In its most recent quarterly fiscal report, the Japanese developer confirmed that Ys 10 (or whatever it ends up being called) will launch before the end of Nihon Falcom’s ongoing fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2023. Series fans can look forward to the game launch sometime before October, then, while the developer also confirms that it will release for PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

It’s worth noting that that’s the game’s Japanese release timeframe, and there’s no word yet on when the game will launch in the West, or whether we can expect a PC version for its Western launch as well. The Japanese and Western launches of Ys 9: Monstrum Nox were separate by roughly a year and a half, and it did launch with a PC version in the West, but it remains to be seen whether the next game will follow that pattern as well.

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months.

Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo also provided additional details on the gameplay (translation via Gematsu). He noted that it would still have the series’ “smooth and exhilarating gameplay,” but other areas were being re-examined. It’s described as a “lighter-feeling” Ys take on the Soulslike genre. Whether the developer can implement “steadily-paced one-on-one combat in which the player can watch the enemy’s movements” is the real challenge. Weapon attributes changing by swapping party members is also being changed.

The story also seems to take place between Ys 1 and 2, which explains Adol’s age and may be set outside the Romun Empire. As for which platforms it will release on, Kando said, “While we cannot say platform(s) at this time, we want a wide range of players to enjoy it, and making Adol younger may have been for that purpose. It will be released as we’re working on various platforms.”

Overall, the team believes it vital to have new gameplay elements, whether it’s the scenarios, actions, or systems, and fans can look forward to the same. Stay tuned for more details and an official name in the coming months.

A first look at the next Ys game. pic.twitter.com/h2VoF24Gmr

— HDKirin (@HD_Kirin) June 22, 2022

According to Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo in an interview with Weibo (translation courtesy of Zero field Project on Twitter), the team is “already working on a new Ys game.” However, Kondo notes that there’s “no way that it can be released in 2022.” As for what fans can expect, “There will be new ideas in the new ‘Ys‘. In fact, from Ys 7 to Ys 9, these titles have maintained a similar system, but the new work will be completely different.”

While this could mean just about anything, it’s highly likely that the next Ys title is developed on Falcom’s new engine (used in Kuro no Kiseki). It’s been shown to handle action-based gameplay quite well, making it a good fit for Ys. But in the meantime, we’ll have to wait for more details.

Ys 9: Monstrum Nox is currently available for PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. Check out our review here for more details. It recently received an experimental co-op mode on PC which you can read more about here.

New Toshihiro Kondo interview regarding the following – More background story of Elaine in Kuro II, Chinese/Japanese Localization of Kuro II(Falcom/CLE), and mentions of the new Ys title being developed currently with new ideas and big changes.

Source: https://t.co/YgerUUABaf pic.twitter.com/raQqP16BIf

— ハオ(ハンスケ) (@Hansuke21) January 27, 2022

New Ys title Development:

Q: Are there any plans for the 35th anniversary of the Ys series and what is the current status of its development of new work?

— ハオ(ハンスケ) (@Hansuke21) January 27, 2022

Kondo: We can say that we are already working on a new Ys game, but no way that it can be released in 2022. There will be new ideas in the new "Ys". In fact, from Ys 7 to Ys 9, these titles have maintained a similar system, but the new work will be completely different.

— ハオ(ハンスケ) (@Hansuke21) January 27, 2022