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Nihon Falcom recently announced that Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, a full 3D remake of the Trails’ series first entry, will be getting a simultaneous worldwide release in 2025 on PS5, Switch and Steam. In a shareholders meeting held on December 19, the company’s president Toshihiro Kondo spoke about why Nihon Falcom decided to remake the title, why it has taken 20 years to do so, and whether Trails fans can expect the other games to get the same treatment in the future.

As reported by independent journalist Suzuki Online, Kondo told shareholders that it has taken a long time to get round to remaking the roots of the Trails series because of the company’s size. “Nihon Falcom is not a big company – we only have 64 employees, which is why we’ve inevitably had to devote our resources to making the latest Kai no Kiseki and Ys entries, as well as other titles.”

However, as the Trails franchise became increasingly niche, with a declining number of new players, Kondo realized that it was necessary to breathe new life into the series. “When people come up to me and ask, “I want to get into the series, where should I start?,” I sometimes don’t know what to tell them,” he admits. Factors like the franchise’s variable availability across platforms and the nature of the games themselves make it hard to recommend a definitive Trails title to play first.

However, the Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter remake will give newcomers an accessible entry point. Not only that, but the upcoming game is also intended as “a message to longtime fans who haven’t played in a while or have grown a bit distant from the series.”

By bringing back the first title, Nihon Falcom hopes to “revitalize the Trails series, which has grown niche in recent years,” Kondo commented. In addition, he notes that the remake is Falcom’s response to growing concerns among Japanese game companies that the RPG genre is declining.

As for subsequent other early Trails titles like Trails in the Sky SC and 3rd, Kondo says that Nihon Falcom hasn’t yet decided whether they will get their own remakes, but that the company would love to keep going with the project if Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter turns out to be a success.

Nihon Falcom is remaking the Trails series to battle its growing reputation as a “niche” franchise, according to president - AUTOMATON WEST

Nihon Falcom's president Toshihiro Kondo talks about the reasons behind the Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter remake and other potential Trails remakes.

automaton-media.com

 

[Mister Wolf]

Finally doing a worldwide release certainly helps.

 

[ValiantTraveler]

They keep making Trails games with only 64 people? Amazing.

Struggling to attract new players is not surprising when you see how interconnected the games and worldbuilding are. The series’ strength eventually became a barrier for newcomers.

The addition of action combat elements and gorgeous visuals should make this remake more appealing to new players. Contending with rising dev costs and growing the player base is a common challenge for RPG devs.

I’m certainly going to buy it - we’ve come a long way from the era when the only localized game was TitS FC on the PSP.

 

[Shadowplay1979]

Enough, can we just get Dragon Slayer 9 already...or maybe Dragon Slayer 2'Xanadu part 8

 

[Mister Wolf]

Enough, can we just get Dragon Slayer 9 already...or maybe Dragon Slayer 2'Xanadu part 8

A new Xanadu coming.

 

[Hohenheim]

The "niche" stuff is often better than the more commercial stuff anyways. Trails in the sky Trilogy is brilliant!
Recently started Trails from Zero. Very cool to play through the whole series and see the quality of life improvements etc for each title.

 

[FeralEcho]

NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt

What do you think about this man?

I feel like niche games are much better than the popular garbage nowadays. It help$ the company for it to go popular sure but in the end it's always a franchise that ends up getting mutated by the changes for it to become so that it ends up unrecognizable to the original fans that fell in love with it in the first place.

And sure there are some exceptions but they are few and far between in my experience...So many of my favourite franchises went to shit trying to appease to bigger audiences. I'm exaggerating ofc but while not quite literal shit they are downgrades of their original form.

 

[Sentenza]

Finally doing a worldwide release certainly helps.

Delayed releases PLUS inane pricing for something so... well, frankly LOW on the production value are a big part of what contributed to keep Falcom a "niche" studio while others grew over the years.

That, and maybe they could start investing a bit more in their tech and graphics, too. Even the recently released Nordic has some geometry that wouldn't genuinely look that much out of place on a PS2.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt

What do you think about this man?

I feel like niche games are much better than the popular garbage nowadays. It help$ the company for it to go popular sure but in the end it's always a franchise that ends up getting mutated by the changes for it to become so that it ends up unrecognizable to the original fans that fell in love with it in the first place.

