Tales of series fans in Japan feel “played” by IP’s publisher. Criticism intensifies after Tales of Xillia Remastered announcement 

A look at Japanese gamer's reactions to Bandai Namco's handling of the Tales franchise in recent years.

Tales of Xillia Remastered

After teasing a new announcement for “Summer 2025,” Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed on August 19 that Tales of Xillia will be getting a remaster. A trailer was released on YouTube ahead of Gamescom 2025. Tales of Xillia Remastered will bring back the Tales series’ 13th mainline entry, which originally released in 2011 as a PS3 exclusive. 

This is the third remaster coming from Bandai Namco’s “Tales of Series 30th Anniversary Remastered Project,” following Tales of Vesperia and Tales of Graces f’s remasters from 2019 and 2025 respectively. Although fans are grateful for any new developments in the JRPG franchise, longtime Tales enthusiasts in Japan have been voicing dissatisfaction with how the IP is managed following yesterday’s announcement. 

I’m really happy to see Tales get new remasters, but… To put it bluntly, remastered titles aren’t something you announce with so much fanfare, they’re something you announce alongside a new release – people go “Oh, nice!” and that’s it. I would understand if it were a remake, but this really should have been announced during the Tales of Festival. 

Much of the complaints come from peoples’ disappointment with the lack of bigger announcements as of late (despite the franchise celebrating its 30th anniversary), as well as the way the new remaster’s announcement was handled – for example, Tales of Xillia Remastered will release on the same day as Dragon Quest I & II Remake, which will be an enormous launch, especially in Japan. 

This is what the Tales series looked like back in the day for us old-timers. If you were there, you’d understand why we feel baffled to see a single remastered title announcement treated like some kind of huge event, no? 
The current state of the Tales franchise is that fans yearn for games, but management keeps pushing events and merch, while hardly releasing games. I think it comes as no surprise that the fandom has grown so frustrated. 

Some users aren’t happy with Bandai Namco Entertainment’s choice for the Remastered Project either, suggesting that rather than Tales of Xillia, titles like Tales of Destiny 1 and 2, Rebirth, and Legendia are far more in need of re-releases given that they are becoming virtually unplayable in recent years. 

I have no complaints about the Tales Remastered Project itself, but management is aiming to attract new users (and currently failing), while the consumers are disappointed because they were expecting remakes or remasters of titles that are actually unplayable on current-gen consoles. It’s no wonder people are saying that management is underestimating the fans.

Although opinions are varied, much of the criticism in Japan seems to come from fans’ accumulated misgivings with the series’ publisher and marketing decisions. As another user on X puts it, “My criticism of Tales doesn’t stem from hatred, it’s a cry of despair. This wonderful franchise with a long history is withering away! I can’t bear it! Tales is gonna die! Listen to the users! Do some marketing that’s actually gonna sell! – That’s what I’m screaming about.” 

Tales of Xillia Remastered releases October 31, 2025 for PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X❘S and Nintendo Switch, with enhanced graphics and several quality-of-life upgrades. 

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Amber V
Amber V

Editor-in-Chief since October 2023.

She grew up playing Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein with her dad, and is now enamored with obscure Japanese video games and internet culture. Currently devoted to growing Automaton West to the size of its Japanese sister-site, while making sure to keep news concise and developer stories deep and stimulating.

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