Nippon Ichi Software America has decided to delay the PC release of action RPG YS VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA until an indeterminate date while they work the specific game-engine bugs that are hampering performance.  In particular, testers reported during the second closed beta test on PC reported nasty issues like memory leaks and severe frame-drops under certain circumstances. These issue stem from core technical decisions with the game’s engine, which was originally designed for the PlayStation 4. NIS will now have to dig deep into guts of YS VIII and make changes that aid performance on PC.

Here’s a breakdown of the specific issues reported during the recent closed beta:

“Low framerate issues and memory leak problems were apparent from the earliest PC builds we received. To help combat these, we looked into the drawing processes, which lead to an overall improvement in performance. However, we are still encountering framerate drops in specific circumstances. The systems regulating these framerate issues are heavily reliant on the architecture of the original PlayStation 4 version and, as such, are not existent in PC architecture. The memory leak issues are somewhat less complicated and expected to be resolved this weekend. But in order to solve these issues, we have determined that we must modify the core level of data in the game.”

The PC version will receive the updated localization patch that will also hit the PlayStation 4 and Vita at the end of this month. Once these localization changes are complete NIS will be shifting develop duties for the PC version of YS III to a different unnamed external developer who will work specifically on the game engine, level and PC specific optimization that this port will require before release.

“Once the changes from the relocalization efforts have been implemented at the end of this month, we will be moving development to an entirely different developer who will primarily focus on frame rate improvements as well as other PC optimizations. Once that process begins, we will monitor the progress and determine the release schedule. We will also be sure to give regular updates to our progress.”

Due to this delay NIS America will be opening up Steam Refunds for YS VIII: Lacrimosa for those who have pre-ordered the game. When we have more details about the release date for the PC version of YS VIII, we will be sure to bring it to you. A Nintendo Switch port was also announced this past month for release sometime in the Summer.