Shu Takumi originally wanted the Ace Attorney series to end with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations, as he felt that main character Phoenix Wright had been fully explored and had no reason to continue, stating:


When it was decided that a fourth game would be made, Takumi wanted the game to have a new main character and story, with Phoenix originally not planned to appear. However, his colleagues wanted Phoenix in the game in some form, which ultimately led to him being the defendant in the game's first case, "Turnabout Trump".