There was a marked shift in today's Xbox Game Showcase, which presented a heartening array of Japanese titles. The line-up included the acclaimed Persona franchise, the alluring Metaphor Re Fantazio, conceived by the original Persona team, and other exciting titles like Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Capcom's Path of the Goddess. This eastern infusion is a stark contrast to Xbox's historical struggle with Japanese developer engagement, as noted by Xbox head Phil Spencer.
As noted by IGN, Spencer, on Giant Bomb's Twitch stream, conceded that fostering Japanese partnerships for a US-based platform is easier said than done. The always-vocal leader of the green team was candid in his acknowledgment that Xbox stands behind the PlayStation, Switch, and even mobile gaming, in Japan. But, while Spencer is aware of Xbox's standing in the Land of the Rising Sun, it hasn't stopped him from doing his best. The result? The influx of games from Japanese developers that are coming to the Xbox platform.
"Five years ago, Atlus games on Xbox would have been wishful thinking. Now, we've got Capcom rolling out a new IP. This progression empowers us to encourage others, like Square-Enix, to come on board," Spencer revealed. To him, establishing trust and fostering relationships are pivotal, especially given Xbox's status as a non-Japanese platform.