As PlayStation Expands West, Microsoft Looks to the Rising Sun
According to a recent report, Microsoft is continuing to look for developers to acquire, particularly in Japan. Due to Sony focusing on other markets, Microsoft apparently wants to swoop in an steal the market from underneath them. The report cites that the recent online promotional events for the PS5 took place at 5 a.m. in Tokyo in order for fans in the West to see it live at a more appropriate time during the day. The report doesn’t mention any particular Japanese developers Microsoft is looking to acquire, but it’s likely that their games will wind up on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate when they join Xbox Game Studios.
While we know that Platiunumgames likely won’t be a Japanese developer acquired by Microsoft thanks to a recent statement from Atsushi Inaba, it looks like Microsoft is continuing to explore opportunities in Japan, Sony’s home turf. “It’s analyst consensus that PlayStation no longer sees the Japan market as important,” said Morningstar Research analyst Kazunori Ito.“If you want to know their take on the Japanese market, you need to ask about it because otherwise, Sony wouldn’t talk about it.”
“Several Japan-based game developers said (Microsoft) had approached them about buying their businesses,” said a developer who chose to remain anonymous. Several PlayStation staff in Japan have apparently mentioned that they’ve been left awaiting instructions from California because Japan has been sidelined in planning the promotion of the PS5.
“The Xbox has a chance to make Japan its second-largest market after the U.S. if it takes the right steps for years to come,” said Tokyo-based Ace Research Institute analyst Hideki Yasuda. “Sony’s attention is drifting away and fans have started to notice that.”
What Japanese developers should Microsoft look at? Let us know in the comments below!