Back in April Microsoft Japan announced a list of developers and publishers supporting the Xbox One in Japan. Apparently, that list wasn't final, as an updated version was showcased during the recent press conference to introduce the strategy for the new console's landing in the archipelago of the rising sun.
Here's the new list.
- Arc System Works
- Artdink
- Access Games
- Acquire
- Altus
- Intergrow
- Experience
- SNK Playmore
- Electronic Arts
- Kadokawa Games
- Capcom
- Gung Ho Online Entertainment
- Qute
- Grounding
- G.rev
- Klon
- Cave
- Genki
- Koei Tecmo
- Codemasters
- Konami
- CyberConnect2
- CyberStep
- Silicon Studio
- Zoo
- Square Enix
- Spike Chunsoft
- SEGA
- Tango Gameworks
- 2K Games
- D3 Publisher
- Take 2
- Toylogic
- Triangle Service
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Hamster
- Bandai Namco Games
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Platinum Games
- From Software
- Bethesda Softworks
- Marvelous AQL
- MAGES.
- Moss
- Yukes
- Ubisoft
- Liar-Soft
- Land Ho!
- LEVEL-5
- Warner Bros. Entertainment
Most of the list remained the same (and it still includes some publishers that aren't exactly Japanese, but it probably means their Japanese branches), but there are some changes: BusinessPartner disappeared from the list (it really isn't a great loss), while there are three additions. Platinum Games is the most obvious: it probably was omitted from the first list on purpose to avoid outing Scalebound. Toylogic was also added. While the name won't probably tell you much, they're the developers of the Xbox Live Arcade title Happy Wars and they supported Nintendo in developing Kid Icarus: Uprising and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
The last addition was Liar-Soft, which specializes on visual novels like the Shining Night series. Many of their games aren't exactly safe for work.
In addition to that, a brand new list of Japanese studios taking part in the ID@Xbox program was also announced bringing the total up to 70.
- Aabs Inc. (they developed Aabs Animals for PS3 and PS Vita)
- Nigoro (La Mulana, need I say more?)
- iNiS (a pretty well known developer specialized on Rhythm games)
- Inti Creates (Azure Striker Gunvolt, they also collaborate to the development of Mighty No.9)
- Opus Studio (Half Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy)
- Cloud Creative Studios (specialized mostly on mobile games like DrawMite and Guilty Dragon)
- Comcept (Inafune's studio working on Mighty No.9)
- Cri Middleware (popular mostly during the Dreamcast times, with series like AeroWings and AeroDancing. They have been developing middleware since, but looks like they're going back to games)
- SmileBoom (Miku Miku Hockey)
- NanaOn-Sha (the studio behind the PaRappa the Rapper series)
- Nude Maker (a studio formed mostly by ex Human Entertainment developers. They took part in the development of the original Steel Battalion and developed Infinite Space with Platinum Games)
- Booby Trap (did mostly mobile games, like Tobipen and A-GE II)
- Hexadrive (they took part in the development of quite a few HD remakes like Okami HD, Zone of the Enders HD Collection and Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD)
- Pocket Queries (developer specialized in Unity, mostly on mobile games like Kyo mo Jigoku wa Hitodebusoku)
- Monobit (mostly specialized in engines and creating online game servers, for instance for Square Enix's Crystal Conquest)
- Land Ho! (took part in the development of Crimson Dragon, some Just Dance games and quite a few horse racing titles)
- Link Kit (Samurai Defender)
- Railfan (They developed a few of the latest titles of the Densha de Go! Series)
- Oneoreight (Teku Teku Hero)
That's definitely a rather diverse line-up, even if the most relevant is probably NanaOn-Sha, who created and developed the PaRappa the Rapper series for Sony. The return of CriWare to game development is also potentially interesting to nostalgics and Dreamcast fans like me.
It's worth clarifying that no mention was done of any exclusivity for the developers listed above, so their games might appear on other platforms as well.
It'll definitely be interesting to see what the Xbox One will manage to achieve in Japan. They definitely seem to have the support of many developers. Will they manage to win over the gamers' support as well?