Nihon Falcom dropped a confirmation that JRPG fans have been anxiously waiting for. In the company’s financial report for the fiscal year ending September 2025, released November 11, they officially announced Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter will launch by September 2026. This remake of the beloved 2006 classic The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC follows the massively successful release of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, which hit PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC in September 2025.
Faster Than Expected
The announcement comes sooner than many expected. While the existence of 2nd Chapter was teased in a post-credits scene at the end of 1st Chapter, nobody anticipated Falcom would have it ready within a year of the first remake’s launch. The original release gap between the first and second Sky games was over a year in Japan, and Western fans waited even longer for localizations. Falcom’s accelerated timeline suggests they learned from that pacing and want to keep momentum strong while 1st Chapter is still fresh in players’ minds.
The rapid turnaround makes sense from a development perspective. Most of the heavy lifting is already done. The engine, character models, combat system, locations that appear in both games, and overall visual style were established in 1st Chapter. Falcom just needs to build the new areas specific to 2nd Chapter, implement the story beats, record additional voice acting, and balance the expanded combat encounters. They’re not starting from scratch like they were with the first remake.
President Toshihiro Kondo confirmed in an interview with Automaton Media that the team is actively working on 2nd Chapter right now. Given Falcom’s track record with the first remake, which launched to overwhelmingly positive reviews and strong sales, the company clearly feels confident about delivering quality on a tight schedule.
Why Second Chapter Matters
Trails in the Sky SC holds a special place in the hearts of longtime series fans. The original 2006 release is widely considered one of the franchise’s best installments, featuring gut-punching story developments, incredible character growth for protagonist Estelle Bright and deuteragonist Joshua Bright, and some of the most memorable boss encounters in the entire Trails saga. Where 1st Chapter serves as world-building and character introduction, 2nd Chapter delivers the emotional payoff that transforms a good JRPG into an unforgettable experience.
The story picks up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of 1st Chapter. Without spoiling anything for newcomers, Joshua’s disappearance sets Estelle on a journey across the Liberl Kingdom searching for answers while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire nation. The narrative explores themes of identity, trauma, redemption, and the power of human connection in ways that hit harder than most JRPGs manage. Players who finished 1st Chapter and saw that teaser know exactly why they need this sequel as soon as possible.
Combat in SC introduces more complex enemy formations, tougher bosses that require actual strategy rather than brute force, and expanded Orbment customization that lets you fine-tune your party’s Arts and abilities. The pacing improves over the first game too, with less downtime between major story beats and more varied mission objectives that keep the 60-plus hour runtime feeling fresh throughout.
How 1st Chapter Performed
The success of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter basically guaranteed this sequel would happen, but the speed of the announcement suggests it exceeded even Falcom’s expectations. The remake launched September 19, 2025, to critical acclaim, currently sitting at 89 on OpenCritic with overwhelmingly positive user reviews on Steam. Critics praised the full English voice acting, modernized combat system, gorgeous visual upgrade, and quality-of-life improvements that make the 20-year-old game feel completely contemporary.
Sales numbers haven’t been publicly disclosed, but Falcom announced the entire Trails series surpassed 9 million units sold worldwide as of September 2025. Considering they reported 8 million units back in August 2024, that 1 million unit jump in roughly a month strongly suggests 1st Chapter moved significant copies at launch. The game launched simultaneously on PS5, both Switch models, and PC, ensuring maximum platform reach from day one.
The remake successfully brought in new players while satisfying returning fans who wanted a modernized version of the classic. Accessibility improvements like fast travel, clearer quest markers, better tracking for missable items, and adjustable difficulty made the game far more approachable than the original PSP release. Veterans appreciated the expanded script, new voice performances, and refined combat that maintained the spirit of the original while fixing its dated mechanics.
What About Third Chapter
Here’s where things get interesting. The original Trails in the Sky trilogy includes a third game, Trails in the Sky the 3rd, which released in 2007 in Japan. It follows Kevin Graham, a supporting character from the first two games, through a dungeon-crawling adventure that explores side stories and expands the lore of supporting cast members. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Falcom will remake that one too.
Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but the pattern suggests it’s likely. Falcom wouldn’t remake two-thirds of a trilogy and leave the final entry untouched, especially when they already have the assets, character models, and engine built. The 3rd is also significantly shorter than the first two games and features less new environment work since much of it takes place in abstract dungeon spaces. That makes it a more manageable project to tackle after 2nd Chapter wraps up.
Fan speculation also points toward potential remakes of Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure, the Crossbell duology that chronologically follows the Sky trilogy. Those games received enhanced ports to modern platforms in 2022 and 2023, but full ground-up remakes in the style of 1st and 2nd Chapter would bring them in line with the new visual standard. Falcom already has most of the necessary assets since several Crossbell locations and characters appear in later Trails games. It’s just a question of whether they want to commit to that much remake work or focus resources on new entries in the series.
