Valkyrie Elysium Gives Valkyrie Profile A True Sequel - 23 Years Later

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In a surprise announcement during March's State of Play, Valkyrie Elysium was officially announced by Square Enix as a true sequel to 1999's Valkyrie Profile. Although Valkyrie Profile got a number of follow-ups, including Valkyrie Profile 2 on the PS2, these games were prequels set before the events of the original game. So, it's a welcome surprise that Valkyrie Elysium is a true sequel to the first entry, even if it's been over 20 years in the making.

The trailer for Valkyrie Elysium was shown off during PlayStation's State of Play for March 2022, where it revealed the game's Norse-myth inspirations, action-RPG combat, and cel-shaded graphics. Players control Valkyrie, who is sent by the All-Father in an attempt to prevent Ragnarok. As in previous games, players can also recruit Einherjar to summon and battle alongside them. However, it's Valkyrie Elysium's placement on the series' timeline that may prove to be the most interesting for longtime fans.

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As confirmed on the official Square Enix website, Valkyrie Elysium is a true sequel to Valkyrie Profile. As the first game in the series, Valkyrie Profile was initially released in 1999 (and a year later, in 2000, for North America). Although never as successful as Square Enix properties like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, tri-Ace's Valkyrie Profile series developed a cult following and has maintained a dedicated fanbase in the decades since.

It's not immediately clear why it took so long for Valkyrie Profile to get a real sequel, although the game featured multiple endings so it may have just been simpler from a creative standpoint to focus on prequels instead. There are also behind-the-scenes factors to consider,