Tokyo Sport Present 2024 | Official Xbox Podcast

NARRATOR: Video games on this podcast vary from E to M.

– Whats up and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast, the one podcast coming to you from inside Xbox. All proper. In the event you’re watching this present within the Western hemisphere, you might have slept by some fairly cool stuff. In a single day final evening, the Xbox Tokyo Sport Present 2024 broadcast occurred. There was a number of cool stuff. There’s even stuff you’ll be able to play proper now. So we have got a particular present. We have 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 just a little bit about your self and what you do for Xbox.

– Nicely, initially, thanks for having me. I’m the chief for the Japan partnership staff at Xbox. And what I do is I carry the nice third celebration video games onto Xbox. And for me personally, I have been within the sport trade for over 20 years, nearly near 25, and I’ve achieved all the pieces from platform enterprise growth to product growth, and I am right here supporting Xbox and our third celebration companions.

– Nicely, 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 every so often. I used to be there during the last Christmas. And it all the time simply strikes me like how prevalent gaming appears to be in society. Like, why do you assume that’s?

– Nicely, initially, I believe the tradition itself is all about particulars and craftsmanship, and everybody loves all the pieces Japanese, proper? And that really interprets into sport growth and the video games that we make. And you will see the small print, the orient– the element oriented gameplay, sport design, all the pieces about it, after which the craftsmanship that goes into the precise growth, and all of that creates the very distinctive Japanese video games, and the gamers love that.

– All proper. And there is a number of them for us to speak about right here at present. Let’s soar into what kicked off the published. We obtained to see the most recent have a look at Steel Gear Stable Delta, Snake Eater.

MENA KATO: Yep. And we’re so excited to have Konami carry that on board with us. And I imply, it is the remake of the unique Steel Gear Stable 3. And so it is obtained all the improved stuff out of there. And I imply, everybody is aware of Steel Gear, proper? And it is one of many pillar of Japanese gaming titles that is come out, and it is obtained the lengthy historical past. And it is so influential in the entire gaming and it is constructed the stealth motion sport style and we’re simply excited to have that. And once we confirmed it and on the summer season showcase, Okamura-san, the producer was there, and he was so excited to have on that massive 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 few of the footage. Like, the sport simply appears so good. I like seeing the shut ups. We have gotten to see Revolver Ocelot right here, I believe for the primary time. And so Steel Gear Stable 3 is my favourite of the sequence, so extremely excited. We love surprises right here on the present, and there may be nothing extra stunning 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 type of allured by it. And everybody loves that type of uniqueness that you just 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 identify, however Katamari, they will do this.

MENA KATO: They’ll do this. They’ll positively do this.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: All proper. Here is one thing I cherished, 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 enjoying 3D. Aigis chapter proper now, episode Aigis DLC. Unicorn Overlord, I spent dozens of hours enjoying by that sport. And I don’t hesitate to say they will personal my fall as effectively with Metaphor ReFantazio. What did that staff share on this present?

MENA KATO: So we did the pre-order announcement with them on the present. Additionally, lots of you may not 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 is able to construct the additional years to return 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. But it surely’d be higher for those who’re into this and also you’re simply youthful and higher wanting than me, that may be nice for you. All proper. As an enormous RPG participant, I’ve to make a confession right here. I’ve all the time been curious in regards to the Atelier sequence, 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 carry to the present?

MENA KATO: Yeah, so for those who look, there is a developer interview. We now have the producer, Hosoi-san speak about 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 sequence, and once more, it simply appears stunning. So value watching once more. And I ought to remind everyone on the market, you’ll be able to watch the whole broadcast once more on this very– for those who’re watching on YouTube, identical on youtube.com/xbox. It is all going to be there. However we have got just a few extra titles right here that we’ll wish to get by at present. And this one is one other one that you may 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 referred to 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 obtained these little cute, fluffy cubes that you may 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 a number of indie builders now goes to, and it is an important present. And he is obtained an extended historical past inside the growth group in Japan.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: He labored he labored on Star Fox again within the day.

MENA KATO: Thats proper, and the Pixeljunk sequence. And so once more, it is nice staff, nice developer and we love having them for the primary time on Xbox.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Love that. So for those who see that identify Pixeljunk, it carries a number 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 sequence or on this broadcast. Let’s transfer to one thing that is possibly just a little bit extra disturbing. I do know a sport lots of people are eager 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 type of. However he is additionally recognized for titles like Gravity Rush. They usually’re very totally different video games.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Very totally different sport.

MENA KATO: However from one individual. And this exhibits his creativity and his greatness. I labored with him again at my Sony days on PlayStation, and he and his staff have created so many nice video games in so many alternative methods.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah. I used to be there as effectively when Siren got here out and I nonetheless take into consideration that sport and the way scary it was, so it tells me so much about what I will be wanting ahead to in Slitterhead.

MENA KATO: And Slitterhead, in Slitterhead you will see all these totally different creatures. The creature design is so distinctive and I typically marvel what’s taking place in his head. All these creatures that offers you nightmares.

– Yeah.

– It is– it is loopy, however it’s nice.

– Perhaps you do not wish to know.

– No.

– We’ll should see. All proper, so these subsequent few video games, they’re all coming to Xbox for the primary time. And personally, I imagine these are all actually essential to any fan’s JRPG library. Let’s begin off with Suikoden 1 and a couple of HD.

MENA KATO: Once more from Konami. It is a traditional, however 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 traditional RPG franchise and everybody’s pleased 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 have now to speak about Sq. Enix. They’re coming in on this broadcast with massive bulletins on the finish of the present. Dragon Quest 3, HD 2D remake, Trials of Mana, Legend of Mana, Remaining Fantasy Pixel Remaster, which was Remaining Fantasy I by Remaining Fantasy VI. It is a massive displaying.

MENA KATO: Yep. It is an important, massive 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 Remaining Fantasy, the Pixel Remaster, I imply, it is simply nice to have it, however 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 have now 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 keep in mind enjoying Remaining Fantasy I on the NES after which Remaining 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 get pleasure from this walkthrough historical past. And in addition, simply, I’ve to say, Dragon Quest 3, the HD 2D remake, it appears so good. I used to lease 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 subsequent weekend and somebody would have deleted the sport and I might begin it over once more. So I by no means obtained to beat the sport. Fixing that, completely fixing that. So I simply can’t 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 functional broadcast. Now, earlier than you go, this information got here out just a few weeks in the past. We had 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 pleased 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 obtained your greater video games, however issues like that is so significant to see on Xbox.

– Yeah, and the Useless Rising Deluxe Remaster simply got here out final week, a sport that has an enormous function in Xbox lore as being an early Xbox 360 sport. Go– go get enjoying. Like, why are you listening to me anymore? There’s a lot we did not really get to. StarCraft 1 and a couple of are coming to Sport Cross. Extra content material for age of mythology. A really cool Overwatch 2, and My Hero Academia collab. And you could find out extra on all the pieces we talked about and even all the pieces that we did not speak about 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 had been your ideas on this 12 months’s Xbox Tokyo Sport Present broadcast?

– Nicely, it is all about variety. Xbox is for everybody. And we’re speaking in regards to the creativity popping out of Japan, however not simply Japan, throughout Asia.

– Very, very effectively stated. I’ve to say, personally, I 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 Remaining Fantasy Pixel Remaster. That’s six video games in a single, FF1 by FF, Remaining Fantasy VI. So Mena, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us.

– Thanks for having me.

– We will should have you ever again once more.

– All proper.

– All proper. That’s it for this very particular episode of The Official Xbox Podcast. We are going to see you subsequent week.