Why Phoenix Wright creator did not want the series to continue

Phoenix Wright creator Shu Takumi felt the series should not continue following the release of the third game, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations, he told Official Nintendo Magazine.

Takumi states the Phoenix character had been fully explored, leaving no reason to continue.

"I felt that Phoenix's story had been told, and that the series should not continue", he explained. "Knowing when to end a story is very important and I wanted to avoid dragging it out and having it become a shadow of its former self."

In 2007, a fourth title was released to Japan, and to North America one year later. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney would be the first game in the series not to have Phoenix at its helm; However, despite Takumi's stance, Phoenix Wright would still appear.

"Years later, when it was decided within Capcom that Ace Attorney 4 would go ahead, my position was that we should change the main character and tell a new story. I didn't plan to have Phoenix in the game, but my colleagues said they wanted him to appear in some form, which is why he ended up being the accused in the first case in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney."

Earlier in the year it was revealed Nintendo 3DS ports of the first three games in the series will launch in Japan on April 17. So far there are no plans for a launch in the West.