Microsoft has been on a roll lately with its acquisitions, having purchased companies like Bethesda and Obsidian. These acquisitions have helped to expand the range of games available on Xbox consoles, particularly in the Western RPG market. However, there is still room for Xbox to grow, particularly in the Eastern RPG market. This is where Mistwalker Corp comes in.
Mistwalker Corp is a Japanese video game development company founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the Final Fantasy series. The company has developed several critically acclaimed RPGs, including Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon, but has not achieved the commercial success of other studios. Microsoft should consider purchasing Mistwalker Corp and establishing a new RPG-branded studio to create high-quality JRPGs exclusively for Xbox consoles and PC.
By doing so, Microsoft could potentially revive the Square Enix brand and establish JRPGs on Xbox. While games like Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon were not popular among Xbox fans, this could be due to a lack of marketing or limited exposure. With Microsoft’s resources and expertise in marketing and promotion, a new Mistwalker-developed JRPG could potentially become a hit on Xbox consoles.
Furthermore, Microsoft’s acquisition of Mistwalker Corp would bring in valuable talent and experience in the Japanese gaming market. This would allow Microsoft to better understand and cater to the preferences of Japanese gamers, who have traditionally favored PlayStation consoles. By creating more high-quality JRPGs, Microsoft could potentially win over Japanese gamers and establish a stronger foothold in the Japanese gaming market.
It is worth noting that Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard has sparked some controversy, particularly among fans of the Call of Duty franchise. While owning World of Warcraft and Bethesda is certainly impressive, it is important for Microsoft to diversify its portfolio and not rely solely on these established franchises. By purchasing Mistwalker Corp and establishing a new RPG-branded studio, Microsoft could create exciting new IPs that would attract both Western and Eastern gamers.
In addition, Microsoft’s acquisition of Mistwalker Corp could potentially revive the long-dormant True Fantasy Live Online (TFL), an MMORPG that was announced in 2002 but ultimately canceled. TFL was highly anticipated due to its innovative features, such as real-time voice chat and a living, breathing world that changed in response to player actions. However, technical issues and development delays ultimately led to the game’s cancellation.
With Mistwalker’s experience in RPG development and Microsoft’s resources, the two companies could potentially revive TFL and bring it to Xbox consoles. This would be an exciting opportunity for fans of the game who have been waiting for its release for over two decades and could potentially attract new fans to the Xbox platform.
In conclusion, Microsoft’s potential acquisition of Mistwalker Corp not only brings in valuable talent and experience in the Japanese gaming market but also presents an exciting opportunity to revive the long-dormant True Fantasy Live Online. With Mistwalker’s expertise in RPG development and Microsoft’s resources, the two companies could potentially create a truly unique and innovative MMORPG experience for Xbox fans.
What do you think?
