Classic romantic adventure game Kanon is being remastered for the Switch and now has a release date in Japan, according to tipster Ryokutya2089. Based on a reveal in the upcoming issue of Weekly Famitsu, Kanon on Switch will land on April 20, 2023. [Thanks, Gematsu!]
As detailed in previous reveals, Kanon on Switch will receive a few minor graphical updates, as more than twenty years have passed since its 1999 release. It’ll run at an HD resolution of 720p and the in-game art will have adjustments to coloring to suit modern screens.
However, the aspect ratio of the in-game art will not be changed from its original 4:3 dimensions. Games in 4:3 were more common back then, as it was the dominant aspect ratio for TVs. Over time trends shifted, and today 16:9 “widescreen” is the default on most TVs, PC monitors, and the Switch. To compensate, players will be able to scroll the screen up and down with the analog stick or touch screen. The game will also have full voice acting for almost the entire main cast. The one exception is protagonist Yuichi Aizawa, who will have partial voice acting.
Kanon on Switch will be the 7th time the game has been released to a new platform. Since the PC release in 1999, Kanon has appeared on the Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, pre-smartphone “feature phone” operating systems, Android, and on Apple’s iOS. It has never received an official English-language release. That said, other games by developer Key have seen global releases, including Clannad, Planetarian, and Little Busters!.
Kanon launches on the Nintendo Switch in Japan on April 20, 2023. No overseas versions have been announced as of yet.
