[Deepblue]

REDMOND, Wash. - Feb. 24, 2005 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that Hironobu Sakaguchi, video game legend and president of Mistwalker game studio, has joined with Microsoft® Game Studios to develop role-playing game (RPG) video games exclusively for the next-generation Xbox® video game platform. Sakaguchi is best known as the creator of the "Final Fantasy" franchise, which has sold more than 60 million units worldwide, and was executive vice president in charge of game development at Square Enix Co. Ltd. until February 2001.

Citing a shared vision with Microsoft for the next generation of video games, Sakaguchi will lead the creation of two upcoming Xbox-exclusive RPG titles to be published by Microsoft Game Studios.

"Sakaguchi-san has taken role-playing games - traditionally a niche market - and introduced them to a broad and diverse audience across the globe," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing at Microsoft. "We are ecstatic to work with Sakaguchi-san and celebrate what this news means not only for Xbox, but for gamers worldwide."

"I'm excited about the two epic game titles we will be developing," Sakaguchi said. "A number of talented creators have signed on to help develop these games, and I'm confident we will be able to create games that provide gamers with a new kind of thrill.

"Microsoft's cutting-edge technologies in the next-generation platform will allow me to bring to life an array of ideas that I have had for many years," Sakaguchi said. "I want these games to be alive with a new vision for gaming and vividly depict new characters that will transcend the game, find a place in the hearts of gamers, and make time spent with my games a fond and long-lasting memory."

Sakaguchi started his career at Square Co. Ltd. in 1986 as director of planning and development. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1991 and eventually ascended to president of Square LA Inc. (now Square USA Inc.) in 1995. In 2000, Sakaguchi was inducted into the coveted Academy of Interactive Arts & Science (AIAS) Hall of Fame for his groundbreaking work on the "Final Fantasy" series. In 2004, Sakaguchi announced that he had started his own development studio, called Mistwalker.

Xbox is coming off a blockbuster year as the only video game console in the United States to show year-to-year growth in 2004, while competitors declined*. Driven by epic, platform-exclusive content - including "Halo® 2" by Microsoft Game Studios, "Fable" by Microsoft Game Studios., "Ninja Gaiden" by Tecmo Ltd. and Xbox LiveTM, the only unified online video game console service - gamers worldwide continue to flock to Xbox for an unparalleled digital entertainment experience.

[phreak]

well i guess thats unexpected.

[Deepblue]

Yeah.

[Liberator]

could be the straw that break the camel's back and pushes the Gatesbox into the lead of the console wars.

[Taristin]

Hmm. Well, despite it being a MS product, I quite like my XBox.  So this is welcome news.

[Kamikaze]

It's not like Square-Enix is going Xbox though. Hironobu is now out of the company and has his own developer studio (Mistwalker).

As I understand it this is only a contract for two games to be published by Mistwalker and doesn't mean they're going to be an exclusive MS/xbox studio.

[Liberator]

no but saying that their first 2 games are going to xbox exclusive says a lot.

[Gloriano]

As I understand it this is only a contract for two games to be published by Mistwalker and doesn't mean they're going to be an exclusive MS/xbox studio

Mistwalker is not developing those games directly but with MGS.jp thats why there is 150 peoples working those games, so publisher is going to be MGS. also Hironobu Sakaguchi is helping MS in japan that  they don't make same mistake with Next gen console  as they did in this gen

but i do think it's good news for rpg fans

[Deepblue]

On a side note this is the first official recognition of the next gen Xbox by Msoft officials.

[Deepblue]

Originally posted by Liberator
could be the straw that break the camel's back and pushes the Gatesbox into the lead of the console wars.

I believe it was the only console that actually made a profit (or something like that) this last year I think...

[Grey Wolf]

I thought that last year was just the first year that Xbox was profitable.

[Carl]

this is indeed good news for the 'box. It has so few RPGs, and the ones it does have aren't very good.