Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA gets Switch 2 release on 25 February

NIS America has announced that Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on 25 February 2027. The role-playing game’s new version will support frame rates of up to 120fps and two-player co-op through Nintendo’s GameShare feature, according to the announcement reported by Anime News Network ¹.

What is changing

The Switch 2 release brings the 2017 action RPG to Nintendo’s newer hardware without changing its core premise. Adol Christin is shipwrecked on the mysterious Isle of Seiren, where he helps other survivors build a settlement while investigating the island’s monsters, ruins and the visions of a blue-haired girl named Dana ¹. The game combines real-time combat, party switching and exploration across a large island rather than presenting a straightforward linear adventure.

The headline technical upgrade is the option to play at up to 120 frames per second. That should make Ys VIII’s fast combat and camera movement feel noticeably smoother on a compatible display, although the final performance mode and resolution details have not been fully outlined in the announcement. The Switch 2 version will also support GameShare co-op for two players, letting one owner share a supported session with another local player. NIS America and Falcom have not yet published a complete breakdown of which sections or modes will support the feature ².

A familiar adventure on new hardware

This is not a brand-new Ys game, but a new platform release for one of the series’ better-known modern entries. Nihon Falcom originally released Ys VIII in Japan for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in 2017, with NIS America later bringing it to North America and Europe. The game subsequently appeared on PC, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, giving the Switch 2 edition a substantial history to build on ¹.

The announcement is therefore aimed at players who missed the game before, as well as existing fans who want a faster portable version. Its island setting, party-based combat and unusually strong focus on building up a community of shipwreck survivors remain the main reasons to revisit it. The 120fps target is the clearest technical selling point so far, while GameShare could make its co-op additions more convenient for Switch 2 owners.

NIS America has confirmed the 25 February 2027 release date, but has not yet announced a price or opened pre-orders in the available announcement material. More information about editions, performance modes and GameShare compatibility is likely to follow before launch.

Our opinion

A 120fps target is a welcome reason to notice another version of Ys VIII, but the more interesting addition is GameShare. The game already has an adventure worth revisiting; making parts of it easier to share could give this long-running port a clearer purpose than simply moving familiar software to new hardware. The missing details around supported modes and pricing will decide whether it feels like a meaningful upgrade or merely the latest stop for a well-travelled RPG.