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Phil Spencer doesn't think Xbox is buying a Japanese studio

Phil Spencer doesn't think Xbox is buying a Japanese studio

The head of Xbox Phil Spencer has said that doesn't think that Microsoft is buying a studio in Japan.

Speaking to GameSpot, the exec admitted that he isn't in every single meeting the Big M's games division has, but said that the company is going to be snapping up a developer in the region. This followed reports that Xbox was in discussions with studios both big and small in Japan.

"I don't think so... I mean, I'm not in every meeting that every team has, but I'll say not from me," Spencer said.

"Most of the opportunities that we've had to date have been a long-lasting relationship, and so, I don't think we're out there with our business card, throwing them out on the corner, trying to find people. I've talked about my affinity for Japanese studios and thinking back in the day when we had more games that were created in Japan as part of our first party, I'm excited when the deal closes to get to spend more time with Tango [Gameworks] and the work that they're doing.

"So it's an area that I'm interested in, but no, I don't think it's... I think that's not accurate."

Microsoft has been snapping up game developers left and right in the last few years. Most recently, the Xbox firm acquired Bethesda parent firm ZeniMax Media for a cool $7.5bn. In the past, Spencer has expressed interest in buying a Japanese studio, too.


PCGamesInsider Contributing Editor

Alex Calvin is a freelance journalist who writes about the business of games. He started out at UK trade paper MCV in 2013 and left as deputy editor over three years later. In June 2017, he joined Steel Media as the editor for new site PCGamesInsider.biz. In October 2019 he left this full-time position at the company but still contributes to the site on a daily basis. He has also written for GamesIndustry.biz, VGC, Games London, The Observer/Guardian and Esquire UK.