Trails and Ys Localizations Promised to Come Faster

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

NIS America Accelerates Localization of Trails and Ys Games

Western Fans to Enjoy Falcom Titles Sooner

Excellent news for JRPG enthusiasts! During the recent Ys X: Nordics digital showcase, NIS America's Senior Associate Producer, Alan Costa, announced a renewed focus on quicker Western releases of the popular Trails and Ys franchises.

Costa, in a PCGamer interview, confirmed dedicated efforts to expedite localization, highlighting Ys X: Nordics (October release) and Trails Through Daybreak II (early 2025) as examples of improved turnaround times. Even with Trails Through Daybreak II's September 2022 Japanese release, the early 2025 Western launch represents a significant improvement on previous timelines.

Historically, Western fans endured substantial delays. The Trails in the Sky series, for example, experienced a seven-year gap between its 2004 Japanese PC release and its 2011 global PSP debut (published by XSEED Games). More recent titles like Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure faced a twelve-year wait.

The extensive localization process was previously explained by former XSEED Games Localization Manager, Jessica Chavez, in a 2011 blog post. She attributed the delays to the immense volume of text requiring translation with limited staff. The sheer scale of text in Trails games made years-long localization seemingly inevitable.

While a two-to-three-year process remains, NIS America emphasizes quality. Costa stated that speed won't compromise quality, highlighting their ongoing efforts to find the optimal balance.

The time-consuming nature of localization, particularly with text-heavy games, is understandable. The one-year delay of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana due to translation issues serves as a cautionary tale. However, Costa's statements suggest NIS America is successfully navigating the challenge of balancing speed and accuracy.

The recent release of Trails Through Daybreak signifies progress in delivering high-quality localizations faster. The game's positive reception from both existing fans and newcomers bodes well for future NIS America releases.

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