For years, Atlus games like theShin Megami Tenseifranchise have been console exclusives for Japanese companies like Nintendo and Sony. However, a growing number of games from its catalog have been appearing on Microsoft platforms like Windows and Xbox, and, according to rumors, more of them are coming.
TheShin Megami Tenseiseries hasn’t been as popular as thePersonaseries in recent years, at least not in North American markets. However, Atlus hasn’t forgotten about the game series, and in 2021 it releasedShin Megami Tensei 5as an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch. But while the company has traditionally sold each of its games on a single platform, recently it’s started to break from this habit.
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The Atlus gamesPersona 4andPersona 5are currently available on Xbox and Windows, andPersona 3is coming out on January 18.Shin Megami Tensei3is also available on Windows, and according to rumors, other games from this franchise may soon be on their way to Microsoft platforms. That’s certainly the opinion of Shpeshal Nick, host of The XboxEra Podcast.
Specifically, Nick mentions the latest mainline games in the franchise,Shin Megami Tensei3,4, and5. Having these games available on the Xbox could be a big win for Microsoft since Atlus games are especially popular in Japan, and Xbox has generally struggled (until recently) to get the same market share that it enjoys in other countries. This could particularly helpthe Microsoft platform against Playstationsince the lastSMTgame to come out for Playstation was the remaster of 3 on the PS4.
Of course, this move is also part of a growing trend by Japanese developers to release their games on multiple platforms. ThePersonagames are one example, but Square Enix has also released its fullFinal Fantasycatalog on Steam, and whenFinal Fantasy15launched it was available on both Playstation 4 and Xbox One.Final Fantasy 16is only coming to the PS5, but this appears to be thanks to an exclusivity deal.
A similar deal will have to be struck between Microsoft and Atlus to bring theSMTgames to Xbox. Developing games for multiple platforms at once is still harder than developing for just one, even though the difference between most gaming consoles and PCs is much smaller than it was in earlier generations. By having Microsoft cover some of the costs of the porting process, it could be a win for Xbox sinceit attracts more Japanese gamers, and it could be a win for Atlus since it can sell theShin Megami Tenseiseries to more international gamers.
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