The following article summarizes key takeaways from the Steins;Gate Re:Boot showcase at the WePlay 2025 Expo in Shanghai.
In attendance were SciADV series producer Tatsuya Matsubara, series scenario writer Naotaka Hayashi, and series vocalist Kanako Itou. New details were shared regarding this upcoming remake of the Steins;Gate visual novel, which is now scheduled for a 2026 release with an English localization also confirmed.
- In the introduction to the showcase, Kanako Itou performed Hacking to the Gate, the opening song of the Steins;Gate anime adaptation, live for the audience. Then Naotaka Hayashi and Tatsuya Matsubara took to the stage to present the new Re:Boot gameplay trailer, which can be viewed in English here.
- Re:Boot’s newly drawn sprites have been created at extremely high quality. Kurisu’s sprite was given as an example; it’s been drawn at a resolution of 2743×9605, although its actual display size in-game will be 1000 pixels tall.
- Re:Boot’s story script fundamentally uses Elite’s as a base. One new story ending has also been added to Re:Boot, coming in addition to the original game’s existing six. More details will be shared at a later date.
- (Editor’s note: Steins;Gate Elite’s story script is a truncated version of the 2009 original’s that, according to fan calculations, contains roughly 33–36% fewer lines. It remains to be seen if any significant adjustments or compensations will be made to remedy this loss in Re:Boot.)
- Before working on the next SciADV series entry, the staff wanted to remake Steins;Gate with current-day techniques in the newest format, which is how they arrived at Re:Boot. The original plan was to release the game in 2025, but due to the staff’s strong desire for more details in the graphics, as well as interest in remaking the music and revoicing all the characters’ lines, the anticipated release period needed to be pushed forward so compromises could be avoided.
- When comparing the “bonds between comrades” felt by the members of the Future Gadget Lab to those felt by the game’s development team itself, Hayashi shared a humorous anecdote. Toward the end of the original game’s development, it was decided that MAGES. would move to a new office, but the Steins;Gate development team stayed behind to complete work on the game. This meant they were the only ones in the old, empty office, working frantically toward the release from cardboard desks. They would work all through the nights, which Hayashi felt overlapped with the atmosphere of the lab members researching various things or working on the Time Leap Machine throughout the nights.
- Matsubara encouraged new fans to approach Steins;Gate knowing very little about it, if possible, because it would be more exciting that way.
- The staff is touched by and greatly thankful for the Chinese fans’ passion for Steins;Gate. Steins;Gate has grown notably in popularity among Chinese fans recently.
- Kanako Itou performed Skyclad Observer, the opening song to the original visual novel, toward the end of the program. She confirmed that a new ending song is planned for Re:Boot’s additional new ending. She hopes to be able to perform for a Steins;Gate live concert in Shanghai in the future.
- Hayashi notes that he and Chiyomaru Shikura have commenced work on a new entry in the series as well, and he hopes everyone will look forward to it in addition to Steins;Gate Re:Boot.
Readers interested in pictures from the panel may wish to see 4gamer’s Japanese article on the event.
We’ll keep you updated as more information arises on the upcoming release of Steins;Gate Re:Boot. For more Steins;Gate news, visit our dedicated category.
