Barring any surprises, we can also count as usual on a launch in the last days of September 2024, Falcom’s objective being to guarantee the release of a major game each fiscal year. With now 7 million games sold worldwide, which is 2 million more than in September 2020, the Trails franchise remains Falcom’s main asset. September 2024 will also see the release of a smartphone game The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War, adapted from the animated series of the same name released in early 2023.
Concerning the annual financial year ended last September 30, Falcom recorded a decline in turnover and profits, without however displaying a balance sheet very far from its usual, with a turnover of 15.5 million euros. and a net profit of 5.7 million euros. The venerable studio headed by Toshihiro Kondo remains a small thumb in the sector, even if this year was one of great resolution, that of developing its games on Switch in addition to PlayStation consoles. PC ports are generally provided by NIS America, a partner also in charge of localizations which unfortunately always lag behind the Japanese releases.
While waiting for news of the whereabouts of Ys X: Nordicsprecisely, it is therefore next summer that the West will get its hands on Trails through Daybreak, released in Japan under the name Kuro no Kiseki on September 30, 2021. In its outlook for the coming year, Falcom says it wants to increase the number of games in development and release new licenses. The intentions are stated, but getting out of the Trails / Ys alternation will undoubtedly be a delicate bet for an independent studio which has very little room for maneuver.
- Also read | Kuro no Kiseki becomes Trails through Daybreak and will be released in summer 2024