Today marks a significant milestone in the gaming world as GungHo and Falcom unveil the worldwide release of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. This launch is particularly noteworthy, being Falcom’s first multi-platform release on a global scale and the first internal PC port in several years. Traditionally, the company has relied on Western publishers for its PC releases, which typically coincide with English console versions. Fans have come to appreciate the high-quality PC adaptations, often managed by PH3, especially for the Trails and Ys franchises.
Having experienced both the demo and the full PC release, I opted to take a different approach for my usual PC port feature. In addition to sharing my recommended settings for the Steam Deck and my impressions of the PC port, I will also discuss the aspects that impressed me, as well as those that fell short of expectations.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter PC features and graphics options
James’s initial thoughts on the demo hinted at a promising experience for PC gamers, and after spending over a week with the full release, it’s clear that Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter stands out as one of the top PC releases of 2025. It only trails behind Trails Through Daybreak II, a benchmark set by PH3.
The PC version offers a variety of display settings, allowing players to customize their experience with options such as:
- Display mode (fullscreen, borderless, windowed)
- Resolution ranging from 320×200 to 4K
- Support for 21:9 and 16:10 aspect ratios (though some issues persist)
- Refresh rate and frame rate cap (from 30 to 144 fps, or unlimited)
- Field of view adjustments and HDR support
While the HDR settings are relatively basic, they align with recent PC versions of Falcom titles and are compatible with the Steam Deck OLED.
On the graphics front, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter features several presets—low, medium, high, ultra, and custom—alongside the ability to tweak individual settings. Players can adjust:
- Draw distance
- Level of detail
- Light and shadow maps
- Volumetric lighting quality
- Anisotropic filtering
- 3D rendering scale (from 50% to 400%)
Additionally, effects settings allow for adjustments to SSAO, SSR, depth of field, and various anti-aliasing options. A new feature not present in the demo is the “resume from latest save” option, enabling players to bypass splash screens and company logos for a quicker entry into gameplay. It’s evident that the team behind this port was attentive to the standards set by previous Falcom releases.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter PC port features missing compared to prior Trails games
While I believe Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter offers an excellent PC experience, several features familiar to long-time players of the Trails and Ys series are noticeably absent. These omissions include:
- No arbitrary resolution support
- Basic ultrawide support lacking comprehensive UI options and no 32:9 support
- Limited full 16:10 support
- Font rendering issues and scaling problems in menus
- Blurry 2D assets at lower resolutions unless downsampled
- Absence of a “Show BGM option” for in-game music
- No portrait supersampling or minimap anti-aliasing options
- Less granular control over turbo features
- No upscaling options like XeSS
While some may view these points as minor, they can be disappointing for those accustomed to the high standards of previous Falcom PC versions. I remain hopeful that some of these issues, particularly regarding 16:10 support and improved ultrawide functionality, will be addressed in future updates.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Steam Deck recommended settings
Achieving a locked 60fps on the Steam Deck with Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is not feasible without compromising visual quality. Instead, I targeted 45fps on the Steam Deck OLED and 40fps on the LCD model, adjusting settings accordingly. For optimal performance, I recommend a combination of medium, low, and high settings at 800p resolution.
The opening hour of the game presents one of the most demanding scenarios, particularly in the field outside the City of Rolent. My tested settings included:
- Draw distance, LOD, and Light Distance set to medium
- Shadow map at low
- Volumetric lighting at low
- Anisotropic filtering at high
- Rendering scale at 100%
- FXAA anti-aliasing, SSAO at medium, SSR at medium, with depth of field enabled
These configurations maintained a steady 45fps, delivering impressive visuals, though some pop-in issues were noticeable during exploration. For those opting for higher resolution downsampling, a 70% render scale is advisable, with a 1920×1200 option for 16:10 gameplay.
Despite the inability to achieve a locked 60fps, the Steam Deck offers a more stable experience compared to the Nintendo Switch, making it a preferable choice for handheld gaming.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter ROG Ally impressions
In contrast to the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally can deliver a locked 60fps experience with some adjustments. My testing involved utilizing the 25W turbo mode at 1080p, recommending a render scale of 70% with the medium preset and a low shadow map setting. This combination consistently achieves 60fps or higher, even in demanding areas.
While playing at 720p might seem tempting, the visual quality of 2D assets suffers significantly, so maintaining 1080p while adjusting the render scale is advisable. For those seeking the best visuals at 30fps, using the medium preset at 1080p with a low shadow map will yield a frame rate typically in the 40s.
Overall, while Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter represents an excellent addition to the PC gaming landscape, it does reflect a step back from the meticulous attention to detail seen in previous releases, particularly those handled by PH3. As Falcom’s first internal PC port in years, it showcases promise, yet leaves room for improvement in the future.
