Developer Nihon Falcom, known for the successful JRPG series Trails, has announced plans to explore new project ideas to keep their creative energy flowing. After two decades of success, the studio aims to avoid stagnation by venturing into fresh concepts alongside their established franchises.
In an interview with Gamespot, the studio's president, Toshihiro Kondo, mentioned that the Trails series is nearing completion, encompassing four story arcs and a total of 16 games. While maintaining engagement in a single story for such a long period is commendable, Kondo highlights the potential drawbacks of this approach.
Over the past 20 years, the Trails series has been a major project for Nihon Falcom. Kondo recognizes the challenge of sustaining such a lengthy endeavor and acknowledges the team's desire for new experiences. Many members have new ideas and ambitions they wish to pursue.
Kondo described a unique challenge of working on the Trails series for an extended period, likening it to developing an online game. The team faces similar questions to MMO development, such as planning future events and the game's narrative trajectory. The constant demand for content creation can hinder creativity among younger staff, which is why Kondo encourages innovation through new projects.
While there are no specific plans for a direct continuation of the Trails series beyond current projects, Nihon Falcom is actively developing new IPs. This initiative allows younger team members to showcase their creativity and tackle new challenges, cultivating stronger developers with fresh perspectives to enhance the studio's future games.
Alongside these new projects and the ongoing Ys series, Nihon Falcom recently released The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak in Europe and North America. The sequel is already in translation and is set for a global release next year. For more on the Trails series and other top JRPGs, don't miss our best JRPGs ranking.
