Microsoft this generation had some stumbles. Some key issues with the original Xbox One stopped it from having the same momentum as the 360 before it. But they are trying to build that back up with their next generation hardware and moving more into the PC market. One way they’ve done that is bolster their internal studios with multiple purchases of smaller developers. It doesn’t seem like that will end soon and one area they’re looking at is the one they lack the most, Asia.
In an interview with GamesIndustry, Phil Spencer talked about the various studios it’s acquired over the last few years, with Double Fine being the latest. While Microsoft has many studios, they all come from the west. He mulls over the idea of finally getting an Asian studio under their branch in an attempt to diversify further.
“I think it would be nice if we found an Asian studio, in particular a Japanese studio, to add [to our studios]. I liked it when we had some first-party capability in Japan. We have a small team there, but I think we can do more. That said, through our trips to Japan, I love having Phantasy Star back on our stage with Sega — I thought that was fantastic. Miyazaki-San, before with Dark Souls and now having Elden Ring on our stage… the Japanese creators have shown up more and more.”
Microsoft has partnered with Japanese developers in the past in an attempt to get a stronger foothold in that market. Its one of the major markets that the company have never been able to get a grasp on in any significant way. Japanese publishers and developers seem to be having somewhat of a renaissance over the last few years, so it’ll be interesting to see who, if anyone, Microsoft will end up adding to their list of growing developers from the area.
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