Xbox Latest Move Reveals Its Intentions of Pushing Forward Partnerships in Japan

Xbox and PlayStation are the two biggest pinnacles in the gaming world. Both console companies boast a huge player base. These two consoles are unique in their own ways, be it PlayStation’s array of exclusive titles or Xbox’s huge Game Pass library. And the clash of these titans will last forever.

But right now, one titan is going to recruit former personnel from the rival titan company. Xbox seems to have other ideas and prospects. Let’s find out.

Ex-PlayStation Personnel Joins Arch Rivals Xbox

Microsoft has recently hired a new Director of Partnerships for Xbox in Japan, Mena Sato Kato. She has previously served as the Vice President for two sectors—mobile business and business development—for Sony Interactive Entertainment. Kato worked for Sony for a total of 8 years until she left the company in 2021.

Xbox fans have always been exempt from various popular JRPGs. With the love affair between PlayStation and Square Enix, Xbox fans have missed the chance to enjoy titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remaster and Final Fantasy 16. However, the CEO of Xbox, Phil Spencer, has recently announced a new partnership on the Square Enix Stage. This new partnership will aim to bring more Square Enix titles to the Xbox.

Microsoft has also made significant investments in many big Japanese studios. For instance, Xbox has brought the last three Persona titles as well as the whole Yakuza series to the Game Pass. The appointment of Kato is a testament that there will be more Japanese games on Xbox.

Read More: With Respect to First-Party Titles, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer Reveals Their “Aspiration” Will Turn Into a “Plan” Going Into Next Year

In her recent LinkedIn post, Kato shared the news of her joining as the Director of Partnerships Japan. She stated that she will be leading partnership efforts to support Japanese partners globally. Mato exclaims, “Unlocking new experiences in the game industry.”

Kato has also stated that she is looking forward to the Tokyo Game Show. This year’s Tokyo Game Show is going to be the grandest one in recent years. So, there are high chances for big announcements from Xbox fans regarding Japanese titles.

Japan has always been a happy place for PlayStation. Xbox never had that luxury. Microsoft now understands the need for a strong root in Japan.

The joining of ex-PlayStation personnel and recent partnerships with Japanese developing companies will surely strengthen those roots.

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