Published October 8, 2008
John Schappert, Microsoft's corporate vice president of LIVE, Software and Studios, showcased the best blockbusters Japan has to offer from the most popular genres in his keynote address at the Tokyo Game Show. "Xbox 360 continues to be the destination of choice for the best and broadest games from the world's biggest and best developers," Schappert said. "With the latest incarnations of the Halo universe, as well as global hits like Tekken 6, we continue to deliver on our commitment to provide the caliber of entertainment and games that capture the imagination of people across the globe."
Schappert noted that Xbox 360® has the most top-selling, third-party Japanese titles among all other current games platforms. He also noted that Japanese publishers have sold more than $800 million worth of games thus far on Xbox 360 and are on track to see lifetime revenue of more than $1 billion by the end of this holiday.
To underscore that point, Schappert unveiled some dramatic new titles from Japan, including:
THE LAST REMNANT (Square Enix). THE LAST REMNANT is a new role-playing game crafted using the finest artistry and technology Square Enix has to offer. Set in a fantasy world, war-torn and scarred by years of conflict, gameplay revolves around mysterious artifacts—Remnants—that possess magic powers. Groundbreaking graphics possible only on Xbox 360 bring the intensity to a whole new level. THE LAST REMNANT is launching worldwide November 20, and will be available only on Xbox 360.
Ninety-Nine Nights II (Q Entertainment). Set amid a dramatic, epic backdrop of a warring world, Ninety-Nine Nights II blends strategy and action, allowing players to take control of massive armies to defeat thousands of enemies in massive-scaled battles never before seen on Xbox 360.
Resident Evil 5 (Capcom Entertainment Inc.). Destined to bring new fans to the series, Resident Evil 5 is the sequel to one of the highest-rated video games in history. Promising to revolutionize the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control, Resident Evil 5 unleashes an unprecedented level of fear for the next generation. New technology developed specifically for the game, as well as incredible changes to both the gameplay and the world, will make this a must-have game for gamers across the globe.
Star Ocean®: The LAST HOPE™ (Square Enix). Star Ocean: THE LAST HOPE is the long-awaited continuation of the celebrated science fiction and fantasy role-playing game series. Slated for release in spring 2009 and published by Square Enix, this prequel set during the aftermath of World War III combines science fiction and fantasy elements spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the Star Ocean universe. Exhilarating combat expands upon the franchise's famous real-time battle system, introducing the amazing graphics and visual effects possible only on Xbox 360.
Tekken 6 (Namco Bandai Games). The latest chapter in one of the most popular fighting franchises in the world, and a series that has sold 33 million units worldwide, is coming for the first time to Xbox 360. Tekken 6 is the newest addition to the 3-D fighting series Tekken, popular for its immersive storyline with characters featuring distinctive personalities as they fight it out at incredible speeds. Starting with the launch of the arcade version in 1994, Tekken has evolved into a highly acclaimed worldwide franchise, and Tekken 6, appearing on Xbox 360, is the first multiplatform title in the series.
