Microsoft’s spending spree has spanned many corners of the business over the previous few years the place studio acquisitions are involved, however one market the place Xbox nonetheless doesn’t have a foothold in Japan (though now-first social gathering studio Tango Gameworks relies there). Xbox boss Phil Spencer has usually spoken about including extra Japanese firepower to the Xbox Sport Studios banner– and it appears, in 2019, the corporate thought of going after one of many largest names on the market.
As a part of Microsoft’s ongoing court docket case with the FTC, just lately revealed authorized paperwork have revealed that Microsoft was contemplating an acquisition of Sq. Enix again in 2019 (by way of VGC). The paperwork verify that the potential acquisition undertaking was internally dubbed “Mission Phoenix” by Microsoft, and eyed the Japanese writer and its Western portfolio (the latter of which was ultimately acquired by Embracer Group) as an acquisition candidate.
Quite a lot of elements seemingly contributed to this, together with the energy of a portfolio that features the likes of Last Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts, whereas the byproduct of taking these established franchises off PlayStation would even have served as a bonus. After all, a Sq. Enix acquisition would even have massively expanded Xbox’s presence in Japan, whereas Microsoft additionally thought of the corporate to be a viable possibility by means of which to broaden Sport Move’ presence on cell platforms.
Different paperwork rising from the Microsoft vs FTC trial have make clear plenty of different corporations that Microsoft has thought of buying lately, together with the likes of Sega and Bungie. Microsoft apparently had a watchlist of over 100 builders in 2021, which included names like FromSoftware, CD Projek RED, Group Cherry, Treatment Leisure, Larian Studios, and extra.
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