It's been known for some time that Namco Bandai in the U.S. has been working toward a revitalization of the Tales franchise in this part of the world. After an absence of over three years, the first original Tales game will be hitting the PS3 early next year in the form of Tales of Graces F. If you're a fan like I am, you were overjoyed with this news. We also just sat back and watched Tales of Xillia surpass half a million copies sold in Japan, a feat that is very close to rivaling the biggest RPG franchise of all time to come out of that country - Final Fantasy.

Shack News has relayed some key information in Namco Bandai's plan to continually support the Tales franchise in the west, from a conversation they had with the publisher's associate brand manager, Josh Sepielli. He had some interesting thoughts to share about the company's renewed relationship with their Japan-based side, as well as a focus to enhance the series' presence in the West.

There's going to be continued support for the Tales series that we've never had before. We've taken a lot of steps as a company from the point we've released Vesperia to where we are now. There's a lot more coordination with Japan when we're getting these games, when we're getting information. We're going to start getting the timing closer together. We're very focused on being a lot more international.

This seems vaguely like some sort of off-the-wall confirmation that we will see Tales of Xillia here at some point, if fan support is there. He went on to say, when grilled about Xillia specifically, "The fan base is very hardcore; but at the same time, they don't make a very large audience. I'd be lying to you if I said if these games bomb, they're going to turn around and make Xillia."

Time to start putting cash aside for both Tales of Graces F, as well as the Tales of the Abyss 3DS port - both of which are coming next year. If support is what Namco Bandai wants to see, the fans need to put their money where their mouths are, and show that support, otherwise one of the highest regarded games to come out of Japan in years will never see the light of day in North America or Europe.