NARRATOR: Video games on this podcast vary from E to M.
– Hi and welcome to the respectable Xbox Podcast, the one podcast coming to you from inside of Xbox. All appropriate. In case you are staring at this display within the Western hemisphere, you might have slept via some beautiful cool stuff. In a single day final night time, the Xbox Tokyo Sport Display 2024 broadcast happened. There used to be numerous cool stuff. There is even stuff you’ll be able to play presently. So we have now were given a unique display. We’ve got were given a unique background with an animated cat, the one one I am not allergic to. And a unique visitor, Mena Kato, becoming a member of us from Xbox, Japan. Mena, thank you such a lot for becoming a member of us. Let us know slightly bit about your self and what you do for Xbox.
– Neatly, to begin with, thanks for having me. I’m the chief for the Japan partnership crew at Xbox. And what I do is I convey the good 3rd birthday celebration video games onto Xbox. And for me for my part, I have been within the sport business for over twenty years, virtually with reference to 25, and I have finished the whole lot from platform industry construction to product construction, and I am right here supporting Xbox and our 3rd birthday celebration companions.
– Neatly, thanks such a lot for that. I simply need to ask you a query sooner than we get into it. I am fortunate sufficient I am getting to visit Japan every now and then. I used to be there during the last Christmas. And it at all times simply moves me like how prevalent gaming appears to be in society. Like, why do you assume this is?
– Neatly, to begin with, I believe the tradition itself is all about main points and craftsmanship, and everybody loves the whole lot Jap, appropriate? And that in reality interprets into sport construction and the video games that we make. And you’ll be able to see the main points, the orient– the element orientated gameplay, sport design, the whole lot about it, after which the craftsmanship that is going into the true construction, and all of that creates the very distinctive Jap video games, and the gamers love that.
– All appropriate. And there is numerous them for us to speak about right here nowadays. Let’s bounce into what kicked off the published. We were given to peer the most recent have a look at Steel Equipment Forged Delta, Snake Eater.
MENA KATO: Yep. And we are so excited to have Konami convey that on board with us. And I imply, it is the remake of the unique Steel Equipment Forged 3. And so it has got the entire enhanced stuff out of there. And I imply, we all know Steel Equipment, appropriate? And it is one of the most pillar of Jap gaming titles that is pop out, and it has got the lengthy historical past. And it is so influential in all the gaming and it is constructed the stealth motion sport style and we are simply excited to have that. And after we confirmed it and on the summer season show off, Okamura-san, the manufacturer used to be there, and he used to be so excited to have on that gigantic display that everybody, I am positive, has noticed, and we are simply excited to have them right here.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Okumura-san used to be in reality the primary to take a seat in that very chair final June. It used to be in actuality cool as he introduced in and broke down one of the crucial photos. Like, the sport simply seems to be so just right. I like seeing the shut ups. We’ve got gotten to peer Revolver Ocelot right here, I believe for the primary time. And so Steel Equipment Forged 3 is my favourite of the collection, so extremely excited. We adore surprises right here at the display, and there’s not anything extra sudden than staring at 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 adore Katamari Reroll delivered on each fronts.
MENA KATO: Yep, yep. And once more, you notice the Jap strong point there. And Katamari is like, a factor by itself. Everybody loves it, everybody can play with it, and everybody’s kind of allured through it. And everybody loves that kind of strong point that you just see in that sport. And it is finished reiterations, however everybody nonetheless loves it. And it is the re-release of the sequel to the unique Katamari Damacy, and you’ll be able to have a look at the original sport design on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I do not really feel like everybody can escape with calling your sport we adore after which the sport’s title, however Katamari, they may be able to do this.
MENA KATO: They are able to do this. They are able to unquestionably do this.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: All appropriate. This is one thing I beloved, and that’s Atlus this yr. Atlus has totally owned my yr and my gaming time this yr. Character 3 Reload. I am in reality enjoying 3-D. Aigis bankruptcy presently, episode Aigis DLC. Unicorn Overlord, I spent dozens of hours enjoying via that sport. And I don’t hesitate to mention they’ll personal my fall as neatly with Metaphor ReFantazio. What did that crew proportion on this display?
