Platinum would be a solid buy definitely
Whether you like it or not, everyone, Scalebound will be the first thing Platinum will be putting themselves to under MS. They want that creative freedom to make whatever they want and Scalebound is still what they want to make.
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I’m fine with this, the pre alpha footage we saw look liked it ran poorly due to the hardware and just needed some fine tuning with the gameplay. Platinum is still excited about the IP, and Phil has said he regrets past cancellations so if this acquisition becomes a reality; I’m all for it.
Fine as long as they can put more resources on it to make it work.
The problem with Scalebound was partly Microsoft’s push for co-op and Platinums unfamiliarity with the engine wasn’t it? I imagine Scalebound V2 might go a bit smoother if they are simply left to make what they want to make, which seems to be Microsofts intent. I mean part of the reason they are working with Certain Affinity is because they wanted more co-op games but weren’t going to make their internal studios do it if they didn’t want to.
The game was always multiplayer focused.
https://twitter.com/synaesthesiajp/status/1491497105621495810?t=Pw03oo3Gi4d2Ny-8AhZ1pQ&s=19
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Ahh, fair enough, I was wrong in suggesting it was Microsoft who pushed for co-op - but per a recent interview Kamiya does cite building an online game as being part of the reason development struggled. If these weren’t developer mandated though then more creative freedom doesn’t benefit trying the project again though.
Depends on the deal
Realistically xbox sells poorly in japan.
If the deal was…you can still make switch ports but they have to be on xbox pc and well give you money to make better versions and on gamepass. Thats fine
No reason for ps version. Switch well accept.
Ms would be willing to have switch versions because they sell in japan. Xbox has ko presence in japan hardware wise.
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They sell what they send, so I think they sell fine.
I am personally not buying into the argument that they cannot have exclusives because Xbox does not sell. Xbox OG was new to Japan and had bunch of games, Xbox 360 also had a bunch of games.
No, they need exclusive games to sell Xbox. Though they bet on XCloud (and maybe PC) there.
well, the game would be on much better hardware and platinum now has experience making a multiplayer game so i think things would go much better.
during the og xbox era, games were much cheaper and could be made way quicker.
Still, it does not matter. Microsoft just have to pay more - and they know it. (though they can blame only themselves here due to weak late Xbox 360 era and Xbox One)
True, I wasn’t suggesting there wasn’t reasons the project might be better off now - just pointing out that one might not specifically help it.
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lol they’re still a business, costs matter. and if they’re gonna spend big, i’d rather them purchase studios in japan than just one off games that are years away.
I know. That’s why I am saying that Microsoft know that they have to pay more and that’s why they go after acquisitions - you are able to keep the content that way ((it also helps with their Game Pass initiatives)
5 Step Plan for growth in Japan.
1.) Treat Tango really well, support them, let them make the games they want to make. Let them grow at the pace they want to and pay them best in class.
2.) It sounds counter intuitive, but focus on growth in the US and European market, get a large market share there.
A lot of Japanese developers depend on big sales outside Japan too and having a large install base will entice all the developers and publishers to put games on Xbox day 1.
3.) Fund indie developers in Japan. These small teams that grow by being funded by Xbox and working with Xbox remember that and appreciate it. These developers are trying to make it in the gaming world and if you help them, they’re sure to sing positive praises.
4.) Keep bringing the back catalog of JRPGs to Xbox. There’s a TON of games still not on Xbox. Not only will this help make Xbox a more complete offering, but it also gives some potentially easier to add titles to Gamepass. Lots of these JRPGs transfer well to a mobile device and would fit their mobile cloud gaming initiatives.
5.) Expand through a acquisitions. JRPGs are synonymous for most with Japanese games, but Japanese games have a lot more diversity so adding studios that provide diverse content will be important.
A phenomenal start would be buying platinum. Platinum makes both hack n slash and JRPGs so it adds a nice blend of content to Xbox’s portfolio. This is a move they can and should make this year. It’s not large enough that it would raise any eyebrows especially being in a region they very little market share.
Then aim to acquire 1-2 more Japanese independent developers in 2023. My prime targets for this would be JP Games, Cyberconnect2, Rabbit and Bear Studios (with a corresponding purchase of Suikoden from Konami), and White Owls. All very creative studios with influential leaders that can be the real start of major talent acquisition in Japan.
Let that build up and then acquire Sega in 2024 or 2025.
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Would be a great ending to the Scalebound saga if Microsoft acquires Platinum and they finish the game with a different view and more resources, I think there’s a lot of potential there, I have no doubt that today’s Microsoft can help Platinum overcome their struggles with the Unreal engine if they would still use that with help from The Coalition and other XBGS, I wasn’t that excited for Scalebound or into Japanese games that much but I remember some behind the scenes gameplay of Scalebound that looked very interesting, way better than what they showed on stage, would be cool if it’s this generation’s “The last guardian”
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These are good moves.
I’d also add better support for localization across different countries. Even Kamiya himself has said the Xbox UI isn’t Japanese friendly.
A Korean Twitter user was upset Chinese came up on his Xbox console.
They need to support these countries. They can’t just focus on NA if they plan to grow Game Pass globally.
Capcom didn’t just one day have its games renown around the world, they worked at it for years and eventually their IP became classics and adored every where.
Grow Tango, let them make the games they want. That way more Japanese talent comes on board.
Acquire Platinum give them the creative freedom they want. It’s clear that when they make the games they want to make they tend to knock it out of the park unlike when they do shill third party stuff like the Legend of Korra games.
Let these devs even make games on Switch. They let Activision remain multi plat do the same for Japanese devs that way they can see their hard work flourish even if it isn’t under Xbox. That too would make the workspace viable for talent looking to make games not just on Xbox.
This could lead to a potential Sega acquisition and Atlus could feel content making Xbox games if they could also support Switch or PS.
Lastly acquire Ark System Works. Their fighting games make for a stark difference to the western offering of KI and MK. As far as talent goes, I actually think these guys are among the best in the Country. That would ensure that at least in the fighting game genera MS is not left behind like they currently are.
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Seems Good.
In addition to that.
Add people for language support in Microsoft in Asia.
I am french, and I now that the text on the Xbox menu are Bot translated. as an insider, we are able to tell, if it’s ok or not. (Even if we don’t know if the answer go to French People or directly to US, so I put my return in English). But It’s won’t be as easy for language with a different kind of letter. Japonese, Chinese, Korean is way to hard for US IA to translate in a correct way, They need human for that (And they need to use that, to improve the Translator IA as well).
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This seems like a small boost to their renewed efforts in Japan. I hope we see a lot more localization in the region.
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