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. Should you’re watching this present within the Western hemisphere, you’ll have slept by way of some fairly cool stuff. In a single day final night time, the Xbox Tokyo Sport Present 2024 broadcast happened. There was a variety of cool stuff. There’s even stuff you possibly can 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 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 crew at Xbox. And what I do is I carry the good third get together 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 carried out the whole lot from platform enterprise improvement to product improvement, and I am right here supporting Xbox and our third get together companions.
– Effectively, 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 every so often. I used to be there over the past 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 the whole lot Japanese, proper? And that really 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, the whole lot 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 a variety of them for us to speak about right here at the moment. Let’s bounce into what kicked off the printed. We obtained to see the newest take a look at Metallic Gear Strong 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 Strong 3. And so it is obtained 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 obtained the lengthy historical past. And it is so influential in all the 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 season showcase, Okamura-san, the producer was there, and he was so excited to have on that massive display that everybody, I am certain, 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 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 stunning than watching a trailer and it says, play now. Even higher is when it says play now with Sport Go. 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 just see in that recreation. And it is carried out 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 try this.
MENA KATO: They’ll try this. They’ll positively try 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 by way of that recreation. And I don’t hesitate to say they’ll personal my fall as nicely with Metaphor ReFantazio. What did that crew share on this present?
MENA KATO: So we did the pre-order announcement with them on the present. Additionally, lots of you won’t know, Atlus is celebrating its thirty fifth anniversary. And so you possibly can see all of the issues that they’ve carried out 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 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 trying than me, that will 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 in regards to 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 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 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 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 possibly can watch all the broadcast once more on this very– for those who’re watching on YouTube, similar on youtube.com/xbox. It is all going to be there. However we have got a number of extra titles right here that we’ll need to get by way of at the moment. And this one is one other one which you can play proper now. I am so enthusiastic about this. Q-Video games out of Kyoto is bringing their very first recreation to Xbox at the moment, 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 which you can 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 recreation devs in Japan. He is the founder for Bitsummit, which a variety of indie builders now goes to, and it is a fantastic present. And he is obtained an extended historical past inside 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 crew, 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 variety of weight. This can be the primary recreation you get to play from them, however positively value diving into Q-Video games and the Pixeljunk again catalog for certain. I’d say probably the most lovely recreation within the collection or on this broadcast. Let’s transfer to one thing that is possibly slightly bit extra disturbing. I do know a recreation lots of people are inquisitive about is Slitterhead.
– Sure. Once more, very completely different.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Sure.
MENA KATO: Very completely 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. And so they’re very completely different video games.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Very completely different recreation.
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 crew have created so many nice video games in so many alternative methods.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah. I used to be there as nicely when Siren got here out and I nonetheless take into consideration that recreation and the way scary it was, so it tells me so much about what I will be trying ahead to in Slitterhead.
MENA KATO: And Slitterhead, in Slitterhead you may see all these completely 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, but it surely’s nice.
– Perhaps you do not need 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 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, but it surely’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 a number of issues in his interview. Once more, it is the basic RPG franchise and everybody’s glad 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 an entire 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 way of Remaining Fantasy VI. This can be a massive displaying.
MENA KATO: Yep. It is a fantastic, 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 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 Remaining Fantasy, the Pixel Remaster, I imply, it is simply nice to have it, but it surely’s simply nice gameplay, simply genuinely nice gameplay. After which you’ve got 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 taking part in Remaining Fantasy I on the NES after which Remaining 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 in addition, simply, I’ve to say, Dragon Quest 3, the HD 2D remake, it appears to be like so good. I used to lease this recreation from Blockbuster once I was a child. Like each week I’d get it for like, two nights, and I’d get it the subsequent weekend and somebody would have deleted the sport and I’d 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 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 function broadcast. Now, earlier than you go, this information got here out a number of weeks in the past. We have been speaking off set about nice information from Capcom confirming two combating recreation collections coming to Xbox in 2025.
MENA KATO: Yep. And we’re so glad 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 have 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 recreation that has an enormous position 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 may be a lot we did not really get to. StarCraft 1 and a pair of are coming to Sport Go. Extra content material for age of mythology. A really cool Overwatch 2, and My Hero Academia collab. And you’ll find out extra on the whole lot we talked about and even the whole lot that we did not speak about over on Xbox Wire. That’s information.xbox.com. And naturally, you possibly can 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 in regards to the creativity popping out of Japan, however not simply Japan, throughout Asia.
– Very, very nicely mentioned. 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 way of FF, Remaining Fantasy VI. So Mena, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us.
– Thanks for having me.
– We’ll 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.
