One of the ways Microsoft promoted the Xbox 360, Games for Windows, and XNA titles in Japan was through its fans. Microsoft Japan actually made a program to support fan sites.
However, the program has been dormant for awhile. Now, it’s totally gone. An e-mail was sent to fansite operators thanking them for participating.
When the Xbox 360 launched, Microsoft aggressively promoted the console in Japan and signed deals with Japanese developers like Q? Entertainment and Game Republic. They funded Mistwalker’s games, Ninja Blade from FromSoftware before their Demon’s Souls fame and worked with tri-Ace… until they gave Infinite Undiscovery to Square Enix. Year after year, Microsoft keeps scaling back on Japan and it seems like even Japanese publishers are giving up on the console at home too. Konami passed on releasing Metal Gear Rising: Revengance and Silent Hill: Downpour. Namco Bandai didn’t release the Xbox 360 exclusive Dragon Ball Z for Kinect either.
Published: Dec 19, 2012 11:10 pm