Xbox Head Executive Phil Spencer told interviewers at Game Watch that Xbox players can expect uniquely Japanese AAA games to release on Xbox. Read on to learn about the context it was asked, and Xbox's strategy to achieve a bigger presence in Japan.
More Japanese AAA Games Expected for Xbox
In an interview with Game Watch, Xbox’s head executive Phil Spencer was asked whether or not more games from Japanese developers and, eventually, "uniquely Japanese AAA titles, such as Lost Odyssey or Blue Dragon", would be coming to Xbox consoles. While no titles were specifically mentioned, Spencer said Xbox can definitely meet those expectations, and that more games are underway for Xbox.
Xbox has acquired game titles by Japanese game developer Tango Gameworks, such as The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo developer Tango Gameworks, as part of its deal with ZeniMax Media. And more recently, the latest title from Tango Gameworks. Hi-Fi Rush launched on Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass back in January of 2023.
It was Hi-Fi Rush that was cited as an example by Spencer, stating that although the game was not a major title like Blue Dragon, Hi-Fi was still certainly high-quality.
Spencer elaborated, There are also Japanese game creators who are part of Microsoft Game Studios, and while there are titles we can’t announce yet, we are currently developing new games in collaboration with Japanese companies. With further growth, including first-party and third-party, I believe you can look forward to the arrival of even more Japanese titles in the future.
Xbox has shared that they indeed have plans on expanding in the Japanese market, as Spencer presented Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2023 Digital Broadcast. A list of games coming to Game Pass have been revealed, with several Japanese game titles, such as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST, expected to come out as early as the end of September 2023.
