Everything you need to know about Tales of Arise

In 50 years, who knows what the world might look like. Despite how radically different things might be, you can safely bet that there will still be a new Tales game in development. As predictable as the sun rising every day, Bandai Namco Entertainment always has a new Tales video game on the horizon.

2021 is no different as Tales of Arise prepares to hit shelves with updated mechanics and a brand new story for the fantasy role-playing game series. After some delays, an official release is finally set in stone.

Here's everything we know about Tales of Arise.

When is the Tales of Arise release date?

In April, Bandai Namco Entertainment finally confirmed that Tales of Arise will finally launch in North America on September 10, 2021. This is about a year later than initially expected. When the game was revealed during Microsoft’s E3 2019 press conference, it had a vague 2020 release window.

Bandai Namo was largely for a while after that announcement though, and the Covid-19 pandemic clearly threw a wrench in their release plans. “To achieve the quality and provide the gorgeous experience we envision for our players, we will need more time to realize that vision and therefore we decided to delay the launch timing for Tales of Arise,” producer Yusuke Tomizawa explained when the game was pushed into 2021.

Hopefully, the game isn’t delayed again.

Is there a trailer for Tales of Arise?

Yes! When the release date was confirmed, IGN received an exclusive English version of the trailer. It highlights many of the game’s main characters and their combat abilities. You can check it out below:

This trailer is just under two minutes in length, and it's brimming with information.

We get a glimpse at the story, which focuses on the country of Dahna. The country seemingly began as a prosperous nation before an invading silver-armored army laid siege to them. We meet our silver-haired hero, Alphen, his partner Shionne, and more characters after Alphen broke free from being a slave.

On what platforms is Tales of Arise available?

Tales of Arise was only confirmed for PC, PS4, and Xbox One when it was first announced in 2019. When the game reemerged in April 2021, Bandai Namco Entertainment confirmed that it would be released on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S as well.

There are rumors that Tales of Arise will be on Xbox Game Pass at launch, but that still has not been confirmed. IGN asked about a Nintendo Switch port but the developers did not confirm anything. For now, just know that you can pick up the game at full price on PC or your PlayStation and Xbox console of choice.

What is the Tales of Arise gameplay like?

Tales of Arise will use an updated version of the series' iconic Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS). If you don't know it, the LMBS essentially combines turn-based mechanics with a 3D battle setting, similar to what you might find in Final Fantasy VII Remake or Ni No Kuni. Outside of battle, players can walk around the game’s world, talk to people, and collect items.

Check out a dedicated gameplay video below:

What is the Tales of Arise story?

Here’s the basic premise of Tale of Arise, based on the official website:

"On the planet Dahna, reverence has always been given to Rena, the planet in the sky, as a land of the righteous and divine. Stories handed down for generations became truth and masked reality for the people of Dahna. For 300 years, Rena has ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its resources and stripping people of their dignity and freedom.

Our tale begins with two people, born on different worlds, each looking to change their fate and create a new future. Featuring a new cast of characters, updated combat, and classic Tales of gameplay mechanics, experience the next chapter in the world-famous Tales of series, Tales of Arise."

Will Tales of Arise have an anime?

Maybe? Ufotable, the studio that produced the Demon Slayer anime, has animated the franchise's cutscenes for the last decade, including those in Tales of Arise. They've also produced stand-alone adaptations of Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Zestiria, and Tales of Berseria. It has yet to be announced, but hopefully Ufotable will adapt Tales of Arise in some capacity.