Former Sony executive joins Xbox to lead Japanese partnership operations

Mena Sato Kato was previously the Vice President of Mobile Business for Sony.

[darthv72]

"VP of Mobile Business"... could be beneficial once the ABK deal closes.

[blackblades]

She's not there for mobile shes there to lead JP partnerships its in the title

[darthv72]

I get that, but it also doesnt hurt that she has experience in mobile seeing as MS are about to take on a pretty big mobile acquisition.

[glennhkboy]

Actually outside of US, mobile game is a much bigger deal. In Japan, a lot of games (anime IPs, especially) are being developed exclusively for mobile. So MS focusing on that sector is a much better strategy than focusing on traditional console games.

[blackblades]

5% possible but I 100% doubt it

[StarkR3ality]

Good Xbox's new approach to Japan has been refreshing, and I'm hoping that this means more JRPG's come to PC through Xbox!

[nommers]

It says she was a part a mobile division though so don’t get your hopes up.

[glennhkboy]

No.... in Japan & Asia, mobile game is a much bigger deal than PC or even console gaming now. A lot of those small to mid size developers, ones that traditionally developed Japan-centric games, are now developing exclusively for mobile.

[TheCaptainKuchiki]

lmao she goes from one flop venture to another

[phoenixwing]

if she was the reason genshin impact came to ps5, that alone netted Sony enough for her to be worthwhile

Edit: While i know most gamers don't care for gacha games from mobile they make huge numbers and i don't mind playing the good ones.

[TheCaptainKuchiki]

She only had the VP of mobile role for a year. Trust me, she didn't do anything.

[Christopher]

Hope this means more games going to Xbox out of Japan.

[phoenixwing]

that's actually been the main reason i never felt compelled to buy xbox all these gens except for 360

the good part now is even if they do get a bunch of exclusive jrpg's i like i can use game pass to play them on my pc

[jznrpg]

Exclusive Japanese games I doubt unless they pay for full development or pretty damn close to it. There just isn’t enough money to be made for Japanese games on Xbox in general especially as an exclusive. Xbox gamers barely buy western games now

[glennhkboy]

@jznrpg A single month of global income from Gamepass subscription can almost fully fund the development of Starfield. So I think there will be no issue if MS pay for a full price for any Japanese mobile game in development now. It only takes the developer to ask MS. I think this is the job for Ms.Kato to contact any interested developer.

[blackblades]

Why her a former mobile leader to lead up a Japanese partnership. What experience can a mobile leader have to help with Japanese games going to Xbox.

[glennhkboy]

Xbox, or even PC may not be the focus of MS. The great prize IS the mobile gaming market! In Asia-Pacific & Japan, mobile gaming is much bigger than console & PC.

[anast]

Good more mobile games...The trick is how to get an entire nation's children hooked on gambling mechanics.

[Battlestar23]

Hope this means MS are going to buy Capcom, Square Enix, Sega, Konami. MS needs to buys these companies and make all their games exclusive to Xbox it's the only way they will be able to compete on Sony's level.

[UltimateOwnage]

They’re not really competing because they’re inept. You think buying Japanese studios will suddenly result in success there?

[TriniOutsider]

Yeah, that won't be happening. Do you think because they hired a new Japanese person that would somehow shift things in MS's favor? People seem to forget that Nintendo is out there in Japan. Nintendo alone is the wall they need to get passed not Sony.

[glennhkboy]

Remember, even Nintendo is depending on porting mobile games to fill their line-up on 3rd party games. In Japan & Asia, mobile game is a much bigger deal than US.

[AdonisIsBeast]

Here we go, Sony’s inability to acquire a major publisher from Japan is about to backfire on them. Cheap company that never invests in acquisition except for a few small devs occasionally. And then is anti-consumer with how they handle their peripherals and locking out the use of bluetooth from their devices.

[TriniOutsider]

Nothing is gonna happen. People like to exaggerate things. If you think Japanese studios will just drop support for Sony that won't be happening. Sony legit helped a lot of Japanese Studios back in the day.

[AdonisIsBeast]

I was mainly implying that Sony will lose negotiating power if they did wake up and want to acquire a Japanese publisher now that Microsoft will be in their pockets

[got_dam]

Oh, God! MS is buying Japanese people now!