Maybe I've missed some things but I decided to compare Game Pass for Japanese releases from 2023 - 2020 (because that is as far as I could be bothered to go) from the same period in time (January - May) because it feels unfair to include past June since a lot of things will be announced at E3/TGS as per usual and release soon after those events.
So here is from what I managed to find, how Game Pass in 2023 stacks up versus other years, dates aligned. Again, I could have missed some things because it's a bit of a bitch to search through every Xbox Wire post and then check a bunch of developers locations, especially for some indie developers who barely list their location but here is my attempt at rounding it up.
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Japanese Game Pass: 2020
January
- Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet - Dimps/Bandai Namco
February
- Final Fantasy XV - Square Enix
- Kingdom Hearts III - Square Enix
- Yakuza 0 - Sega
April
- NieR: Automata Become as Gods Edition - Square Enix
- Alvastia Chronicles - Exe Create
May
- Final Fantasy IX - Square Enix
Total = 7
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Japanese Game Pass: 2021
January
- Yakuza 3 - Sega
- Yakuza 4 - Sega
- Yakuza 5 - Sega
February
- Code Vein - Bandai Namco
- Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age - Square Enix
March
- Nier: Automata - Platinum Games/Square Enix
- Octopath Traveler - Square Enix
- Yakuza 6 - Sega
May
- Dragon Quest Builders 2 - Square Enix
- Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster - Square Enix
Total = 10
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Japanese Game Pass: 2022
January
- Olija - Skeleton Crew Studio
- Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition - Spike Chunsoft
- Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master - Bandai Namco
March
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII - Square Enix
- Zero Escape: The Nonary Games - Spike Chunsoft
April
- Research and Destroy - Implausible Industries/Spike Chunsoft
May
- Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition - Spike Chunsoft
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising - Rabbit & Bear Studio
Total = 8
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Japanese Game Pass: 2023
January
- Monster Hunter Rise - Capcom
- Persona 3 - Atlus/Sega
- Persona 4 - Atlus/Sega
- Hi Fi Rush - Tango Gameworks
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle R - CyberConnect2
February
- SD Gundam Battle Alliance - Artdink/Alvion
- Soul Hackers 2 - Atlus/Sega
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty - Team Ninja/Koei Tecmo
March
- Guilty Gear Strive - Arc System Works
- Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom - Level 5
April
- Ghostwire: Tokyo - Tango Gameworks
- BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle - Arc System Works
May
- Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 - CyberConnect2
Total = 13
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They're doing great Imo, especially considering they lost Square Enix in almost its entirety, and Sega has clearly decided to do the smart thing of releasing an IP for the first time on Xbox via Game Pass to build a fanbase then release the follow-up entries as purchase only, to maybe when the title gets older and less purchased to shove it onto Game Pass.
Stats
- 2020 - 4 Publishers
- 2021 - 3 Publishers
- 2022 - 5 Publishers
- 2023 - 7 Publishers
Feels to me like 2023 has more variety as well.
Obviously there is more work to be done, goes without saying, there will always be Japanese developers to bring over to Xbox...Just the same as in the West...But there's been quite a few "first time ever" on Xbox for Japanese IPs lately or "returning after years of absent" and I really think Square Enix's absence is blowing the issue more out of proportion than it actually is.
Isn't Tango Xbox's 1st ever Japanese developer? An exclusive with Kojima is a huge deal even if some of us aren't a fan either, Lol. He's a huge deal in both Japan and the West and his positive comments about Xbox could help things. For the first time since the Xbox 360 era, Xbox Game Studios Publishing has Producers specifically for Japan as well so there are no doubt more exclusives coming.
Last edited by Ryuu96 - on 22 May 2023
