NARRATOR: Video games on this podcast vary from E to M.
– Hiya and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast, the one podcast coming to you from inside Xbox. All proper. If you happen to’re watching this present within the Western hemisphere, you will have slept via some fairly cool stuff. In a single day final night time, the Xbox Tokyo Sport Present 2024 broadcast occurred. There was loads of cool stuff. There’s even stuff you’ll be able to play proper now. So we have a particular present. We have got a particular background with an animated cat, the one one I am not allergic to. And a particular visitor, Mena Kato, becoming a member of us from Xbox, Japan. Mena, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us. Inform us slightly bit about your self and what you do for Xbox.
– Effectively, to start with, thanks for having me. I’m the chief for the Japan partnership workforce at Xbox. And what I do is I convey the good third social gathering video games onto Xbox. And for me personally, I have been within the sport trade for over 20 years, virtually near 25, and I’ve achieved every part from platform enterprise improvement to product improvement, and I am right here supporting Xbox and our third social gathering companions.
– Effectively, thanks a lot for that. I simply wish to ask you a query earlier than we get into it. I am fortunate sufficient I get to go to Japan now and again. I used to be there during the last Christmas. And it at all times simply strikes me like how prevalent gaming appears to be in society. Like, why do you assume that’s?
– Effectively, to start with, I believe the tradition itself is all about particulars and craftsmanship, and everybody loves every part Japanese, proper? And that really interprets into sport improvement and the video games that we make. And you will see the main points, the orient– the element oriented gameplay, sport design, every part about it, after which the craftsmanship that goes into the precise improvement, and all of that creates the very distinctive Japanese video games, and the gamers love that.
– All proper. And there is loads of them for us to speak about right here at present. Let’s bounce into what kicked off the printed. We acquired to see the newest have a look at Metallic Gear Strong Delta, Snake Eater.
MENA KATO: Yep. And we’re so excited to have Konami convey that on board with us. And I imply, it is the remake of the unique Metallic Gear Strong 3. And so it is acquired all the improved stuff out of there. And I imply, everybody is aware of Metallic Gear, proper? And it is one of many pillar of Japanese gaming titles that is come out, and it is acquired the lengthy historical past. And it is so influential in all the gaming and it is constructed the stealth motion sport style and we’re simply excited to have that. And after we confirmed it and on the summer season showcase, Okamura-san, the producer was there, and he was so excited to have on that large display that everybody, I am positive, has seen, and we’re simply excited to have them right here.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Okumura-san was really the primary to sit down in that very chair final June. It was actually cool as he introduced in and broke down a number of the footage. Like, the sport simply appears to be like so good. I really like seeing the shut ups. We have gotten to see Revolver Ocelot right here, I believe for the primary time. And so Metallic Gear Strong 3 is my favourite of the collection, so extremely excited. We love surprises right here on the present, and there’s nothing extra shocking than watching a trailer and it says, play now. Even higher is when it says play now with Sport Cross. All of us love surprises. All of us love Katamari. We love Katamari Reroll delivered on each fronts.
MENA KATO: Yep, yep. And once more, you see the Japanese uniqueness there. And Katamari is like, a factor by itself. Everybody loves it, everybody can play with it, and everybody’s kind of allured by it. And everybody loves that kind of uniqueness that you simply see in that sport. And it is achieved reiterations, however everybody nonetheless loves it. And it is the re-release of the sequel to the unique Katamari Damacy, and you’ll have a look at the distinctive sport design on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I do not really feel like everybody can get away with calling your sport we love after which the sport’s title, however Katamari, they’ll do this.
MENA KATO: They’ll do this. They’ll positively do this.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: All proper. Here is one thing I beloved, and that’s Atlus this 12 months. Atlus has utterly owned my 12 months and my gaming time this 12 months. Persona 3 Reload. I am really taking part in 3D. Aigis chapter proper now, episode Aigis DLC. Unicorn Overlord, I spent dozens of hours taking part in via that sport. And I don’t hesitate to say they are going to personal my fall as properly with Metaphor ReFantazio. What did that workforce share on this present?
