Banner of the Maid Adds Japanese Voice in New Update
The update fulfills a Japanese localization that the developer had abandoned six years ago, now revived under a new publisher with full voice support.
Reporting from 2 sources: 4Gamer.net, Automaton.
Publisher 2P Games released an update on June 12, 2026, adding Japanese voice acting to the historical simulation RPG "Banner of the Maid" on Nintendo Switch and PC. The game, developed by Shanghai-based indie studio Azure Flame Studio, is set during the French Revolution and follows Pauline Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon, as she leads armies through turn-based battles on quarter-view maps. Outside combat, players manage faction prestige at the Malmaison Salon to unlock skills and equipment. The PC version originally launched on Steam in May 2019 with English and Chinese support. A Japanese localization was planned but canceled in 2020 due to funding difficulties. In 2026, 2P Games took over publishing and announced Japanese and French text support, with the Switch version releasing in March. The new voice update completes the full Japanese localization. To mark the release, the PC version is 80% off at 370 yen and the Switch version is 60% off at 1,032 yen, with sales running through June 19 on Steam and June 26 on the Nintendo Store.
The developer Azure Flame Studio is an indie studio based in Shanghai, China. It released the PC version on Steam in 2019. Initially, a Japanese-language release was planned, and a trailer was released, but in 2020 the studio announced via its official X (Twitter) account that the localization was canceled due to funding difficulties. For a long time, the game only supported English and Chinese.
"We once gave up on Japanese localization, but thanks to the goodwill of our new publisher 2P Games, this time has finally come! We deliver the Japanese version of Banner of the Maid to those whose main language is Japanese. And with voice acting!" the studio said in a January 2026 post.
Nearly six years later, in 2026, 2P Games became the new publisher and announced support for Japanese and French. On March 12, the Nintendo Switch version with Japanese text support was released. For the PC version, an update on March 20 achieved full support including French. Now, Japanese voice acting has been newly implemented.
Combat unfolds in turn-based battles on quarter-view maps. Players command unit types such as line infantry, cavalry, and artillery, leveraging terrain advantages, unit type matchups, and ever-changing weather conditions. Outside of battle, at the base Malmaison Salon, players can deepen interactions with factions like the Feuillants and Jacobins. Raising each faction's prestige unlocks new tactical skills and equipment. Over 30 characters are depicted in illustrations wearing court dresses and military uniforms. The game has earned a "Very Positive" rating on Steam user reviews.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.