MAGES. has postponed the release of STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT from its planned 2025 window into 2026, saying the extra time is necessary to further improve the remake. The announcement was accompanied by the first public preview images — renewed character designs, rebuilt backgrounds and new event stills — giving fans an early look at the project while key details such as platforms and language support remain unconfirmed.
Delay: quality over speed
The official communications from the Science Adventure Series and MAGES. (shared on the franchise's social channels) framed the shift to 2026 as a quality-driven decision. The team apologized to fans awaiting the release and asked for understanding while development continues. The company also noted that the screenshots and other visual material are from a work-in-progress build and may change before launch.
What the previews show
The preview drop highlights several areas of the remake’s overhaul:
- Character designs renewed by returning series artist huke, with updated outfits and refined accessories intended to bring more life to familiar faces.
- Background artwork reconstructed using reference material from the period to recreate Akihabara circa 2010. Some images are detailed enough that they could be mistaken for photographs, and locations not present in the original game have been added.
- Event stills recreated from new storyboards to heighten drama and immersion, including scenes that were not depicted in the 2009 release.
- Gameplay screenshots that include the text box and UI, clearly labeled as subject to change during development.
Several outlets noted specific background set pieces — the Future Gadget Laboratory, Manseibashi Bridge overlooking Electric Town, a coin laundromat next to the lab, Akihabara Radio Kaikan and the crashed time machine — as examples of the remake’s attention to place and period detail.
A near-complete rebuild with new story material
STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT is described by its developers as more than a simple remaster: it rebuilds nearly all assets from the original 2009 visual novel and introduces additional story content. That approach positions the title as a full reboot of the original STEINS;GATE while retaining the core Science Adventure Series concept.
MAGES. — which emerged from the earlier 5pb. studio after corporate restructuring — is leading development. The remake follows a lineage of franchise projects, including the original Xbox 360 release, the anime adaptations, the Elite remaster that used footage from the TV series, and spin-offs such as STEINS;GATE 0.
Release specifics still unknown; more info at WePlay Expo
MAGES. has not announced which platforms STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT will target, nor the languages that will be supported at launch. The company said new information will be revealed at WePlay Expo 2025, scheduled to run November 22–23 in Shanghai; local exhibitor Spike Chunsoft is expected to present additional details there.
What this means for fans and the franchise
Delays for ambitious remakes are common as studios reconcile higher visual standards and new narrative ambitions with fan expectations. For STEINS;GATE devotees, the preview material demonstrates an effort to modernize presentation while expanding the original game's sense of place and story scope. Until MAGES. confirms platforms, release timing and language options at WePlay Expo or through official channels, prospective players will need to wait for those specifics.
The RE:BOOT announcement also follows broader signals that the Science Adventure Series will continue to receive attention: a 15th-anniversary trailer previously hinted at ongoing projects in the franchise. Whether RE:BOOT is followed by other remasters, sequels or new Steins; titles will likely become clearer as MAGES. and its partners reveal their roadmap.
For now, fans can view the newly released artwork and screenshots as an early look at how the team is reimagining a modern classic — but should expect further changes before the game ships in 2026.