Ys X: Nordics PC Interview - Durante discusses Falcom's new engine, PC-exclusive features, HDR, co-op, & more | RPG Site

NIS America is launching Ys X: Nordics next week in the West across Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC platforms following its debut in Japan last year. Make sure to read Adam's full review of the game here and my Steam Deck feature here. I actually imported Ys X: Nordics on Switch last year because I did the same for Ys IX: Monstrum Nox on PS4 a few years prior as a huge fan of the series who did not want to wait a few years for a Western release. Little did I know that we'd just be waiting about a year to see Ys X: Nordics in the West.

Ahead of its release from NIS America, I've been playing Ys X: Nordics on Steam and PS5. After sampling the PC port handled by PH3 a little while ago, I had a chance to chat with PH3's Peter Thoman AKA Durante to discuss the PC port, exclusive features like HDR, local co-op support, a popular Trails series feature returning, the state of PC ports today, and much more.

Ys X: NordicsRPG Site: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, PH3, and how the studio has evolved over the recent years?Peter 'Durante' Thoman:RPG Site: Ys X: Nordics is the second game using Falcom's new engine that you've worked on. How was it working on it with learnings from The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak, and also can you comment on any notable changes Falcom made to the Engine for its second game running on said technology?Durante: RPG Site: How was the process for the team at PH3 handling Ys X: Nordics compared to Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, the last series entry you handled on PC?Durante: RPG Site: With Trails through Daybreak, we saw HDR added for the first time in a PC Falcom release. That feature returns here. What are your thoughts on the current implementation of HDR in both games and is there anything you wanted to do or still are planning to do on that front?Durante: RPG Site: The awesome BGM information feature from the Crossbell games makes its return in Ys X: Nordics on PC as yet another PC-exclusive feature. This is something I wish all games in general had. Was this something you pushed for or did NIS America want it in after the response to it in prior ports?Durante: RPG Site: Having now played Ys X: Nordics on PS5, PS4 Pro, Switch, and Steam Deck, I think the PC version on Steam Deck is my preferred version, but I wanted to also talk to you about the Ys X: Nordics codebase. This game seems to have been built for Switch first while earlier Falcom games seemed to be built with a PS4 target and then ported elsewhere. What are your thoughts on Ys X: Nordics' technology?Durante: RPG Site: I noticed Ys X: Nordics ships with the PH3 signature (in Ys games) co-op option. With this specific entry featuring two playable characters, it makes a lot more sense to have it. Can you discuss how you worked on bringing this feature into the game from day one?Durante: RPG Site: When I last spoke to you, we covered how NIS America launched Trails through Daybreak on PC with Japanese language support before patching in English and more features. For Ys X: Nordics, it is a worldwide simultaneous PC launch for the PH3 release. How did this alter your workflow if at all? I won't get into the visibility issues games run into when they get patched to add in more languages, but PH3 is shipping this day one everywhere, and it is more feature complete than a majority of PC releases I've played in a long time.RPG Site: When approaching Ys X: Nordics after the many Falcom game conversions you've worked on, what features did you prioritize bringing in from the start, and what did you want to have added to this release? Every PH3 release usually has a nice surprise for PC players. Durante: RPG Site: Since the last time I spoke to you about PC ports, have you had any more thoughts about using features like DLSS, FSR, or XeSS?RPG Site: With Ys X: Nordics now behind you (aside from any fixes I assume), what has been your favorite Falcom project to work on so far? RPG Site: I see Ys X: Nordics already runs well and looks great on Steam Deck. It ships with a few performance presets as well, so I'm curious what your recommended setup is for playing the game on both Steam Deck LCD and OLED with HDR?Durante: RPG Site: So Ys X: Nordics has the usual (and amazing) features from PH3 that we don't see on consoles like skipping logos, uncapped frame rates, 16:10 support, portrait supersampling, detailed anti-aliasing options, but is there anything you specifically want to highlight in this release? Durante: RPG Site: Can you discuss the game's asset caching option available on PC? Durante: RPG Site: Now let's touch on some of this year's PC releases. Did you end up playing Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion? Durante: RPG Site: I know you like the Atelier games a lot. What do you think of Atelier Yumia so far?Durante: RPG Site: Have you tried any recent PC releases and what did you think of their port quality? Durante: RPG Site: I know you've been busy leading into the Ys X: Nordics PC launch, but have you had a chance to check what's been announced at TGS? RPG Site: When I spoke to you before, you mentioned that PH3 just got a coffee machine for the office. Since you enjoy tea more, let us know how you like to drink it and if you still use that RGB kettle?