Bandai Namco recently Tales of Graces f Remastered as the first title in the Tales Remastered Project, celebrating the Tales of 30th anniversary. We both got to go hands-on with Tales of Graces f Remastered and speak with the game’s producer, Yuki Ishikawa, who talked to us about the series’ future and the possibility of a Tales of Abyss Remake.
First, we asked why Tales of Graces f Remastered was chosen as the first title in the Tales of Remastered Program. One, Graces f is one of the more beloved titles of Tales of, Ishikawa said. It’s especially heralded for its battle system. Two, it was just “good timing to make this a remastered title.”
What Ishikawa means by “good timing” in this moment is related to Tales of Arise’s wide, positive reception not just within Japan, but with the overseas audience as well.
“When the team is thinking of what comes next for us, if they were to bring up something that is like a 2D pixel kind of game that was only on a Famitsu console the last time, there would be a huge gap between people who have liked Tales of Arise and then with that kind of content,” Ishikawa explained.
And three, the original version of Tales of Graces f had only four languages, so with a remaster, the Tales team is able to bring Tales of Graces f to a wider audience with more language options. This is especially true considering Graces f has been “stuck” on the PS3, at least over in the West, since its initial release here in 2012. Tales of Graces f Remastered is being released on pretty much all platforms–Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, and PC.
“In the past there were certain titles that were platform exclusive, but as of this moment and in terms of the current direction of the Tales of team, they're not looking to have the title or any upcoming titles to be platform exclusive,” Ishikawa explained. “We want to bring Tales Of to a wider audience. So we think one of the ways is by having it available on as many platforms as possible.”
Of course, there’s more to come after Tales of Graces f Remastered.
Personally, Ishikawa is a fan of Tales of the Abyss, and quoted it as one of the reasons why he entered the company [Bandai Namco]. “If [a Tales of the Abyss remaster] could happen and I could share that joy with the rest of the fans, that’s something I’ll work hard towards,” Ishikawa said.
“The goal for the Tales of IP in general is to make the IP grow,” Ishikawa explained. “So it’s not to say that the Tales of series is going to end with Tales of Arise…So whether there is an entirely new title, whether it’s a remaster, whether it’s a remake, we can’t say for sure, but we definitely want to keep moving forward.”
For more on Tales, don’t miss our Tales of Graces f Remastered Hands-on preview.
Casey DeFreitas is IGN's Deputy Guides Editor.
