Xbox TGS 2025: Are They Finally Cracking Japan, Or Just Mashing Buttons?

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·

Xbox TGS 2025: Are They Finally Cracking Japan, Or Just Mashing Buttons?

Xbox's Tokyo Game Show broadcast showcased a determined push into the Japanese market with Japan-themed *Call of Duty* and *Forza*, alongside a fascinating mix of remakes (like *Fatal Frame 2* finally allowing hand-holding!), quirky indies, and a few head-scratching early reveals, all reported by Ed Nightingale on Eurogamer.

Right, so apparently, Xbox decided to throw a massive digital shindig at the Tokyo Game Show, and my cosmic tea leaves are telling me they're *really* trying to make friends in the Land of the Rising Sun. You know that feeling when you try a new spell and it just… doesn't quite hit? Or maybe it works *too* well? Xbox's latest broadcast feels a bit like that – a mix of genuinely intriguing revelations and some head-scratchers that make you wonder if they accidentally summoned a marketing demon instead of a loyal fanbase.

First off, let's talk about the elephant in the digital room: Xbox's long-standing quest to find love in Japan. It's been a bit of a saga, hasn't it? Like trying to convince a dragon to enjoy a cup of Earl Grey. But this year, Microsoft came out swinging with some serious Japan-centric plays. We're talking *Call of Duty: Black Ops 7* featuring maps inspired by Japan – including a cat cafe in a neon-drenched Tokyo metropolis called Toshin (because, of course, a cat cafe will win over the masses!). And then there's *Forza Horizon 6* heading to Japan, promising to bring the country to life 'like never before.' That one's a fair way off in 2026, and wasn't actually shown, which feels a bit like being promised a magical feast but only getting a whiff of the cooking. Still, the intent is clear. Add to that the free Japan update for *Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024* and a new Heavenly Spear faction for *Age of Mythology: Retold*, and you've got a full-court press. Reckon they're hoping sheer volume will do the trick.

But beyond the corporate strategy, what about the actual games, eh? I've been tinkering with this news all morning, and bloody hell, some of it's wilder than it first appeared.

Let's start with the absolute gem: *Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly*. A remake of the PS2 horror classic, and the big news? You can finally hold hands! Honestly, mate, if that's not the pinnacle of gaming evolution, I don't know what is. Forget 4K textures and ray tracing – the ability for characters to *hold hands* in a terrifying ghost game? That's what sells consoles. Improved skin textures and 7.1.4 sound are nice, too, I suppose, but it's the hand-holding that warms my cynical wizard heart.

Then we had a genuinely surprising crossover with *Hitman World of Assassination*, where Bruce Lee is joining as an Elusive Target. Only, he's not the target – you have to *protect* him from assassins. Now *that's* the kind of creative spin I can get behind! A proper chuckle-worthy scenario for Agent 47. Fair dinkum, that sounds like a blast.

Speaking of legends, Hidetaka 'Swery' Suehiro and Goichi 'Suda51' Suda unveiled *Hotel Barcelona*, a 2D horror action game. The trailer showed off co-op and PvP, and apparently, Swery himself keeps losing. Poor bloke, can't even win his own game! It's that kind of endearing, chaotic energy that makes these developers' titles so captivating. *Hotel Barcelona* sounds like it's going to be wonderfully weird.

We also got a peek at *Rhythm Doctor*, a rhythm game that boasts it's 'the easiest game you've ever played' because it only uses one button. Sounds like a delightful piece of deceptive simplicity, wrapped in cute pixel art and comedy. Could be a sleeper hit, that one.

On the remake front, we're seeing a lot of beloved classics getting a facelift. *Gungrave Gore Blood Heat* is coming back with 'extravagant gore' (as if any gore isn't extravagant, but I appreciate the commitment) built in Unreal Engine 5. *Double Dragon Revive* is updating the classic beat 'em up, offering story and episodic modes – good for a nostalgia hit. And the beautiful *Dragon Quest 1+2 HD-2D Remake* will feature a brand new area: the Ocean Floor, complete with mermaids and bubble-encased ships. Sounds like a proper adventure. Plus, the *Monster Hunter Stories* series is finally making its way to Xbox, bringing the first two games and the newly announced third. Good news for turn-based RPG fans on the green team.

Now, for a bit of Jeff-level skepticism. We saw a new trailer for *Aniimo*, described as a 'Pokémon-esque critter collector.' But honestly, with 'barely any gameplay' shown, it's hard to tell if it's more than just cute designs. Show us the mechanics, mate, don't just flash us some adorable digital companions! Similarly, 'yet another life sim' is on the way in *Starsand Island*. It's got cute pandas and capybaras playing Xbox controllers in the trailer, which is sweet, but what makes it different from the gazillion others? I'm always curious to see real innovation in established genres, not just more of the same.

And can we talk about *Project Evil Bane*? A 'dark fantasy multiplayer game' set for *2027*. Good grief, that's practically another lifetime away. Reckon I'll have figured out how to travel through time by then. Cinematic trailers for games that far off always make me raise a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Then there's *Sudden Strike 5* which will have 'BIG GUNS.' Well, I should hope so, for a war game, shouldn't it? It'd be a bit rubbish if it only had tiny guns.

One interesting development was the difficulty options for *Ninja Gaiden 4*. They're broadening the spectrum for both newcomers (Hero Mode with assists!) and hardcore veterans (Master Ninja, no mid-game switching!). That's a smart move, acknowledging the series' notorious difficulty while also inviting new players to get spectacularly owned. Also, bless their cotton socks, the *Evangelion* collaboration coming to *Terminull Brigade* – a free-to-play roguelike with a 'Mostly Negative' rating on Steam. That's certainly… a choice. Trying to bring in the big guns with an anime collab for a game that hasn't quite found its footing. Optimistically chaotic, perhaps?

So, what's the takeaway from Xbox's TGS broadcast? It feels like a genuine, if slightly uncoordinated, effort to woo the Japanese market. There are some truly exciting titles coming, some genuinely quirky surprises, and a fair few bits of corporate fluff wrapped around familiar tropes. It's a bit like a magical grab bag – you're never quite sure what spell you'll pull out, but half the fun is in the surprise. Whether these efforts will finally blow a hole through the Japanese market's perception of Xbox remains to be seen, but it's certainly going to be an interesting few years watching it unfold. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to practice my hand-holding technique, just in case.

**Source:** This cosmic overview of the Xbox Tokyo Game Show Broadcast was conjured from the excellent reporting by Ed Nightingale on Eurogamer.

Tags: Xbox, Tokyo Game Show, Gaming News, Game Remakes, Industry Trends

Original article: Eurogamer