Trails Beyond the Horizon Coming First
Before 2nd Chapter arrives, Falcom has another major release hitting in January 2026. The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon launches January 15 for PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, and PC. This entry marks the next chapter in the Calvard arc following Trails through Daybreak and Trails through Daybreak 2, featuring protagonist Van Arkride alongside returning characters from previous arcs including Rean Schwarzer from Cold Steel and Kevin Graham from Sky the 3rd.
Beyond the Horizon represents a massive crossover event bringing together heroes from across the entire Trails timeline. The story follows Van and his team as they investigate a high-tech training exercise that quickly spirals into a conspiracy threatening the entire Zemurian continent. The game introduces new mechanics like Shard Commands, Z.O.C. time-freezing abilities, and the Grim Garten dungeon where you can build custom parties from characters across multiple arcs.
NIS America is handling the Western localization and publishing, with Limited Edition and Deluxe Edition versions available for pre-order that include art books, soundtracks, and collectibles. The January release puts Trails fans in an interesting position where they’ll experience the newest entry in the chronological timeline while waiting for the remake of one of the earliest chapters. It’s a weird timeline, but longtime fans are used to Trails’ complicated release schedule at this point.
What to Expect From the Remake
Based on what Falcom delivered with 1st Chapter, expect 2nd Chapter to maintain the same presentation quality and modernization philosophy. Full English and Japanese voice acting across all story scenes, updated character models with more expressive animations, enhanced lighting and environmental effects, and a refined combat system that speeds up encounters without sacrificing tactical depth. The script will likely receive similar treatment, modernizing some dialogue while maintaining the core story beats that made SC memorable in the first place.
Quality-of-life features from 1st Chapter will carry over, including fast travel between major locations, adjustable difficulty settings, turbo mode for regular encounters, and improved quest tracking. The remake will probably add new voiced scenes that weren’t in the original PSP version, expanding character interactions and providing additional context for events. Falcom might also include bonus content like challenge dungeons or New Game Plus modes that weren’t present in the 2006 release.
The platforms seem locked in as PS5, Switch, Switch 2, and PC via Steam based on 1st Chapter’s release pattern. Expect simultaneous worldwide launch rather than the months-long gap between Japanese and Western releases that plagued earlier Trails games. That unified launch strategy has become standard for Falcom’s recent titles, eliminating the frustration of waiting for localizations while dodging spoilers online.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter release?
Falcom confirmed the game will launch by September 2026 during their fiscal year ending that month. A specific date hasn’t been announced, but based on 1st Chapter launching in September 2025, expect a similar timeframe.
What platforms will 2nd Chapter be on?
While not officially confirmed, expect PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam based on 1st Chapter’s platform lineup. All versions will likely launch simultaneously worldwide.
Do I need to play 1st Chapter before 2nd Chapter?
Absolutely. Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a direct continuation of 1st Chapter’s story, picking up immediately after the first game’s cliffhanger ending. You cannot understand the narrative without playing through the first game.
How long is Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter?
The original Trails in the Sky SC took most players 60 to 80 hours to complete, making it slightly longer than the first game. Expect similar length for the remake.
Will there be a 3rd Chapter remake?
Nothing has been officially announced, but fan speculation suggests Falcom will complete the trilogy. The 3rd game is significantly shorter and would reuse many assets from the first two remakes, making it a logical continuation.
How much will 2nd Chapter cost?
Pricing hasn’t been announced, but 1st Chapter launched at $59.99 USD. Expect similar pricing for the sequel across all platforms.
Is this a sequel or a remake?
2nd Chapter is a ground-up remake of the 2006 game The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC. It’s the same story with modernized graphics, full voice acting, refined combat, and quality-of-life improvements, but it’s not a new original entry in the series.
Conclusion
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter arriving by September 2026 represents incredible momentum for Falcom’s remake initiative. The success of 1st Chapter proved there’s massive demand for modernized versions of these classic JRPGs, and delivering the sequel within a year keeps that enthusiasm burning hot. For players who finished 1st Chapter and got hit with that emotional cliffhanger, knowing the continuation is less than a year away provides relief after waiting nearly two decades for this level of production quality. The remake strategy also introduces an entirely new generation to the Trails universe, building the fanbase that will support future entries while giving veterans a chance to experience beloved stories with contemporary presentation. Whether you’re a longtime Trails devotee or someone who just discovered the series through 1st Chapter, mark your calendars for late 2026. Second Chapter is coming, and if Falcom delivers the same quality they brought to the first remake, we’re in for one hell of an emotional ride through Liberl Kingdom.