Nihon Falcom’s President Surprised by Nintendo Direct Announcement of Trails in the Sky the 1st for Switch

During the August 2024 Nintendo Direct 'Partner Showcase,' fans of Japanese role-playing games were treated to an unexpected announcement: the reveal of Trails in the Sky the 1st, an eagerly anticipated remake from acclaimed developer Nihon Falcom, is officially coming to Nintendo Switch.

However, it wasn't just Nintendo fans who were caught off guard—Toshiro Kondo, president of Nihon Falcom himself, shared in a recent interview that even he was surprised by the timing of the reveal. For over forty years, Nihon Falcom has been at the forefront of the JRPG genre, with celebrated series like Ys and The Legend of Heroes.

Trails in the Sky, known for its engaging turn-based combat and detailed worldbuilding, originally debuted on PC in 2004, later reaching platforms such as the PlayStation Portable.

The upcoming remake promises updated visuals and gameplay enhancements exclusively tailored for modern hardware, with a confirmed launch for Nintendo Switch scheduled in 2025. In an interview with Taiwanese publication GNN, as reported by Siliconera, Kondo explained that he was "not informed in advance" that Nintendo would reveal Trails in the Sky the 1st during August’s Direct.

He noted that neither the developer nor key talent, including Joshua Bright’s Japanese voice actor Mitsuki Saiga, had any prior knowledge about the date or the inclusion of the game in the showcase.

According to Kondo, any element of surprise in the announcement was unintentional on the part of Nihon Falcom. Addressing community buzz about the quality of the trailer presented during the stream, Kondo clarified that Nihon Falcom was solely responsible for both the trailer and the game itself.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to quality and transparency, responding to players who questioned whether the visuals exceeded expectations for Falcom’s in-house development standards.

“Nihon Falcom is 100% behind both the trailer and the game,” Kondo stated. Trails in the Sky the 1st’s announcement for Nintendo Switch expands the franchise’s reach to a wider audience via the eShop in 2025.

This remake joins a lineup of high-profile titles revealed during the August Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, signaling Nintendo’s ongoing commitment to supporting beloved RPG titles from both Japan and beyond. For long-time fans and newcomers alike, the Switch release of Trails in the Sky the 1st represents an opportunity to experience a cornerstone of narrative-driven JRPGs, with original developer Nihon Falcom ensuring authenticity at every stage.

Stay tuned for further updates as the 2025 launch approaches and digital preorders become available via the Nintendo eShop.

Nintendo Nintendo Direct Switch Nihon Falcom Trails in the Sky the 1st Toshiro Kondo Falcom Kondo Nintendo Switch