MENA KATO: So we did the pre-order announcement with them on the present. Additionally, a lot of you won’t know, Atlus is celebrating its thirty fifth anniversary. And so you’ll be able to see all of the issues that they’ve achieved up till now, and you’ll see it on this new sport. However this new sport is their new IP, which can construct the additional years to come back with them. And it is so thrilling to see this immersive, deep, immersive RPG come to life. And we love– we love that we’re partnering with them on this.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, it will be the fourth launch of the 12 months from them, together with Shin Megami Tensei V. So fairly superior 12 months to be me, actually. Nevertheless it’d be higher should you’re into this and also you’re simply youthful and higher trying than me, that will be nice for you. All proper. As a giant RPG participant, I’ve to make a confession right here. I’ve at all times been curious concerning the Atelier collection, however I’ve really by no means dove into one of many titles. However from the very first announcement, Atelier Yumia– let me get the title right– The Alchemist of Reminiscences and the Envisioned Land caught my eye. So what did the oldsters at Koei Tecmo convey to the present?
MENA KATO: Yeah, so should you look, there is a developer interview. We have now the producer, Hosoi-san discuss his sport. And once more, it is the primary time Atelier is on Xbox and we’re simply actually excited. There’s a lot to be enthusiastic about, however this one’s particular as a result of it is the primary time they’re on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, and it actually looks like an evolution of the Atelier collection, and once more, it simply appears to be like lovely. So value watching once more. And I ought to remind everyone on the market, you’ll be able to watch all the broadcast once more on this very– should you’re watching on YouTube, similar on youtube.com/xbox. It is all going to be there. However we have just a few extra titles right here that we’ll wish to get via at present. And this one is one other one that you would be able to play proper now. I am so enthusiastic about this. Q-Video games out of Kyoto is bringing their very first sport to Xbox at present, it is known as All You Want Is Assist.
MENA KATO: Yep and it is really– I imply, the sport is about creativity. It is once more, about for everybody. It is acquired these little cute, fluffy cubes that you would be able to push a button and it will name for assist. And it is a co-op play and it is collaborative. It is a collaborative play, enjoyable for everybody. And with Q-Video games, I do know– I’ve recognized Dylan Cuthbert, who’s a founding father of video games, for a really very long time. And he is really very an influential individual inside sport devs in Japan. He is the founder for Bitsummit, which loads of indie builders now goes to, and it is an amazing present. And he is acquired a protracted historical past throughout the improvement group in Japan.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: He labored he labored on Star Fox again within the day.
MENA KATO: Thats proper, and the Pixeljunk collection. And so once more, it is nice workforce, nice developer and we love having them for the primary time on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Love that. So should you see that title Pixeljunk, it carries loads of weight. This can be the primary sport you get to play from them, however positively value diving into Q-Video games and the Pixeljunk again catalog for positive. I might say essentially the most lovely sport within the collection or on this broadcast. Let’s transfer to one thing that is possibly slightly bit extra disturbing. I do know a sport lots of people are curious about is Slitterhead.
– Sure. Once more, very totally different.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Sure.
MENA KATO: Very totally different. It is from Bokeh Sport Studios by Toyama-san, and he is recognized for video games like Silent Hill and Siren. Slitterhead’s one other a kind of. However he is additionally recognized for titles like Gravity Rush. And so they’re very totally different video games.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Very totally different sport.
MENA KATO: However from one individual. And this reveals his creativity and his greatness. I labored with him again at my Sony days on PlayStation, and he and his workforce have created so many nice video games in so many alternative methods.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah. I used to be there as properly when Siren got here out and I nonetheless take into consideration that sport and the way scary it was, so it tells me lots about what I will be trying ahead to in Slitterhead.
MENA KATO: And Slitterhead, in Slitterhead you may see all these totally different creatures. The creature design is so distinctive and I usually surprise what’s taking place in his head. All these creatures that provides you nightmares.
– Yeah.
– It is– it is loopy, nevertheless it’s nice.
– Perhaps you do not wish to know.
– No.
– We’ll need to see. All proper, so these subsequent few video games, they’re all coming to Xbox for the primary time. And personally, I consider these are all actually vital to any fan’s JRPG library. Let’s begin off with Suikoden 1 and a pair of HD.
