Summary
Square Enix producer Tomoya Asano has teased fans about a potential announcement regarding theBravely DefaultJRPG series for later this year. The firstBravely Defaultgame was released as an exclusive for the Nintendo 3DS. It received generally favorable reviews, as it was a nostalgic revisit to the job-based systems seen in earlyFinal Fantasygames, while also utilizing a unique turn system that featured the titular Brave and Default actions. It got a direct sequel,Bravely Second, a few years later, which was also released on the 3DS, introducing new jobs and continuing on from where the first game left off.
The success of the firstBravely Defaultled to the formation of Team Asano, led by producer Tomoya Asano. The studio worked on a number of different RPGs for Square Enix, such asOctopath TravelerandTriangle Strategy. Team Asano revisited theBravelyseries for a third mainline installment known asBravely Default 2, which was released in 2021 and is set in a completely different universe than the first game. With Team Asano having releasedOctopath Traveler 2last year, it seems the studio’s next project will be another revisit to theBravelyseries.
A message was posted onto the officialBravely Defaultaccount in celebration of the third anniversary ofBravely Default 2. This message was accompanied by a small tease of what might be coming next, with Asano promising that the team will be able to share an update ontheBravelyJRPG seriessometime this year. “We are sure that we will be able to tell you something about the Bravely series this year, so please keep your eyes peeled!,” says Asano in a rough translation.
Tomoya Asano’s Message to Bravely Default Fans
We are sure that we will be able to tell you something about the Bravely series this year, so please keep your eyes peeled!
Fans immediately began theorizing what Team Asano might have in store for theBravelyseries. The most prominent theory is that Asano isteasing a remastered port of the firstBravely Defaultgameon the Nintendo Switch. Asano has expressed his desire to bring the original game to modern systems beforehand, and some felt it would be the perfect game to bring onto the Switch or its rumored successor.
BothBravely DefaultandBravely Secondare only available on the 3DS, which many felt handicapped the series, especially now that its numbered sequel is on both Switch and PC. A re-release of these two games would be beneficial, as it would re-introduce them to modern audiences who might have already abandoned their 3DS handhelds for the Switch. The other theory is that Team Asano will reveal aBravely Default 3orBravely Third, the latter being a direct sequel toBravely Second. This is still only speculation, though, and fans should wait until a more official update is given by Square Enix or Team Asano about what is next for this series.
Bravely Default
WHERE TO PLAY
From Silicon Studio, Nintendo, and Square Enix, Bravely Default is a Japanese RPG available for Nintendo 3DS. The player controls a party of characters in a turn-based combat environment while exploring, leveling, and traveling across the world of Luxendarc.