And sure there are some exceptions but they are few and far between in my experience...So many of my favourite franchises went to shit trying to appease to bigger audiences. I'm exaggerating ofc but while not quite literal shit they are downgrades of their original form.

I have mixed feelings on this, for one I'm happy that the remake for Trails In The Sky The First looks great. But it looks like they changed it to an action system than a turn based system (might be wrong about this) So far the characters are in line with how they look from the first game. But as you said, this game is looking to aim at a more mainstream audience. Which is fine with me as long as they don't try to censor anything. The first Trilogy of The Legend of Heroes is still my favorite Arc of the franchise, so I hope this remake does it justice. And I hope they don't cut out any story content. But yeah I'm taking a wait and see approach to it. The latest trailer did look good I admit

 

[Mister Wolf]

Delayed releases PLUS inane pricing for something so... well, frankly LOW on the production value are a big part of what contributed to keep Falcom a "niche" studio while others grew over the years.

That, and maybe they could start investing a tadbit more in their tech and graphics, too. Even the recently released Nordic has some geometry that wouldn't genuinely loot that much out of place on a PS2.

Sky Remake looks like a step up.

 

[Sentenza]

Sky Remake looks like a step up.

It does, indeed.
At least going from what they chose to shown in the trailer.

As a sidenote, I know this was just recently announced, but do we know if it's going to be a remake of the FULL game orif they are going to pull a Final Fantasy VII and break it into multiple titles?

 

[Shadowplay1979]

A new Xanadu coming.

meh thats perso...i mean another tokyo xanadu....i wish it would go back to the fantasy stuff

 

[Mister Wolf]

It does, indeed.
At least going from what they chose to shown in the trailer.

As a sidenote, I know this was just recently announced, but do we know if it's going to be a remake of the FULL game orif they are going to pull a Final Fantasy VII and break it into multiple titles?

It's the first chapter only, just like the original. They said if it fails they won't even bother making second chapter.

 

[Sentenza]

It's the first chapter only, just like the original. They said if it fails they won't even bother making second chapter.

Yeah, I meant if it was a remake of the ENTIRE original "first chapter" or not. I didn't even dare to assume it would include the second and third games.

 

[StereoVsn]

Yeah, I meant if it was a remake of the ENTIRE original "first chapter" or not. I didn't even dare to assume it would include the second and third.

It should be the full FC game. I mean it was what about 30-40 hours title in the first place? It wasn’t too long.

Hopefully this will sell enough (definitely buying myself) that SC will be made as well.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Yeah, I meant if it was a remake of the ENTIRE original "first chapter" or not. I didn't even dare to assume it would include the second and third games.

Pretty sure it's the whole game.

 

[Lorianus]

I think they will atleast make SC because they can use 100% of the assets of the FC remake, should be possible to produce on the down low, 3rd is more of a niche title (with great lore foreshadowing) but not nearly as needed.

Also Crossbell, they have nearly all the assets ready and waiting from CS4 and Reverie.

 

[Jack Videogames]

Ruh roh.

 

[Sebastian1295]

I'm a falcom fanboy. Love this company and i'll continue to support everything they release. I haven't played YS yet though but need too get into that series by them as well. Love the trails and tokyo xanadu series though.

 

[Sept Terrion Of Nothing]

If Falcom enters "More is better" thinking road, we may worry for the future. I'm not against the "reaching more gamers" philosophy but that philosophy more than often corrupts companies and producers in the end. Because the angle shifts from "Making a game for the gamers" to "Making a game to gain maximum income". Like I said this may not be true for the Falcom but it is really highly likely.

On the other hand, it maybe seen as "niche" but I see steady rising of players who play Trails games. I think the steady rise is better than becoming mainstream. I got really tired of money becoming the "only" thing everyone cares. Yes the money is important. Was important and will be important. But come on man, not everything is money.

Maybe I'm really afraid that this company and franchise will lose its way like many others before. Maybe I shouldn't care that much. Because I got old and I'm really tired about all these money discussions.

 

[Nok Su Kow]

Am I thinking of a different series or Isn't the localization on these usually not accurate? that's always been the stumbling point for me personally getting into the series

 

[Darkmakaimura]

So I guess this means SC and 3rd will also get remakes?

 

[Mister Wolf]

So I guess this means SC and 3rd will also get remakes?

Not if we don't buy this one.

 

[Skifi28]

The "enhanced" YS X announcement after it just launched in the west was a bad decision. I wonder what they have in store for trails.

