NARRATOR: Video games on this podcast vary from E to M.
– Hey 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 might have slept via some fairly cool stuff. In a single day final night time, the Xbox Tokyo Recreation Present 2024 broadcast came about. There was loads of cool stuff. There’s even stuff you’ll be able to play proper now. So we have got 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 somewhat bit about your self and what you do for Xbox.
– Nicely, to start with, thanks for having me. I’m the chief for the Japan partnership group 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 recreation business for over 20 years, nearly near 25, and I’ve accomplished every thing from platform enterprise improvement to product improvement, and I am right here supporting Xbox and our third celebration companions.
– Nicely, thanks a lot for that. I simply need to ask you a query earlier than we get into it. I am fortunate sufficient I get to go to Japan on occasion. 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 suppose that’s?
– Nicely, to start with, I believe the tradition itself is all about particulars and craftsmanship, and everybody loves every thing Japanese, proper? And that truly interprets into recreation improvement and the video games that we make. And you will see the main points, the orient– the element oriented gameplay, recreation design, every thing 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 this time. Let’s leap into what kicked off the published. We bought to see the newest take a look at Metallic 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 Metallic Gear Stable 3. And so it is bought 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 bought the lengthy historical past. And it is so influential in the entire gaming and it is constructed the stealth motion recreation style and we’re simply excited to have that. And once we confirmed it and on the summer time showcase, Okamura-san, the producer was there, and he was so excited to have on that large display screen that everybody, I am certain, has seen, and we’re simply excited to have them right here.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Okumura-san was truly the primary to take a seat 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 seems 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 Stable 3 is my favourite of the collection, so extremely excited. We love surprises right here on the present, and there may be nothing extra shocking than watching a trailer and it says, play now. Even higher is when it says play now with Recreation Move. 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 recreation. And it is accomplished reiterations, however everybody nonetheless loves it. And it is the re-release of the sequel to the unique Katamari Damacy, and you’ll take a look at the distinctive recreation design on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I do not really feel like everybody can get away with calling your recreation we love after which the sport’s identify, however Katamari, they’ll do this.
MENA KATO: They’ll do this. They’ll undoubtedly do this.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: All proper. Here is one thing I beloved, and that’s Atlus this yr. Atlus has fully owned my yr and my gaming time this yr. Persona 3 Reload. I am truly taking part in 3D. Aigis chapter proper now, episode Aigis DLC. Unicorn Overlord, I spent dozens of hours taking part in via that recreation. And I don’t hesitate to say they will personal my fall as properly with Metaphor ReFantazio. What did that group share on this present?
MENA KATO: So we did the pre-order announcement with them on the present. Additionally, a lot 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 accomplished up till now, and you’ll see it on this new recreation. However this new recreation 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 yr from them, together with Shin Megami Tensei V. So fairly superior yr to be me, actually. However it’d be higher when you’re into this and also you’re simply youthful and higher trying 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 at all times been curious concerning the Atelier collection, however I’ve truly 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 when you look, there is a developer interview. We’ve got the producer, Hosoi-san speak about his recreation. 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 as if an evolution of the Atelier collection, and once more, it simply seems stunning. So value watching once more. And I ought to remind everyone on the market, you’ll be able to watch the complete broadcast once more on this very– when you’re watching on YouTube, similar 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 need to get via at this time. And this one is one other one that you could play proper now. I am so enthusiastic about this. Q-Video games out of Kyoto is bringing their very first recreation to Xbox at this time, 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 bought these little cute, fluffy cubes that you could 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 truly very an influential particular person inside recreation devs in Japan. He is the founder for Bitsummit, which loads of indie builders now goes to, and it is an important present. And he is bought a protracted historical past throughout the improvement neighborhood 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 group, nice developer and we love having them for the primary time on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Love that. So when you see that identify Pixeljunk, it carries loads of weight. This can be the primary recreation you get to play from them, however undoubtedly value diving into Q-Video games and the Pixeljunk again catalog for certain. I’d say essentially the most lovely recreation within the collection or on this broadcast. Let’s transfer to one thing that is perhaps somewhat bit extra disturbing. I do know a recreation lots of people are fascinated by is Slitterhead.
– Sure. Once more, very completely different.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Sure.
MENA KATO: Very completely different. It is from Bokeh Recreation 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 completely different video games.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Very completely different recreation.
MENA KATO: However from one particular person. And this reveals his creativity and his greatness. I labored with him again at my Sony days on PlayStation, and he and his group 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 recreation and the way scary it was, so it tells me rather a lot about what I will be trying ahead to in Slitterhead.
MENA KATO: And Slitterhead, in Slitterhead you will see all these completely different creatures. The creature design is so distinctive and I usually marvel what’s occurring in his head. All these creatures that offers you nightmares.
– Yeah.
– It is– it is loopy, nevertheless it’s nice.
– Perhaps you do not need to know.
– No.
– We’ll must 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 necessary 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 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 certain 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 perhaps by no means performed these video games will get to attempt it for the primary time. All proper. So we now have 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, Ultimate Fantasy Pixel Remaster, which was Ultimate Fantasy I via Ultimate Fantasy VI. This can be a large exhibiting.
MENA KATO: Yep. It is an important, 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 business 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 Ultimate 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 may 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 now have 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 Ultimate Fantasy I on the NES after which Ultimate Fantasy VI, one of many best 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 likewise, simply, I’ve to say, Dragon Quest 3, the HD 2D remake, it seems so good. I used to lease this recreation from Blockbuster after I was a child. Like each week I’d get it for like, two nights, and I’d get it the following weekend and somebody would have deleted the sport and I’d begin it over once more. So I by no means bought to beat the sport. Fixing that, completely fixing that. So I simply cannot inform you 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 have been speaking off set about nice information from Capcom confirming two preventing recreation 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 bought 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 recreation that has an enormous function in Xbox lore as being an early Xbox 360 recreation. Go– go get taking part in. Like, why are you listening to me anymore? There’s a lot we did not truly get to. StarCraft 1 and a couple of are coming to Recreation Move. Extra content material for age of mythology. A really cool Overwatch 2, and My Hero Academia collab. And you’ll find out extra on every thing we talked about and even every thing 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 have been your ideas on this yr’s Xbox Tokyo Recreation Present broadcast?
– Nicely, 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 stated. I’ve to say, personally, I really like a shadow drop and this present undoubtedly delivered no fewer than 5 of them. That’s proper, Xbox gamers can now decide up and play All You Want is Assist, Trials of Mana, The Legend of Mana, We Love Katamari Reroll, and Ultimate Fantasy Pixel Remaster. That’s six video games in a single, FF1 via FF, Ultimate Fantasy VI. So Mena, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us.
– Thanks for having me.
– We will must 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.
