Phantom Blade Zero Dev Says ‘Nobody Needs’ Xbox

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Phantom Blade Zero Dev Says 'Nobody Needs' Xbox

Highlights

  • S-Game’s upcoming Phantom Blade Zero targets PS5 and PC, as a big and ambitious project with fast-paced samurai action gameplay.
  • A developer’s harsh comments at ChinaJoy 2024 suggest an Xbox release of Phantom Blade Zero may never happen.
  • The trend of some Asian games skipping Xbox for PlayStation, Nintendo, and PC continues.

As an avid gamer with a special fondness for samurai-themed action games and a soft spot for underdog developers, I must admit I’m intrigued by the upcoming Phantom Blade Zero. The fast-paced gameplay and the ambitious nature of this project from S-GAME have certainly caught my attention. However, as someone who has been through multiple console generations, I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment at the apparent snub to Xbox fans.

A developer working on the exclusive PlayStation 5 game, Phantom Blade Zero (first introduced at the 2023 PlayStation Showcase), has made critical remarks about the Xbox platform, implying that it’s not essential. This title, developed by S-GAME studio based in Beijing, is set for release on both PS5 and PC platforms.

Phantom Blade Zero, being S-GAME’s largest and most ambitious endeavor to date, follows two smaller releases, one for mobile devices and another for PC. Despite the studio’s limited track record, the lightning-fast samurai action showcased in the trailers of Phantom Blade Zero has sparked interest among many gamers, even securing a spot as the final reveal at the 2024 Summer Game Fest. Phantom Blade Zero has certainly put S-GAME on the gaming map, but Xbox users have raised concerns about its absence from the launch lineup.

At the ChinaJoy 2024 gaming conference, an unidentified developer of S-GAME reportedly made a statement about Phantom Blade Zero’s lack of Xbox port during an interview. According to GamePlaysCassi, a Brazilian gaming website, this developer is said to have commented that “there’s no need for such a platform” in response to the question. The developer also mentioned that Xbox consoles are not widely used in Asia and developing games for them can be challenging due to Microsoft’s complex ecosystem. With the recent price increase of Xbox Series X/S in Japan, it appears less likely that the platform will regain popularity in the region.

An Xbox Release of Phantom Blade Zero May Never Happen

The remarks are quite scathing, but it’s worth mentioning that the developer’s quote could be a mistranslation. However, it doesn’t change the fact that there is a worrying trend of Asian games consistently skipping the Xbox platform in favor of PlayStation, Nintendo, and PC. Another recent example of the same is Black Myth: Wukong‘s Xbox version being delayed, inadvertently making the highly-anticipated Chinese action game a PS5 console exclusive at launch. While Phantom Blade Zero never confirmed an Xbox release, S-GAME might not be considering the prospect at all if the developer’s comments are to be believed.

Due to the decreasing market dominance of Microsoft’s platform in Asia, many game studios might find it financially unviable to create Xbox adaptations for their games. This trend is observable even among large corporations like Square Enix, who have not yet launched hits such as Final Fantasy 7 Remake and FF16 on the Xbox. As for the upcoming game Phantom Blade Zero, its release date remains undisclosed, but fans of the platform can only cross their fingers that it gains enough popularity in time to warrant a port by then.

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2024-08-04 21:13