{"rewrite":{"id":"r_a458980e8f62358ce3506986","clusterId":"c_fef1b5b9c3c8ae08a6d802ee","slug":"nintendo-switch-online-gets-unlimited-trails-in-the-sky-the-1st-trial","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Trails in the Sky the 1st Joins Nintendo's Issai Trial for Free Play Week","summary":"Nintendo announced on July 3 that Nihon Falcom's RPG \"Trails in the Sky the 1st\" will be the next title in its Issai Trial program, a limited-time event where Nintendo Switch Online paid subscribers can play the full game for free. The trial runs from July 6 at 12:00 JST to July 12 at 17:59 JST. \"Trails in the Sky the 1st\" is a full remake of the 2004 original \"The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC,\" released in September 2025. The story follows heroine Estelle and her partner Joshua as they train to become Bracers, protectors of regional peace. The game features a hybrid battle system that switches between field action and command-based combat. To participate, subscribers must download the software from the Nintendo Store before the trial period. Nintendo is also running a 50% off sale on the download version from July 6 to July 19, reducing the standard edition from 8,800 yen to 4,400 yen. The sequel, \"Trails in the Sky the 2nd,\" is scheduled for release on September 17, 2026, and players who clear the first game can unlock special costumes in the sequel.","whyItMatters":"The free trial and simultaneous sale give players a low-risk window to catch up on the remake before its sequel launches in September, a tactic Nintendo has used to boost engagement with ongoing series.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe Issai Trial program, exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online paid subscribers, offers unlimited play of the target software for a set period. For \u0026#34;Trails in the Sky the 1st,\u0026#34; the trial begins July 6 at noon JST and ends July 12 at 5:59 p.m. JST. The game is a full remake of the 2004 classic, rebuilt with modern graphics and a hybrid battle system that lets players switch between real-time action and turn-based command combat. The story follows Estelle Bright and Joshua Bright as they journey through the Kingdom of Liberl, taking on Bracer requests. Alongside the trial, Nintendo is offering a 50% discount on the standard download version (4,400 yen), the Digital Deluxe Edition (6,050 yen), and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (4,475 yen) through July 19. The sequel, \u0026#34;Trails in the Sky the 2nd,\u0026#34; arrives September 17, and players who complete the first game can carry over save data to unlock special costumes. Sources note that the trial is a chance for newcomers to experience the series before the sequel lands.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can play the full remake of Trails in the Sky the 1st for free July 6-12, with a 50% sale running through July 19. The sequel drops September 17.","twitterPost":"Trails in the Sky the 1st gets a free-play week on Switch via Issai Trial, plus a half-off sale. Save data carries over to the sequel launching in September.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Nintendo is offering a free trial of Nihon Falcom's Trails in the Sky the 1st on Switch from July 6 to 12 for paid subscribers. The remake is also 50% off through July 19, ahead of the sequel's September release.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"ASCII.jp\",\"url\":\"https://ascii.jp/elem/000/004/415/4415972/?rss\",\"title\":\"Ehh!? 【Play Unlimited】Nintendo to Hold \\\"Trails in the Sky the 1st\\\" Free Trial Event from July 6 to 12\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260703t\",\"title\":\"【Free Play】Nintendo Switch version of 'Trails in the Sky the 1st' available for unlimited play for a limited time. 'Issai Trial' starts July 6\"},{\"source\":\"Inside\",\"url\":\"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/07/03/183985.html\",\"title\":\"\\\"Trails in the Sky the 1st\\\" Joins \\\"Issei Trial\\\"! Also Perfect for Previewing and Reviewing the Sequel \\\"Trails in the Sky the 2nd\\\"\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/03/168778.html\",\"title\":\"'Trails in the Sky the 1st' Joins the 'Issei Trial'! Perfect for Previewing and Reviewing the Sequel 'Trails in the Sky the 2nd'\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":8353,"outputTokens":1093,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1783048372,"createdAt":"2026-07-03T03:05:14.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-03T03:09:50.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-03T03:09:50.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_fef1b5b9c3c8ae08a6d802ee","canonicalTitle":"えぇ!? 【遊び放題】任天堂「空の軌跡 the 1st」いっせいトライアル開催へ　7月6日～12日","representativeArticleId":"a_890eb0b5459960c337e64c66","sourceCount":4,"writtenSourceCount":4,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"空の軌跡 the 1st\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"written","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-03T02:25:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-03T07:45:02.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-03T07:50:54.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260703t","title":"【無料プレイ】『空の軌跡 the 1st』Nintendo Switch版が期間限定で遊び放題に。「いっせいトライアル」が7月6日より開催"},{"source":"ASCII.jp","url":"https://ascii.jp/elem/000/004/415/4415972/?rss","title":"えぇ!? 【遊び放題】任天堂「空の軌跡 the 1st」いっせいトライアル開催へ　7月6日～12日"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/03/168778.html","title":"『空の軌跡 the 1st』が“いっせいトライアル”に！続編『空の軌跡 the 2nd』の予習復習にも最適"},{"source":"Inside","url":"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/07/03/183985.html","title":"『空の軌跡 the 1st』が“いっせいトライアル”に！続編『空の軌跡 the 2nd』の予習復習にも最適"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["空の軌跡 the 1st"],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["The Issai Trial for Trails in the Sky the 1st runs from July 6 at 12:00 JST to July 12 at 17:59 JST.","Nintendo is offering a 50% discount on the standard download version (4,400 yen) from July 6 to July 19.","The sequel, Trails in the Sky the 2nd, is scheduled for release on September 17, 2026.","Players who clear the first game can unlock special costumes in the sequel by carrying over save data.","The game is a full remake of the 2004 original The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC, released in September 2025."]}