Yesterday, Capcom announced that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies would be released as a download-only game in the West, via the Nintendo eShop for 3DS. Ever since, a handful of fans have raised various concerns about the download-only strategy. One of these concerns is that being on the Nintendo eShop will limit the game’s visibility and sales, following its initial launch.
This won’t be the case, says Capcom USA’s Senior Vice-President Christian Svensson.
“I think you’re selling yourself and the AA community short,” Svensson responded to this particular concern on the Capcom forums. “I also think you underestimate our relationship with [Nintendo of America] and what I hope will be our ability to keep it surfaced for more than just a few weeks. NOA has been extremely supportive of MH3 Ultimate. I see no reason why they wouldn’t be equally supportive of AA:DD.”
Conversely, Svensson stated yesterday, retailers have not been supportive of Ace Attorney games. Capcom have faced challenges bringing these games over in the past as well.
Additionally, while he can relate to fans that would rather have Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies as a boxed product, it’s a sign of the times that the games business is going increasingly digital, Svensson argues. Retail margins for games in the West are not the same as in Japan. This is why titles like Okami HD and Darkstalkers Resurrection were boxed products in Japan, but download-only releases in the West.
Furthermore, Svensson points out, full details regarding Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies’ release have not been shared yet. “More details will become clear in a few weeks and hopefully the method to our madness will become more clear,” he writes.
“The method to our madness”—Svensson once used very similar words back in April 2012, when fans demanded to know why Capcom had not yet announced a Western release for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. A few months later, the game was announced for release in the West at a high-profile Nintendo press conference where the company revealed full details of the Wii U. It was a smart move.
“We worked very hard to ensure a Western release on this title,” Svensson says. “If we’d said ‘no, it’s not coming’, it would have triggered the inevitable ‘please bring it to eShop, at least’ cries. Instead we shortcutted that and brought it straight to eShop.”
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies will be released this Fall in the West.
