Tales of Xillia Announced for PlayStation 3

Namco Bandai has finally lifted the curtain on the next mainline entry into the Tales of series, teased several months ago when it was semi-announced along with the reveal of Tales of Graces F for PlayStation 3.

Now we actually have a name. Namco has decided on Tales of Xillia for this outing, among other interesting new things. Unlike past games, there will be two lead characters: both male and female. The male is Jude Mathis, who has been designed by Kosuke Fujishima (Tales of Vesperia), while the female lead is Mira Maxwell, designed by Mutsumi Inomata (Tales of Graces). This is the first time two character designers have worked on the same mainline entry in the series. 

Full details have yet to be shared, but we do know that Jude attends medical school within the royal city, is a good student, and is very much a go-getter. Mira is a spirit master who can control the four elements of wind, fire, earth, and water.

Tales of Xillia will be directed by Naoto Miyadera (Tales of Symphonia, Tales of the Abyss), and Asana Inoki (Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk), and the theme song will be preformed by pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki.

The game will release sometime in 2011 on PlayStation 3 in Japan. No word on if Namco Bandai plans to bring this title to the west, but we'll keep you updated with continuing coverage.

UPDATE: We have added the preview trailer. Enjoy!