What you need to know
- Microsoft recently attended Tokyo Game Show 2024, where the firm shared their plans for Xbox and gaming in the near and longer term future.
- With an emphasis on Japanese and East Asia, Microsoft showcased a range of new Xbox games, including Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, and more.
- In a series of posts on Threads, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer and Xbox President Sarah Bond shared photos from some of their meetings with Japanese and other Asia region developers.
As a seasoned gaming enthusiast who has traversed various continents and consoles throughout my life journey, I must admit that watching Xbox’s dance with Asia’s gaming market is like observing a captivating game of chess. The pieces are moving, but the checkmate isn’t quite in sight yet.
After wrapping up at Tokyo Game Show 2024, I visited several partners and it was fantastic to converse with the heads of Japanese publishers, gaining their insights and advice. This trip was as inspiring as ever. That’s what Xbox CEO Phil Spencer shared on Threads earlier this week, rounding off Microsoft’s substantial presence at the show.
Last month, I had the opportunity to attend Microsoft’s Tokyo Game Show 2024 presentation where they unveiled a plethora of upcoming Xbox games, not just from Japan, but also from other regions in the Asia-Pacific. One piece of news that stood out was the announcement that the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection would finally be available on Xbox, marking an end to its long-standing exclusivity on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation.
As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I’ve noticed that Xbox’s backing outside its usual English-speaking territories has been somewhat unpredictable. Previously, I’ve voiced concerns about Xbox’s translation issues beyond the U.S. and UK, and it’s not just limited to games. The inconsistencies extend to marketing strategies, platform assistance, stock availability, and various other aspects of the Xbox ecosystem. This inconsistency has unwittingly granted PlayStation and Nintendo a dominant position in numerous regions, even Asia, leaving them as de facto market leaders. Even Xbox’s EMEA marketing manager expressed disappointment about the lack of support for European audiences earlier this year. However, it’s important to remember that not all the blame lies with Xbox.
Looking back, it’s clear that the investment Microsoft made in Xbox in 2012 might not have been enough, and had they put that same amount into acquiring Activision-Blizzard as they did last year, things could be different today. Currently, Microsoft is reaching out to developers through Microsoft Research, seeking their insights on why they might overlook the Xbox platform. It’s likely that the number of users (install base) plays a significant role in this decision.
As an analyst, I’ve had the opportunity to follow closely the busy schedule of meetings between Xbox CEO Phil Spencer and Xbox President Sarah Bond with numerous Japanese businesses and game developers during the Tokyo Game Show.
Post by @xboxp3View on Threads
First up, Spencer and Bond both shared a shot of them at Square Enix head quarters.
For fans of a certain age who grew up with Xbox, Square Enix has been a source of contention. Known for classic series like Final Fantasy, Mana, Dragon Quest, and more, Square Enix has recently chosen PlayStation exclusivity deals over Xbox, which some believe has primarily helped Sony at the expense of Xbox. However, Square Enix has often communicated to investors that their exclusive PlayStation games didn’t sell as well as they hoped, prompting them to shift towards a multi-platform development approach – one that we know Xbox is backing.
“We had a great discussion with the Xbox team at Square Enix. Thank you @XboxP3 @BondSarah_Bond and Xbox team for coming.” Square Enix game director Naoki Hamaguchi replied on Twitter (X). Square Enix also confirmed this week that it plans to bring Final Fantasy 16 to Xbox, and we’ve heard that Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth will eventually arrive as well, although it could be quite a while to wait.
Post by @xboxp3View on Threads
Spencer and Bond recently connected with the squads from Sega and Atlus as well. It’s particularly significant for Xbox that Atlus has now entered the picture, since the Persona series and other Shin Megumi Tensei games traditionally don’t usually offer native support for Xbox.
Currently, Atlus is deploying its Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG) strength not just against Xbox, but also towards the Xbox Game Pass platform. In other words, a game like ReFantazio will debut simultaneously on both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on October 11, 2024.
Post by @xboxp3View on Threads
Path of the Goddess directly onto Xbox Game Pass. The majority of Capcom’s main series games from franchises like Monster Hunter and Resident Evil are usually available on Xbox without issue, but there was a minor hiccup in this trend recently.
Some of Capcom’s classic remaster collections like Marvel vs. Capcom started skipping Xbox, despite launching on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Monster Hunter spin offs too have skipped, including Stories 1 and 2, both of which were previously Switch exclusive. In the case of Monster Hunter Stories 1, the fact it’s not coming to Xbox makes it the only place where you can’t play it. This is a game that’s even available to buy on iOS and Android.
As a tech enthusiast, I was thrilled to learn that Capcom addressed the technical hurdles delaying Marvel vs. Capcom and its Fighting Game Collection from releasing on Xbox this summer. However, it seems some other collections and classic games are still up in the air. On a brighter note, Capcom’s highly anticipated Monster Hunter Rise has been confirmed for Xbox!
Post by @bondsarah_bondView on Threads
Sarah Bond additionally posted a picture from the Sword Art Online: Fractured Dimension of Reality booth. This Bandai Namco-produced action role-playing game will also be available on Xbox, further demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting Xbox.
As a gaming enthusiast, I had the pleasure of joining Sarah in recounting our shared experiences from the Tokyo Game Show. Amongst these adventures was a disappointing revelation – Konami opted out of the Xbox platform for the Silent Hill 2 remake. However, Spencer didn’t let this dampen his spirits as he connected with Koei Tecmo, renowned for Dynasty Warriors and Atelier series. In an intriguing twist, Phil Spencer was spotted playing Ninja Gaiden, published by Koei Tecmo on Xbox Live. So, conspiracy theorists out there, feel free to draw your own conclusions!
Growth in Asia as well as emerging markets is key to Xbox’s future
Xbox has been making significant strides in the region lately, with more popular games such as Persona, Genshin Impact, and others appearing on the platform at a faster rate recently. However, there’s still much ground to cover. Earlier this summer, I pointed out that missing out on releases like Genshin Impact and other gacha games was a significant oversight by Xbox, and it sometimes seems as though Xbox is playing catch-up when it comes to embracing emerging trends, especially those that originate abroad.
In terms of victories, it’s undeniable that Xbox has achieved some significant ones. For instance, the survival game Palworld, which is exclusive to Xbox, turned out to be the most popular title during the first quarter of this year. This game not only gained popularity on Steam but also broke records on Xbox. Moreover, Microsoft has formed a fruitful collaboration with Krafton Inc from South Korea, and played a crucial role in bringing PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) to consoles.
Despite Microsoft shuttering its sole Japanese studio, Tango Gameworks (famed for Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within), earlier this year, Krafton took over Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush franchise post-closure. Yet, this move didn’t necessarily bolster the belief that Xbox is committed to establishing a strong presence in Japan.
Last year, Microsoft brought on board Mena Sato Kato, a former Sony employee, to enhance Xbox’s relationships with third-party developers in Japan. Notably, she attended the Tokyo Game Show event last year too.
In essence, Xbox might be caught in a sort of catch-22 scenario. The dominance of PlayStation in games primarily created by Japanese developers has led many fans of these genres to shy away from Xbox. I ponder if an Xbox handheld device, which has been rumored for some time, could potentially help Microsoft extend its reach in the region as a supplementary console, provided that its cost and performance are attractive. Additionally, Xbox Cloud Gaming might be significant, especially when Microsoft broadens the service to enable purchases beyond Xbox Game Pass.
There’s a big hill to climb for Microsoft here, but I, for one, remain optimistic.
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2024-10-03 15:39