NIS America accelerates its localization efforts for Falcom's acclaimed Trails and Ys series, promising faster releases for Western audiences. This article explores the publisher's strategies and the challenges involved.
NIS America Speeds Up Western Releases of Trails and Ys Games
Quicker Access to Beloved JRPGs
Good news for fans of Japanese role-playing games! NIS America's Senior Associate Producer, Alan Costa, recently announced a commitment to faster localization of Falcom's popular Trails and Ys franchises. This follows the release of Ys X: Nordics and the upcoming release of Trails into Reverie.
Costa, in an interview with PCGamer, highlighted the company's dedication to streamlining the localization process, emphasizing the reduced timeframe for Trails into Reverie, despite its September 2022 Japanese release. This represents a significant improvement compared to previous release schedules.
Historically, Western fans faced substantial delays. The Trails in the Sky series, for example, experienced a seven-year gap between its Japanese PC release and its Western debut on PSP. Even more recent titles, like Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure, took over a decade to reach global audiences.
The extensive translation process, involving millions of characters, was previously cited as the major hurdle. Former XSEED Games Localization Manager, Jessica Chavez, detailed the challenges in 2011, emphasizing the limited translator resources as a primary bottleneck.
While the localization process remains a multi-year undertaking (two to three years), NIS America prioritizes quality alongside speed. Costa stressed the balance between rapid release and maintaining high localization standards. The goal is faster releases without compromising accuracy.
The challenges are undeniable; the significant text volume in these games necessitates considerable time and resources. Past delays, such as the one-year postponement of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana due to translation issues, underscore the importance of accuracy. However, NIS America's commitment suggests a successful approach to improving both speed and quality.
The recent release of Trails into Reverie demonstrates progress in delivering high-quality localizations more efficiently. The positive reception from fans and new players bodes well for future releases from NIS America.
For a more detailed look at The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie, please see our full review (link to review would go here).
