Former Sony VP Mena Kato is spearheading efforts to usher in a stronger era of Xbox in Japan. Read on to know more.
Former Sony VP Believes Xbox Has Strong Potential in Japan
Mena Kato Claims Japanese Publishers Need Xbox
Coming from an extensive tenure at Sony, former Sony VP of Business Development Mena Kato assumes the role of Director of Japan Partnerships at Microsoft. In a recent report by Bloomberg, Kato claimed the importance of Xbox for Japanese publishers, stating that they "definitely need Xbox to succeed in expanding their business." Kato added that "It will be difficult to do that just with the Playstation."
Kato shared that she was approached multiple times by Microsoft before agreeing to take on the challenge of promoting Xbox in a market traditionally dominated by Sony and Nintendo. Kato said she took on the job to "better bridge the gap between Japan and the rest of the world."
With over two decades of experience contributing to Sony's console dominance, Kato now aims to leverage her dealmaking skills, Microsoft's global reach, and her local connections to establish Xbox as a significant player in Japan. Despite the historical struggles faced by Xbox in Japan where unit sales by competitors Sony and Nintendo far surpass that of Xbox's, Kato shared she remains optimistic about the potential for Xbox to thrive in the country.
Xbox is Making Big Moves with Square Enix, Capcom, and Sega Deals
Microsoft appears to be making notable strides in Japan, however. Xbox executives like Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond have actively promoted and expanded Xbox and Microsoft Gaming in the country, securing support from major publishers such as Square Enix, Sega, and Capcom.
As highlighted during Xbox's Digital Broadcast at the Tokyo Game Show 2023, Xbox is committed to bring content that appeals to Japanese players. Notably, Xbox Game Pass has played a pivotal role in securing partnerships, featuring franchises like Infinity Strash, Ace Attorney, Persona, and Like A Dragon (Yakuza).
And more recently, industry megastar Hideo Kojima announced he is collaborating with Xbox Game Studios to develop an exclusive game called "OD." Likewise, Microsoft has hinted at the possibility of additional Japanese exclusives in the pipeline.
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This PlayStation Veteran Is Helping Make the Xbox Relevant in Japan
JAPAN’S PUBLISHERS ‘NEED XBOX’, SAYS FORMER SONY EXEC
