Bandai Namco early this year announced that the next Remastered project will be announced this summer, and it seem they truly meant it. A wave of excitement has rippled through the Tales of series fanbase after a potential leak from Bandai Namco’s official YouTube channel hinted at the release of the long rumored Tales of Xillia Remastered. An eagle-eyed user spotted a thumbnail for a video of a Tales of Xillia skit that was listed to premiere on August 18th under the title “Tales of Series News”. While the video has since been removed, the accidental reveal has ignited discussions and hopes for the beloved PlayStation 3 title to make its way to modern consoles, especially after months of speculation that the next remaster would be either it or Tales of the Abyss.
Tales of Xillia, originally released in Japan in 2011 and later localized for the West in 2013, is the thirteenth mainline entry in the long-running Tales of RPG franchise. The game is set in the world of Rieze Maxia, where humans and spirits coexist, and follows the intertwined stories of two protagonists: Jude Mathis, a bright and compassionate medical student, and Milla Maxwell, the lord of spirits. For the first time in the series, players can choose to experience the narrative from either character’s perspective.
Known for its engaging storyline that delves into themes of prejudice, coexistence, and the balance between humanity and nature, Tales of Xillia also boasted the innovative Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS), which offered dynamic and strategic real-time combat that became the milestone of the series’ direction in more streamlined non-stop action combos taking a page from what Tales of Graces has started. The game was a critical and commercial success, selling over a million copies worldwide and praised for its compelling characters, intricate world-building, fluid gameplay and hilarious skits.
Adding to its appeal was the memorable theme song, “progress,” performed by the iconic Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. The powerful and emotionally resonant track perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the game and remains a beloved piece within the Tales of Xillia community.
While Bandai Namco has yet to officially confirm a Tales of Xillia remaster, the accidental thumbnail leak has provided a tantalizing glimpse of what could be on the horizon, let alone the title of the video, “Tales of Series News,” are we really going to get more than just this Remaster?
