NIS America has announced that The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure will be released on 14th March 2023 in North America, and 17th March 2023 in Europe on Switch! There's also a brand new story trailer to dive into and get you ready for an explosive finale next spring.

Kiseki/Trails fans don't have to wait too long to embark on the concluding half of the Crossbell Arc, following Trails from Zero's release this September. Azure is the fifth game in Nihon Falcom's Trails series and is the fourth game to get a Switch release in the West.

Trails to Azure continues the story of Lloyd Bannings and the Special Support Section following the dramatic conclusion to the previous game. Originally released in Japan on the PSP in 2011, this marks the first time the game has been officially released in English — just like Zero — and again will be using the Geofront's fan translation as the basis of its own localisation. The SSS get two more members this time around, and things supposedly go off the rails. And, if you're a Trails fan, you know you're in for a wild ride.

Here's what we know about the game so far from its Steam page:

Following the events of Trails from Zero, the Special Support Section find themselves with new members and new duties. However, rising tensions in Crossbell along with pressure from two neighboring political powers threaten both the safety of their home, as well as the integrity of their team.

About
The story of aspiring hero Lloyd Bannings continues in Trails to Azure!

Set just a few months after the events of Trails from Zero, a temporary peace has settled over Crossbell and the Special Support Section find themselves with newfound fame and status, thanks to their heroic actions.

However, the peace is soon broken with the rise of multiple organizations with ulterior motives. Framing these growing tensions is the increasing pressure from the Erebonian Empire and the Republic of Calvard, with Crossbell caught between them. With the safety of their home and the foundations of their team now on the line, Lloyd and his allies must gear themselves for the threats that loom ahead. Little do they know that Crossbell will soon become the stage for a climactic conflict that will determine its future...

Key Features
The Fate of the City-State: Play through the finale of the Crossbell arc, a key thread within the Trails universe. What lies ahead for Lloyd Bannings and his ragtag squad of allies?

Crossbell’s Finest Forces: Experience new combat features introduced by Trails to Azure, including Burst, Back Attack, and even your own customizable car. Also, meet a few familiar faces from the Trails of Cold Steel series!

Power from the Past: Import save data from Trails from Zero for a different story experience, including additional event scenes and entirely new scenes! Also, use your save data from Trails to Azure for bonuses in the upcoming release of Trails into Reverie!

Pre-orders for the Limited Edition are open at NISA's store in Europe (North American pre-orders appear to be out of stock at the time of writing).

So, we'll be going back to Crossbell early next spring then. That gives you about five months to get over the barrier of Trails from Zero. We gave the first game in the Crossbell duology a 9/10 in our review, so if the second half is as good as the first, then we're in for something special.

Will you be picking up Trails to Azure next March? Share your thoughts in the comments.