Nihon Falcom published on November 12 its latest financials, for its September 2019-September 2020 fiscal year, revealing in the process it will release multiple games by September 2021. Including a new Trails series / Kiseki series game. This will be the game starting the next arc, following The Legend of Heroes: Hajimari no Kiseki, released on PS4 (and PS5) on August 27 in Japan and Asia.

Falcom explained its goals for its next fiscal year, ending in September 2021. Nihon Falcom was founded on March 9, 1981, and will thus be reaching its 40th birthday in 2021. To celebrate, multiple new console games will be released, including a new Trails / Kiseki Series game.

With the release of Hajimari, the Trails / Kiseki series has now sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Falcom stated it will keep developing new IPs, alongside its flagship IPs such as the Ys series and the Trails series.

Lastly, Falcom mentions the Covid-19 pandemic didn't have a significant impact on its activities so far.

Thoughts And Explanations On Falcom 2021 Games:

Most of you who clicked on this article must already know, but for years now, Falcom always releases one new game a year. And always on the last week of September. Hajimari no Kiseki is the sole exception as it launched on August 27, 2020. As such, it's surprising to hear Falcom will release at least two games in 2021. But makes sense considering it'll be a special year with the 40th anniversary.

Falcom only develops on PS4, PS5 nowadays, with Switch and PC ports being handled by outside companies. Clouded Leopard Entertainment, who handles Asia localizations. And NIS America, who handles the Western localizations. As such it's likely the games Falcom launches in 2021 will first be exclusives to PS4 and PS5.

Both The Legend of Heroes: Hajimari no Kiseki and the game after it, now confirmed to be out by September 2021, were first teased by Falcom in March 2019. Both games have been developed simultaneously. The next game will start a new arc and it's supposed to be the "Calvard arc". Both games were furthermore teased with screenshots and story hints in June 2019, at the Kiseki Series 15th Anniversary Event. Lastly, Falcom mentioned in November 2019 that a new Kiseki game would launch in Japan by September 2020. Hajimari was finally announced on December 18, 2019, at a shareholders meeting.

Hajimari no Kiseki uses a new engine developed by Falcom for some of its cutscenes. The next game will be fully using the new engine. Falcom President Toshihiro Kondo confirmed all that in an interview. He also gave multiple hints about the next game's story. And mentioned that if Trails in the Sky ever gets a remake, it'll be with this new engine. We translated the interview here.

Falcom is already working on the next Ys game, thought we don't know if it's Ys X, a remake, or a spinoff. In the past, Toshihiro Kondo mentioned multiple developers at Falcom would like to make an Ys V remake so that might be it. Ys VIII Mobile is still in development as well. And a new Kiseki Vs Ys game can happen too. These are all games we could see in 2021.

Lastly, Falcom and Dengeki announced on November 6 a new event titled the Falcom Day 2020 Winter, to be held on December 20. The event will feature new information for Falcom's plans in 2021, multiple seiyuu (Japanese cast) from the Kiseki series, Toshihiro Kondo, and a live performance by Falcom jdk BAND. At this point, it's all but officially confirmed this is where the next game will be announced.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steeel 4 was just released in English by NIS America on PS4. The game is coming in 2021 on Switch and PC. Be sure to check our review by our knowledgeable writer Kris Cornelisse.  Meanwhile, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox will be out in English on February 2, 2021 on PS4, and on PC and Switch in Summer 2021.