Bandai Namco Addresses Challenges in Remastering Classic Tales of Games

Bandai Namco's Tales of series has been a cornerstone of the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) genre for nearly three decades, with memorable adventures such as Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia captivating players worldwide.

In recent years, Bandai Namco has responded to enthusiastic fan demand by remastering select titles in the franchise for modern hardware platforms, including the Nintendo Switch and digital storefronts like the eShop.

However, the order of these remasters—and the absence of certain fan favorites—has raised questions within the gaming community. Behind the scenes, the task of bringing these classic games to new audiences is more complex than it might appear.

Yusuke Tomizawa, the general producer of the Tales of intellectual property (IP), provided insight into some of the obstacles experienced during the development and remastering process.

According to Tomizawa, the primary challenge is simply locating the original source code for these older titles—a task made difficult by the franchise's varied development history.

Over the years, multiple studios have contributed to the Tales of series, resulting in disparate management and storage of critical game data. Tomizawa explained that every remaster project begins with an essential but arduous step: determining the location of the source code and identifying responsible parties.

He described the process as 'embarrassing but necessary,' noting that the development teams must first track down the original data before technical work can even begin.

When the original assets are located, they often contain inconsistencies or missing elements, requiring months of careful analysis and reconstruction to ensure a faithful and playable remaster. This candid acknowledgment from Bandai Namco's leadership illuminates why the release order of Tales of remasters does not always align with fan expectations.

The technical hurdles involved—more than business or creative preferences—frequently dictate which titles receive the remaster treatment first.

Since the debut of the original Tales of Phantasia on the Super Famicom in 1995, the franchise has seen over a dozen mainline entries and numerous spin-offs across platforms like PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Recent remastered releases, such as Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition and Tales of Symphonia Remastered, have introduced these classics to new generations, contributing to strong continued sales and increased brand visibility on the Nintendo eShop and other platforms. For fans eager to see more entries from the Tales of series remastered for the Nintendo Switch and other modern consoles, Tomizawa's comments provide valuable context—and a reminder that, despite modern technology, preserving and restoring gaming history remains a significant undertaking.

As Bandai Namco continues its efforts, the hope persists that more beloved Tales of adventures will be brought back for contemporary audiences.

Bandai Namco Namco Bandai Tales of series Yusuke Tomizawa Nintendo Switch eShop