Trails and Ys Localizations Promised to Come Faster

NIS America commits to faster Western releases of Falcom's acclaimed Trails and Ys RPG series. This article details the publisher's efforts to streamline localization.

NIS America Accelerates Localization of Trails and Ys Games

Western Fans to See Faster Releases of Falcom Titles

Good news for fans of Japanese RPGs! NIS America's Senior Associate Producer, Alan Costa, recently announced a renewed commitment to quicker Western releases of Falcom's popular Trails and Ys franchises. This follows the release of Ys X: Nordics and the upcoming release of Trails Through Daybreak II in early 2025. Costa emphasized the company's dedication to faster localization without sacrificing quality.

While Trails Through Daybreak II's early 2025 Western release (following its September 2022 Japanese release) represents significant progress, the process remains a multi-year undertaking. Historically, localization has been a major hurdle, with titles like Trails in the Sky taking seven years to reach a global audience. The sheer volume of text in these games has always been a significant challenge.

Former XSEED Games Localization Manager, Jessica Chavez, highlighted the difficulties in 2011, explaining that the massive amount of text presented a significant bottleneck for small localization teams. While NIS America aims for faster turnaround times, Costa stressed the importance of maintaining high localization quality. The balance between speed and accuracy remains a key focus.

The one-year delay of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana due to translation issues serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the potential risks of rushing the process. However, Trails Through Daybreak II's release suggests a positive shift in NIS America's approach, indicating a successful strategy of balancing speed and accuracy.

The positive reception of Trails Through Daybreak II from both existing fans and new players bodes well for future releases. This improved localization speed, coupled with high-quality results, promises a brighter future for Western fans of the Trails and Ys series.

For a full review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak, please see our review below!