Localizations of Trails and Ys Incoming Soon

NIS America Accelerates Western Releases of Trails and Ys Series

Good news for fans of Falcom's acclaimed Trails and Ys JRPG franchises! NIS America, the publisher bringing these titles to the West, has announced a significant push to expedite localization efforts. This commitment to faster release cycles was revealed during the recent digital showcase for Ys X: Nordics.

Alan Costa, NIS America's Senior Associate Producer, confirmed the initiative in an interview with PCGamer, highlighting the upcoming releases of Ys X: Nordics (this October) and Trails Through Daybreak II (early 2025) as examples of this accelerated timeline. While specifics on internal changes remain undisclosed, Costa emphasized the company's dedication to quicker localization. The early 2025 release of Trails Through Daybreak II, originally released in Japan in September 2022, represents a considerable improvement over previous release windows.

Historically, Western fans faced lengthy delays. The Trails in the Sky series, for example, saw a seven-year gap between its Japanese PC release (2004) and its Western PSP debut (2011). More recent titles like Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure took twelve years to reach Western audiences. This was largely attributed to the immense volume of text requiring translation, as detailed in a 2011 blog post by a former XSEED Games Localization Manager.

While NIS America acknowledges that localization remains a two-to-three-year process, they emphasize a commitment to quality alongside speed. Costa clarified that while rapid releases are a goal, they won't compromise localization quality. The balancing act between speed and accuracy is an ongoing effort, with improvements continually being made.

The past challenges, including the one-year delay of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana due to translation issues, highlight the potential pitfalls of rushing the process. However, the recent release of Trails Through Daybreak suggests a successful step towards faster, high-quality localizations. The positive reception of this title bodes well for future releases from NIS America.

Read our review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak for a more in-depth look!