Microsoft Updates Xbox One Japanese Developers List: 70 Including PaRappa the Rapper Creators

Giuseppe Nelva June 25, 2014 6:31 PM EST

Back in April Microsoft Japan announced a list of developers and publishers supporting the Xbox One in Japan. Apparently, that list wasn’t final, as an updated version was showcased during the recent press conference to introduce the strategy for the new console’s landing in the archipelago of the rising sun.

Here’s the new list.

Arc System Works

Artdink

Access Games

Acquire

Altus

Intergrow

Experience

SNK Playmore

Electronic Arts

Kadokawa Games

Capcom

Gung Ho Online Entertainment

Qute

Grounding

G.rev

Klon

Cave

Genki

Koei Tecmo

Codemasters

Konami

CyberConnect2

CyberStep

Silicon Studio

Zoo

Square Enix

Spike Chunsoft

SEGA

Tango Gameworks

2K Games

D3 Publisher

Take 2

Toylogic

Triangle Service

Nippon Ichi Software

Hamster

Bandai Namco Games

Bandai Namco Studios

Platinum Games

From Software

Bethesda Softworks

Marvelous AQL

MAGES.

Moss

Yukes

Ubisoft

Liar-Soft

Land Ho!

LEVEL-5

Warner Bros. Entertainment

Most of the list remained the same (and it still includes some publishers that aren’t exactly Japanese, but it probably means their Japanese branches), but there are some changes: BusinessPartner disappeared from the list (it really isn’t a great loss), while there are three additions. Platinum Games is the most obvious: it probably was omitted from the first list on purpose to avoid outing Scalebound. Toylogic was also added. While the name won’t probably tell you much, they’re the developers of the Xbox Live Arcade title Happy Wars and they supported Nintendo in developing Kid Icarus: Uprising and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

The last addition was Liar-Soft, which specializes on visual novels like the Shining Night series. Many of their games aren’t exactly safe for work.

In addition to that, a brand new list of Japanese studios taking part in the ID@Xbox program was also announced bringing the total up to 70.

Aabs Inc. (they developed Aabs Animals for PS3 and PS Vita)

(they developed Aabs Animals for PS3 and PS Vita) Nigoro (La Mulana, need I say more?)

(La Mulana, need I say more?) iNiS (a pretty well known developer specialized on Rhythm games)

(a pretty well known developer specialized on Rhythm games) Inti Creates (Azure Striker Gunvolt, they also collaborate to the development of Mighty No.9)

(Azure Striker Gunvolt, they also collaborate to the development of Mighty No.9) Opus Studio (Half Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy)

(Half Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy) Cloud Creative Studios (specialized mostly on mobile games like DrawMite and Guilty Dragon)

(specialized mostly on mobile games like DrawMite and Guilty Dragon) Comcept (Inafune’s studio working on Mighty No.9)

(Inafune’s studio working on Mighty No.9) Cri Middleware (popular mostly during the Dreamcast times, with series like AeroWings and AeroDancing. They have been developing middleware since, but looks like they’re going back to games)

(popular mostly during the Dreamcast times, with series like AeroWings and AeroDancing. They have been developing middleware since, but looks like they’re going back to games) SmileBoom (Miku Miku Hockey)

(Miku Miku Hockey) NanaOn-Sha (the studio behind the PaRappa the Rapper series)

(the studio behind the PaRappa the Rapper series) Nude Maker (a studio formed mostly by ex Human Entertainment developers. They took part in the development of the original Steel Battalion and developed Infinite Space with Platinum Games)

(a studio formed mostly by ex Human Entertainment developers. They took part in the development of the original Steel Battalion and developed Infinite Space with Platinum Games) Booby Trap (did mostly mobile games, like Tobipen and A-GE II)

(did mostly mobile games, like Tobipen and A-GE II) Hexadrive (they took part in the development of quite a few HD remakes like Okami HD, Zone of the Enders HD Collection and Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD)

(they took part in the development of quite a few HD remakes like Okami HD, Zone of the Enders HD Collection and Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD) Pocket Queries (developer specialized in Unity, mostly on mobile games like Kyo mo Jigoku wa Hitodebusoku)

(developer specialized in Unity, mostly on mobile games like Kyo mo Jigoku wa Hitodebusoku) Monobit (mostly specialized in engines and creating online game servers, for instance for Square Enix’s Crystal Conquest)

(mostly specialized in engines and creating online game servers, for instance for Square Enix’s Crystal Conquest) Land Ho! (took part in the development of Crimson Dragon, some Just Dance games and quite a few horse racing titles)

(took part in the development of Crimson Dragon, some Just Dance games and quite a few horse racing titles) Link Kit (Samurai Defender)

(Samurai Defender) Railfan (They developed a few of the latest titles of the Densha de Go! Series)

(They developed a few of the latest titles of the Densha de Go! Series) Oneoreight (Teku Teku Hero)

That’s definitely a rather diverse line-up, even if the most relevant is probably NanaOn-Sha, who created and developed the PaRappa the Rapper series for Sony. The return of CriWare to game development is also potentially interesting to nostalgics and Dreamcast fans like me.

It’s worth clarifying that no mention was done of any exclusivity for the developers listed above, so their games might appear on other platforms as well.

It’ll definitely be interesting to see what the Xbox One will manage to achieve in Japan. They definitely seem to have the support of many developers. Will they manage to win over the gamers’ support as well?