According to Toshihiro Kondo during an interview in Issue #459 of Dengeki PlayStation Magazine, Ys vs. Trails in the Sky was made because Nihon Falcom wished to make use of the PlayStation Portable's wireless ad hoc local multiplayer function, which they had been unable to work into their JRPG titles. They also felt that while both Trails and Ys were JRPGs, both series had many themes related to battle and conflict, lending them a natural transition into a fighting game.