MENA KATO: So we did the pre-order announcement with them on the display. Additionally, lots of it’s possible you’ll no longer know, Atlus is celebrating its thirty fifth anniversary. And so you’ll be able to see the entire issues that they have finished up till now, and you’ll be able to see it on this new sport. However this new sport is their new IP, which can construct the additional years yet to come with them. And it is so thrilling to peer this immersive, deep, immersive RPG come to existence. And we love– we adore that we are partnering with them in this.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, it will be the fourth launch of the yr from them, together with Shin Megami Tensei V. So beautiful superior yr to be me, in actuality. But it surely’d be higher in case you are into this and you are simply more youthful and higher having a look than me, that might be nice for you. All appropriate. As a large RPG participant, I’ve to make a confession right here. I have at all times been curious concerning the Atelier collection, however I have in reality by no means dove into one of the most titles. However from the first actual announcement, Atelier Yumia– let me get the identify right– The Alchemist of Reminiscences and the Envisioned Land stuck my eye. So what did the parents at Koei Tecmo convey to the display?
MENA KATO: Yeah, so for those who glance, there is a developer interview. Now we have the manufacturer, Hosoi-san discuss his sport. And once more, it is the first time Atelier is on Xbox and we are simply in actuality excited. There is such a lot to be serious about, however this one’s particular as a result of it is the first time they are on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, and it in actuality turns out like an evolution of the Atelier collection, and once more, it simply seems to be gorgeous. So price staring at once more. And I must remind everyone in the market, you’ll be able to watch all the broadcast once more in this very– in case you are staring at on YouTube, identical on youtube.com/xbox. It is all going to be there. However we have now were given a couple of extra titles right here that we are going to need to get via nowadays. And this one is some other one who you’ll be able to play presently. I am so serious about this. Q-Video games out of Kyoto is bringing their first actual sport to Xbox nowadays, it is referred to as All You Want Is Assist.
MENA KATO: Yep and it is really– I imply, the sport is set creativity. It is once more, about for everybody. It has got those little adorable, fluffy cubes that you’ll be able to push a button and it will name for lend a hand. And it is a co-op play and it is collaborative. It is a collaborative play, a laugh for everybody. And with Q-Video games, I do know– I have recognized Dylan Cuthbert, who’s a founding father of video games, for a long time. And he is in reality very an influential individual inside of sport devs in Japan. He is the founder for Bitsummit, which numerous indie builders now is going to, and it is a nice display. And he is were given an extended historical past inside the construction neighborhood in Japan.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: He labored he labored on Big name Fox again within the day.
MENA KATO: Thats appropriate, and the Pixeljunk collection. And so once more, it is nice crew, nice developer and we adore having them for the primary time on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Love that. So for those who see that title Pixeljunk, it carries numerous weight. This can be the primary sport you get to play from them, however unquestionably price diving into Q-Video games and the Pixeljunk again catalog needless to say. I might say essentially the most lovable sport within the collection or on this broadcast. Let’s transfer to one thing that is possibly slightly bit extra annoying. I do know a sport numerous individuals are fascinated with is Slitterhead.
– Sure. Once more, very other.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Sure.
MENA KATO: Very other. It is from Bokeh Sport Studios through Toyama-san, and he is recognized for video games like Silent Hill and Siren. Slitterhead’s some other a type of. However he is additionally recognized for titles like Gravity Rush. And they are very other video games.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Very other sport.
MENA KATO: However from one individual. And this displays his creativity and his greatness. I labored with him again at my Sony days on PlayStation, and he and his crew have created such a lot of nice video games in such a lot of other ways.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah. I used to be there as neatly when Siren got here out and I nonetheless consider that sport and the way frightening it used to be, so it tells me so much about what I will be having a look ahead to in Slitterhead.
MENA KATO: And Slitterhead, in Slitterhead you’ll be able to see some of these other creatures. The creature design is so distinctive and I regularly surprise what is going down in his head. These kinds of creatures that offers you nightmares.
– Yeah.
– It is– it is loopy, however it is nice.
– Possibly you do not need to understand.
– No.
– We will have to peer. All appropriate, so those following couple of video games, they are all coming to Xbox for the primary time. And for my part, I consider those are all in actuality vital to any fan’s JRPG library. Let’s get started off with Suikoden 1 and a pair of HD.
