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Tales of Zestiria Port Proves PCs Now a JRPG Destination

Tales of Zestiria Port Proves PCs Now a JRPG Destination

It’s a funny thing – a lot of the good news comes out ahead of E3. Leaks and early announcements are great for building hype and boosting moods. But sometimes, there’s more of a takeaway than knowing we’re getting a new game. Occasionally, these announcements are an indication of new trend.

Take the Tales of Zestiria announcement, for example. Bandai Namco has provided a release date and platform announcement for the game, which included a “not-surprise.” The reveal confirmed the game’s multiplatform nature, showing it will be on the PS3, PS4, and PC. It’s that last one that matters, as it shows once and for all that the recent trend of JRPGs appearing on Steam isn’t some passing fad. The Tales of Zestiria announcement proves this will be a regular thing.

Sure, Bandai Namco is only doing something XSEED has done for a while now. The smaller company did a fantastic job of paving the way with ports of established JRPG hits. Nihon Falcom Ys installments and The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky were more than welcome. But, they only arrived after releases on other systems, after quite a delay, and this was a smaller company. Niche publishers often undertake unexpected actions.

It was Square Enix’s ports of Final Fantasy games that suggested PCs could become a major destination for JRPGs. I mean, it’s Square Enix. But even that wasn’t any kind of guarantee or surefire evidence that JRPGs were now a PC thing. Ports are the company’s trademark now. It would have been more surprising if every Final Fantasy game possible wasn’t given a PC adaptation.

Tales of Zestiria Port Proves PCs Now a JRPG Destination

No, it’s Bandai Namco Tales of Zestiria undertaking that shows real commitment and faith. This is a major JRPG release that’s coming to PCs. It’s an event. In fact, it’s a first! The game is getting a near-simultaneous PS3, PS4, and PC launch during the week of October 20, 2015. Every other JRPG appearance has been on a delay. Going all in like this shows Bandai Namco’s faith in the platform.

Tales of Zestiria is a big deal and wonderful sign. JRPGs, a genre that seemed like it could have been overshadowed and forgotten in an era where BioWare and Bethesda western RPGs reign, are finding a new home. The genre is being treated with a renewed sense of respect, and Tales of Zestiria and Bandai Namco’s investiment further estabishes PCs as a JRPG haven.

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