Tales of series producer reveals ‘over 70% of players are from overseas’
The producer of the long-running Tales of JRPG franchise, published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, has provided crucial statistics regarding the shifting global reach of the series, noting that a vast majority of the player base now resides outside of Japan. The producer stated in a recent interview that over 70% of Tales of players come from overseas. This dramatic figure highlights the massive international success achieved by recent titles in the franchise, such as Tales of Arise, and validates the global strategy adopted by the publisher.
This demographic shift confirms the Tales of series as a truly global JRPG phenomenon, requiring a strong focus on high-quality localization and simultaneous worldwide releases to cater to its expansive audience across the globe. This trend is consistent with the rising international popularity of JRPGs generally.
However, despite the diversity in player origins, the producer was quick to offer a reassuring observation, noting that JRPG fans fundamentally seek the same core elements from the genre regardless of where they are from. This consistency in player desire means that developers can focus on refining the established strengths of the Tales of series such as its deep, character-driven narratives, unique combat systems, and the signature skits used for dialogue without needing to drastically overhaul the franchise’s core identity to appeal to differing regional tastes. The universal appeal of complex character development and rich world-building remains the primary draw for JRPG enthusiasts everywhere.
THIS IS Our Take
The producer’s comments are an insightful look at the current state of the global gaming market. The finding that JRPG fans worldwide want the same things complex characters overcoming epic struggles proves that great storytelling transcends borders. This realization is excellent news for the Tales of series, as it frees the developers to focus their efforts on refining their proven formula and delivering the high-quality, character-driven adventures that their now-global audience demands. It’s clear the global JRPG market has finally found its rhythm, and all it took was for the developers to keep doing what they do best.
 origin: automaton
