So Microsoft was at the Tokyo Game Show (surprise, surprise) and has announced that it will be releasing games developed by top Japanese developers for the Xbox 360. I’m confused by the announcement, however. I mean, could they have gone over there and done differently? Maybe they could have gone all the way to Japan and announced that they were going to completely forego Japanese developers and go with, I dunno… top Swedish game developers.
Yes, there’s just a tiny bit of sarcasm here and for good reason. You see, the next release of Final Fantasy will be coming out on the Xbox 360. Just not in Japan.
Take a moment to let this sink in.
Microsoft, the company trying desperately to compete in the Japanese console market against Nintendo and Sony, finally lands one of the most coveted console titles of all times and then turns around and doesn’t launch it in the place that birthed the title. I’m having a hard time imagining what the business reasons behind this thinking must be.
Maybe they’re waiting to see what Sony will bring to the table so they can top it with extra features but seeing as how it will still be under the control of Square Enix, I can’t see that happening. It seems to me that it’s a major flaw in their battle plan though. They haven’t quite reached a million consoles sold in the Land of the Rising Sun and they’re bypassing what could potentially be a big reason for some holdouts to finally pick up their system.
Maybe they’re holding out to see if GTA IV is going to drive sales of their console or if Square Enix’s Dragon Quest will help out. Again, those don’t seem like good reasons to hold off on the launch of one of the top selling franchises of all time in its own backyard. Call me kooky…
When questioned about the lack of the title’s launch in Japan, John Schappert, the vice president of interactive entertainment declined to comment. It wasn’t that he didn’t have something to say about it, he flat out declined to comment. Wow. Keep in mind that Mr. Schappert is the gentleman making the big announcement that the “Xbox 360 is the platform best equipped to help Japanese publishers succeed on a global basis”.
Globally, perhaps. Back home, not so much.
Gritskrieg – End of Line