MENA KATO: Once more from Konami. It is a vintage, however it is one thing everybody loves. And we have now 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 a couple of issues in his interview. Once more, it is the vintage RPG franchise and everybody’s satisfied to have it.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, and each the ones video games got here out within the 90s. Like, Xbox did not even exist. So it is beautiful superior that that is now like becoming a member of the library and in actuality a complete new staff of people that possibly by no means performed those video games will get to check out it for the primary time. All appropriate. So we need to discuss Sq. Enix. They are coming in in this broadcast with giant bulletins on the finish of the display. Dragon Quest 3, HD 2D remake, Trials of Mana, Legend of Mana, Ultimate Fable Pixel Remaster, which used to be Ultimate Fable I via Ultimate Fable VI. It is a giant appearing.
MENA KATO: Yep. It is a nice, giant announcement with Sq. Enix. Once more, some of these titles, appropriate? And we are simply in actuality excited that we are deepening our partnership with them throughout all of those titles. Once more, those are simply IPs that we all know about, which has a legacy, historical past. It is constructed the sport business for Japan and for numerous the gamers, too. And so I believe taking one thing just like the Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D remake or the Ultimate Fable, the Pixel Remaster, I imply, it is simply nice to have it, however it is simply nice gameplay, simply in truth nice gameplay. After which you might 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’ve 3.
MENA KATO: Sure, it is so nice. Everybody can play they all. And it is simply it is in actuality thrilling to have one thing like that on Xbox.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah. I imply, I take into account enjoying Ultimate Fable I at the NES after which Ultimate Fable VI, one of the most biggest video games of all time, it is an absolute deal with. Like, do your self a choose and simply revel in this walkthrough historical past. And likewise, simply, I’ve to mention, Dragon Quest 3, the HD 2D remake, it seems to be so just right. I used to hire this sport from Blockbuster when I used to be a child. Like each and every week I might get it for like, two nights, and I might get it the following weekend and any person would have deleted the sport and I might get started it another time. So I by no means were given to overcome the sport. Solving that, completely solving that. So I simply can’t inform you how excited I’m about all of those bulletins. Like, it’s reasonably a bounty for an RPG fan like myself right here, simply multi functional broadcast. Now, sooner than you cross, this information got here out a couple of weeks in the past. We have been speaking off set about nice information from Capcom confirming two preventing sport collections coming to Xbox in 2025.
MENA KATO: Yep. And we are so satisfied to have them on. I imply, once more, those are classics, however everybody loves them, and it is consultant of such a lot of video games that pop out of Capcom. You have got your larger video games, however such things as that is so significant to peer on Xbox.
– Yeah, and the Useless Emerging Deluxe Remaster simply got here out final week, a sport that has an enormous position in Xbox lore as being an early Xbox 360 sport. Move– cross get enjoying. Like, why are you paying attention to me anymore? There’s such a lot we did not in reality get to. StarCraft 1 and a pair of are coming to Sport Go. Extra content material for age of mythology. An overly cool Overwatch 2, and My Hero Academia collab. And you’ll be able to to find out extra on the whole lot we mentioned or even the whole lot that we did not discuss over on Xbox Twine. This is information.xbox.com. And naturally, you’ll be able to cross rewind, watch the entire broadcast another time appropriate right here on youtube.com/xbox. Mena, sooner than we can help you cross, what have been your ideas in this yr’s Xbox Tokyo Sport Display broadcast?
– Neatly, it is all about range. Xbox is for everybody. And we are speaking concerning the creativity popping out of Japan, however no longer simply Japan, in all places Asia.
– Very, really well stated. I’ve to mention, for my part, I like a shadow drop and this display unquestionably delivered no fewer than 5 of them. This is appropriate, Xbox gamers can now select up and play All You Want is Assist, Trials of Mana, The Legend of Mana, We Love Katamari Reroll, and Ultimate Fable Pixel Remaster. This is six video games in a single, FF1 via FF, Ultimate Fable VI. So Mena, thanks such a lot for becoming a member of us.
– Thanks for having me.
– We are going to need to have you ever again once more.
– All appropriate.
– All appropriate. This is it for this very particular episode of The Reputable Xbox Podcast. We can see you subsequent week.
