In just one day, Nihon Falcom is set to launch the innovative action RPG Kyoto Xanadu across Japan and Asia, with the eagerly awaited global release of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter following three months later. Although Nihon Falcom has historically aimed to release “two new titles a year” as an objective it pursues, chief executive Toshihiro Kondo recently addressed whether the studio’s dual release in 2026 signifies that this objective has been met, and why he views this as crucial for the studio’s progression.
In a discussion with South Korean gaming platform ThisIsGame, Kondo indicated he is more disposed to credit Nihon Falcom’s expanded output in 2026 to favorable timing (please note that this piece depends on automated translation, so precise interpretation should be approached cautiously). From his perspective, the studio has not yet constructed a framework capable of reliably delivering two new titles annually, and he cannot unequivocally assert that they’ll be able to replicate this success in the coming year.
Instead, the debut of Kyoto Xanadu was feasible because a separate team, whose members do not coincide with the primary Trails and Ys development squads, had been laboring on it “behind the scenes,” and the project fortuitously concluded at the opportune moment.
Nonetheless, releasing two new titles yearly remains Kondo’s ambition. A hurdle Nihon Falcom encounters is that its intense concentration on developing established IPs like Trails results in a scarcity of projects where its younger personnel can mature and test their abilities. Kondo maintains that if junior developers aren’t offered chances to experiment and refine their skills, there will be no successors prepared to lead Nihon Falcom into the future.
He also points out that the organization has progressively been expanding its workforce (69 individuals as of March 2025’s conclusion), while also broadening the roster of producers available to manage projects. Kondo’s ultimate aim is to create a system under which Falcom can habitually release one flagship IP entry (such as Trails and Ys titles) and one original endeavor every year.
The forthcoming Kyoto Xanadu, despite being a follow-up to the established Tokyo Xanadu, exemplifies the latter, as it was directed by Nihon Falcom’s novice recruits alongside seasoned (but recently onboarded) mid-career professionals. Consequently, the game possesses a “novelty” that distinguishes it from other Falcom releases, and Kondo aspires to increase the quantity of such initiatives moving forward.
Related: Nihon Falcom reports 1227% year-on-year operating profit growth thanks to strong overseas sales