 

[Zacfoldor]

Okay, all Trails needs to do is release stand-alone games that aren't part of a previous series and they will begin to have much better success.

Because the Trails name is already tainted with sequelitis, we need a new name for the JRPGs. Something that is unique for each one. Like Metaphor(though it was just taken).

It needs to be a name that shows it is completely standalone and all the marketing needs to point out that this game is not part of any other pre-existing lore.

Of all the good JRPG series, none is more mired in its own nicheness than Trails. The games are good but jumping in halfway thru a jrpg is not adherent to good sales. No one wants to do that.

Follow the Xenosaga/Persona/Ys path and start releasing stand alone games that we know are all in one or start making main character's more sexy and putting them on the box and we got a stew going. It's like a great fantasy novel series. It would sell more if you didn't need to read 4 books to start it.

 

[mèx]

Not sure how they could change Trails from niche to popular. At this point the time commitment is just too high for new players looking to get into the series.
The FC remake might help but I'm not convinced.

If they want to produce a hit they need to create a new series/standalone title. Unless they reboot the Trails series somehow, but that would completely miss the point of Trails.

 

[Darkmakaimura]

Okay, all Trails needs to do is release stand-alone games that aren't part of a previous series and they will begin to have much better success.

Because the Trails name is already tainted with sequelitis, we need a new name for the JRPGs. Something that is unique for each one. Like Metaphor(though it was just taken).

It needs to be a name that shows it is completely standalone and all the marketing needs to point out that this game is not part of any other pre-existing lore.

Of all the good JRPG series, none is more mired in its own nicheness than Trails. The games are good but jumping in halfway thru a jrpg is not adherent to good sales. No one wants to do that.

Follow the Xenosaga/Persona/Ys path and start releasing stand alone games that we know are all in one or start making main character's more sexy and putting them on the box and we got a stew going. It's like a great fantasy novel series. It would sell more if you didn't need to read 4 books to start it.

I can see a prequel that will happen after the main story is finished and maybe some spin-offs.

There is the argument whether Trails in the Sky the 3rd is a spin-off. It has connections to all the games but really doesn't fit in necessarily either. It's kind of a weird one out but it's also one of the best games in the series.

 

[LectureMaster]

Nihon Falcom is remaking the Trails series to battle its growing reputation as a “niche” franchise, according to president - AUTOMATON WEST

Nihon Falcom's president Toshihiro Kondo talks about the reasons behind the Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter remake and other potential Trails remakes.

automaton-media.com

My man, I think the issue with Trails is not that it's niche or not popular, it's that the structure and narrative of the series makes it extremely difficult for newcomers to pick up in the midway. Remakes will make it more accessible to go back playing precious entries but man, playing 11 50-hour+ games to catch the latest event is quite dreadful.

 

[Tajaz2426]

Yeah, fuckers! Oregon Trail remade and time for some drowning and dysentery! Let’s go.

Edit: never mind, screw everyone and Christmas!

 

[Arsic]

Day one on the remake. If they really plan to remake the original trilogy this will help onboard me.

 

[namenotfound]

I didn't know there was thought that the RPG genre was declining. I thought at least JRPGs have been in some renaissance for like the past decade now. At least some point after Persona 5 and the Vita died but everything started showing up on the Switch and Steam. Like the Atelier games are getting pretty close to JRPG mainstream and I'd guess next year this remake being simultaneous release worldwide bringing it maybe Atelier Ryza type popularity or higher and I'm betting Yumia elevating the Atelier popularity higher

I just started the Trails of Cold Steel. Going online to see where to start, people are aggressive about starting from Sky but screw that, starting from Cold Steel and then I'll play Sky next year.

 

[Paltheos]

I just started the Trails of Cold Steel. Going online to see where to start, people are aggressive about starting from Sky but screw that, starting from Cold Steel and then I'll play Sky next year.

This is fine. 'CS1&2 --> Sky 1-3 --> Zero&Azure --> CS3&release order on' has been my suggested path for a while.

Some people in the community are just insane. Starting from Cold Steel is not an uncommon and not unreasonable decision. The only thing people commonly agree on is making sure you've finished all the older games before starting CS3.

 

[El Muerto]

If the battle system changes i'm in. I gave up on Trails in the Sky, i really wanted to like it. This is like the only franchise i played where you can't really grind to level up. Ys is great though.