Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO, made a personal appearance at the Tokyo Game Show 2023, engaging with fans and the press. During this event, he participated in an interview with the Japanese website Game Watch, unveiling intriguing insights.
Spencer began by acknowledging the success of Game Pass, especially following the launch of Starfield and with the imminent arrival of Forza Motorsport. Microsoft has realized its goal of consistently delivering major titles through the subscription service. However, when questioned about the possibility of another Game Pass price increase in the future, Spencer candidly stated that it’s an eventuality.
Notably, in late June, Microsoft announced its inaugural Game Pass price hike, raising the console subscription fee from $9.99 to $10.99 and the GP Ultimate price from $14.99 to $16.99.
Spencer emphasized the importance of ongoing Starfield updates to maintain subscriptions and player engagement within Game Pass. Bethesda Game Studios is actively working on these updates, with the recent release of their first patch.
In a tantalizing revelation later in the interview, Spencer teased Microsoft’s collaboration with Japanese studios to develop new Xbox games, some of which are currently undisclosed.
He stated, “You can count on it. In fact, we released ‘Hi-Fi RUSH’ this year. Although it was a small work rather than a masterpiece like ‘Blue Dragon,” it was a high-quality work. Japanese game creators are also part of Microsoft Game Studios, and although there are some titles that cannot be announced yet, we are working with Japanese manufacturers to develop new games. The development environment is growing, including first-party and third-party, so I think we can expect more Japanese titles to appear in the future.”
It’s worth noting that nearly four years ago, Spencer expressed his desire to include more Asia-based game creators in Microsoft’s first-party lineup. While the opportunity may not have fully materialized due to factors such as COVID and the impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it remains to be seen whether this focus will reemerge once the deal concludes.
In the interim, Xbox enthusiasts can look forward to the arrival of Japanese games like “Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name” and “Like a Dragon: Ishin!” to Game Pass.
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As Game Pass continues to evolve and expand, Spencer’s insights provide a glimpse into Microsoft’s future gaming endeavors and its ongoing commitment to the gaming community.
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