved keyboard and mouse support.
- Improved Warehouse and Crane minigames.
- Improved F9 exit screen.
- Issue-free battle and combo system (all crashes have been fixed).
- Issue-free cutscene scripting.
- Issue-free task switching.
- Full support for modern controllers (Sony DualSense, Sony DualShock4, Microsoft Xbox Series, Microsoft Xbox One, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Logitech F series and many more) with optimal button binding, vibration, hotplugging and wireless mode.
- Improved support for controller hotplugging.
- Added full support for Sony DualSense Edge, Amazon Luna, Google Stadia, and NVIDIA Shield controllers.
Unfortunately, you still won’t be able to play the Breath of Fire titles on a single platform. The first two games currently available for purchase on the Nintendo Switch. Breath of Fire III hasn’t been re-released since 2005 on the PSP. Here’s hoping GOG can cut a deal with Capcom to reunite the full series on PC.