MENA KATO: Once more from Konami. It is a basic, nevertheless it’s one thing everybody loves. And we have simply launched the discharge timing and it will be out March 6, 2025. And we’re so excited to have it on Xbox. I am positive the director, Sakiyama-san highlighted just a few issues in his interview. Once more, it is the basic RPG franchise and everybody’s joyful to have it.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, and each these video games got here out within the 90s. Like, Xbox did not even exist. So it is fairly superior that that is now like becoming a member of the library and actually a complete new group of people that possibly by no means performed these video games will get to attempt it for the primary time. All proper. So we’ve got to speak about Sq. Enix. They’re coming in on this broadcast with large bulletins on the finish of the present. Dragon Quest 3, HD 2D remake, Trials of Mana, Legend of Mana, Closing Fantasy Pixel Remaster, which was Closing Fantasy I via Closing Fantasy VI. This can be a large exhibiting.
MENA KATO: Yep. It is an amazing, large announcement with Sq. Enix. Once more, all these titles, proper? And we’re simply actually excited that we’re deepening our partnership with them throughout all of those titles. Once more, these are simply IPs that everybody is aware of about, which has a legacy, historical past. It is constructed the sport trade for Japan and for lots of the gamers, too. And so I believe taking one thing just like the Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D remake or the Closing Fantasy, the Pixel Remaster, I imply, it is simply nice to have it, nevertheless it’s simply nice gameplay, simply genuinely nice gameplay. After which you could have the Monasteries, which involves Xbox for the primary time.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: We did not have– if we return a month, there have been no Mana video games ever on Xbox, and now we’ve got three.
MENA KATO: Sure, it is so nice. Everybody can play all of them. And it is simply it is actually thrilling to have one thing like that on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah. I imply, I bear in mind taking part in Closing Fantasy I on the NES after which Closing Fantasy VI, one of many biggest video games of all time, it is an absolute deal with. Like, do your self a favor and simply take pleasure in this walkthrough historical past. And likewise, simply, I’ve to say, Dragon Quest 3, the HD 2D remake, it appears to be like so good. I used to hire this sport from Blockbuster once I was a child. Like each week I might get it for like, two nights, and I might get it the following weekend and somebody would have deleted the sport and I might begin it over once more. So I by no means acquired to beat the sport. Fixing that, completely fixing that. So I simply cannot let you know how excited I’m about all of those bulletins. Like, it’s fairly a bounty for an RPG fan like myself right here, simply multi function broadcast. Now, earlier than you go, this information got here out just a few weeks in the past. We have been speaking off set about nice information from Capcom confirming two preventing sport collections coming to Xbox in 2025.
MENA KATO: Yep. And we’re so joyful to have them on. I imply, once more, these are classics, however everybody loves them, and it is consultant of so many video games that come out of Capcom. You’ve got acquired your larger video games, however issues like that is so significant to see on Xbox.
– Yeah, and the Lifeless Rising Deluxe Remaster simply got here out final week, a sport that has an enormous position in Xbox lore as being an early Xbox 360 sport. Go– go get taking part in. Like, why are you listening to me anymore? There may be a lot we did not really get to. StarCraft 1 and a pair of are coming to Sport Cross. Extra content material for age of mythology. A really cool Overwatch 2, and My Hero Academia collab. And yow will discover out extra on every part we talked about and even every part that we did not discuss over on Xbox Wire. That’s information.xbox.com. And naturally, you’ll be able to go rewind, watch the entire broadcast over once more proper right here on youtube.com/xbox. Mena, earlier than we allow you to go, what have been your ideas on this 12 months’s Xbox Tokyo Sport Present broadcast?
– Effectively, it is all about range. Xbox is for everybody. And we’re speaking concerning the creativity popping out of Japan, however not simply Japan, throughout Asia.
– Very, very properly mentioned. I’ve to say, personally, I really like a shadow drop and this present positively delivered no fewer than 5 of them. That’s proper, Xbox gamers can now choose up and play All You Want is Assist, Trials of Mana, The Legend of Mana, We Love Katamari Reroll, and Closing Fantasy Pixel Remaster. That’s six video games in a single, FF1 via FF, Closing Fantasy VI. So Mena, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us.
– Thanks for having me.
– We’ll need to have you ever again once more.
– All proper.
– All proper. That’s it for this very particular episode of The Official Xbox Podcast. We’ll see you subsequent week.
