In a move that’s sending waves of joy through the JRPG community, GungHo Online Entertainment America has officially confirmed that Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, the full-fledged remake of the beloved Nihon Falcom classic is getting a brand-new English localization when it launches worldwide in Fall 2025.
Announced alongside the opening of physical pre-orders, this new localization is being touted as one that “honors the original Japanese text” a phrasing that, to many long-time fans, reads as a direct repudiation of XSEED Games’ much-maligned translation of the original release which will no doubt send ripples of excitement for true fans of the Trails series and Nihon Falcom.
In its latest press release, the publisher has confirmed that the Western release of this celebrated Nihon Falcom title will include a newly developed English localization which marks a significant shift from the controversial approach taken by XSEED Games in their earlier localization of the title and many others by Falcom.
Fans can expect a script that moves away from the original localization, which has long been criticized for straying far from Nihon Falcom’s original vision. The XSEED translation of Trails in the Sky (first released in the West in 2004 in Japan and 2011 in North America) was marred by what can only be described as belligerent fanfiction.
The dialogue was heavily altered, with significant rewrites that changed the personalities of key characters, most notably the series’ beloved tomboy heroine, Estelle Bright. In the original Japanese text, Estelle is a spirited yet nuanced young woman whose signature “What” catchphrase reflects her earnest and slightly cheeky demeanor.
However, XSEED’s localization replaced this with over-the-top, infantile insults, often centered on Estelle threatening to hit others with her “big stick.”
These changes created a new personality for Estelle that felt disconnected from her authentic character, alienating fans who valued the depth and charm of Nihon Falcom’s storytelling.
GungHo’s press release aims to address these concerns head-on, promising a newly revised localization that restores the heart of the series, although how credible and authentic their claims end up being is yet to be determined. This commitment to fidelity aligns with growing industry trends, as seen in Nihon Falcom’s recent experiments with AI-assisted translations for titles like The Legend of Heroes: Kai no Kiseki.
GungHo’s supposed commitment to authenticity emphasizes the fact that delivering a script that faithfully reflects the original Japanese narrative is imperative to core consumer audiences, likely under Nihon Falcom’s close oversight to avoid the shortcomings of past localizations.
Previous efforts by XSEED and NIS America have often alienated dedicated fans who prioritize authenticity, especially given the long delays for Western releases of Nihon Falcom’s Trails series, The Legend of Heroes, and Ys.
As Nihon Falcom explores the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence for game translations in the future, it’s becoming clear that automated systems are not only far more efficient, dramatically speeding up the process but also significantly more cost-effective than relying on controversial localization teams who mainly drive customers away with their bullshit fanfiction.
Recent examples, such as the English release of Trails Through Daybreak II by NIS America, illustrate the pitfalls of current localization practices. The script was altered with out-of-place Western slang like “chill pill” and “rizz” which effectively dates the final product while also altering the games dialogue to impose modern Western identity politics.
Notably, the effeminate male character Quatre was misrepresented, with dialogue from the player questioning his identity, specifically asking “which pronouns” to use for Quatre, thereby injecting contemporary identity politics into a script where it was never intended.
These changes have sparked considerable criticism and reinforce the advantages of AI-driven localization for preserving authorial intent if big name companies like NISA and XSEED continually butcher translations to benefit the selfish actions of their editorial staff.
The Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter remake promises more than just a faithful script, the game will feature its retold story with new voice acting featuring Tomoyo Takayanagi as Estelle alongside drastically enhanced visuals, and gameplay improvements, including action-oriented field mechanics that transition seamlessly into command-based battles.
These updates aim to modernize the classic RPG while preserving the essence of the Liberl Kingdom, where Estelle and her adopted brother Joshua embark on their journey to become Bracers, protectors of the people only to uncover a sinister conspiracy threatening their homeland.
The remake will launch simultaneously worldwide in Fall 2025 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, marking a significant moment for the Trails series, which has cultivated a dedicated global following.
Fans will also have the option to play the game with its revised English translation alongside full Japanese voice acting, something absent from the original release. This move caters to those who value a more authentic experience and highlights GungHo’s intention to remain faithful to the original material, giving consumers lingual freedom.
While the final outcome of the localization is still unclear, replacing XSEED’s heavily altered script is a promising move. That said, remnants of the embellished localization might still linger under GungHo America’s oversight.
The best approach is to wait for the official release of Trails in the Sky: First Chapter and assess the accuracy of its English translation from there before making your purchase.
For longtime fans however, the potential chance to experience The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky’s story with dialogue that may accurately reflect Estelle’s true character is a welcome change. This could signal a turning point for the English localizations of Nihon Falcom titles, one that prioritizes accuracy and may set a new standard for future translations, at least until machine learning makes publishers like NISA and XSEED entirely obsolete.
