Yo-Kai Watch 4 Five Years Later- The Curious Case of the Elusive English Localization.

I know this is later than I expected, but I just got back from Lihue earlier this month, and I'm prepping myself for a trip to see my father in CA as well. In the meantime, here is a belated post on Yo-Kai Watch 4 five years (and change) later; and the curious case of its elusive English localization.

I have talked about this before, so let's do a quick recap of the journey so far. After being delayed from its intended release in late 2018; the game saw release on Nintendo Switch on June 20, 2019. Later that summer at Anime Expo in July, the game was announced for English localization alongside two anime films key to its plot- Shadowside: The Return of the Oni King, and Forever Friends.

As you may recall, none of that played out as expected. Eight days after release, the game was eclipsed by Super Mario Maker 2. Later that year, a multitude of other games took that release quarter by storm- Death Stranding, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, and most relevant to our case here; Pokémon Sword and Shield; all of which sold gangbusters and I enjoyed. Yet, that was only the start of the trouble.

In the year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to close; many of which were permanently shut down. The Level-5 Abby was among them. Combined with the failure of The Snack World outside Japan, it took three full years for Level-5 to even attempt localizing games overseas again. Though multiple IP were announced as part of this initiative in 2023 (both new and existing IP), Yo-Kai Watch 4 was conspicuous by its absence. Apart from an official release in China, the game has yet to see any update on official localization. It's nearing the threshold of a smaller-scale Mother 3 or Beyond Good and Evil 2.

Now, in the year of our Lisan Al Gaib 2024; we still await an update on the game. Even as a whole new console generation is in effect (talk persists of a new upgraded version of the Switch) and there is increasing proof of a market for anime where not everything needs to be Westernized. Not saying it's a given, but I think it's time to finally localize the game and the anime films it's connected to; if only to provide closure before Ghost Craft comes out.

Still, short of any official word from those in charge; this mystery will take more time to be solved. I will come back to this after I see my father (likely after the Level-5 Vision); and I will see you again in July. Take care.

P.S.: Go see Inside Out 2, it really is that good.