If you're familiar with mobile games, you've probably heard of a game called Genshin Impact. This anime gacha-style action RPG is an absolute money-making powerhouse for developer and publisher miHoYo - banking close to four billion in its first few years.
According to Reuters, Microsoft has reportedly sped up its search within the Chinese market in hope of uncovering the next big game like Genshin Impact. It's supposedly targeted "big-brand titles" but is now apparently "offering big money to small developers" for their games as well - with the end goal to release these titles on its Game Pass subscription service. Sony is also hoping to attract Chinese developers to its PlayStation Plus subscription service, according to the same report.
The Reuters report also mentions some of Microsoft's past payments to Chinese-owned developers. For example, filings have revealed Microsoft paid around $2.5 million for ARK: Survival Evolved on Game Pass and $2.3 for its sequel. Wildcard - the Redmond, Washington studio behind it, is now owned by China's Snail Games. The upcoming title Party Animals by Recreate Games in China has also done an exclusive launch deal with Xbox.
According to the report, Microsoft is now playing catch up, and apparently "regretted missing out on Genshin Impact" for Xbox, which Sony was able to secure for PlayStation at launch through its "China Hero Project" in 2017 - aimed at helping local developers in this region publish games on its system.
"'Microsoft regretted missing out on "Genshin Impact', two people familiar with the matter said. It spoke to miHoYo early in the game's development but did not reach a deal, one of them said. The other person said the experience is the driving force behind Microsoft's more active pursuit of Chinese developers...'Picking up Genshin Impact made Sony a lot of money,' the second person said..."
Reuters' sources also mention how Naraka: Bladepoint is another title that unsurprisingly turned the heads of both Microsoft and Sony. And as we know, it ended up becoming a Game Pass exclusive in June.
Apart from Genshin Impact, are there any games from this part of the world, or the Asian games market in general, that you would like to see Microsoft secure for Xbox and Game Pass? Comment down below.
[source reuters.com, via videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 16
Hey they got CrossfireX......that's something alright.
On the subject of chinese games it's been announced that sword and fairy together forever will be coming to xbox on November 3rd, not on gamepass though.
@UltimateOtaku91 Apparently according to Wikipedia, the sixth game is also coming to Xbox though it's TBA.
That kinda implied MS is done and no longer trying in bringing GI to Xbox? Anyway, there is one upcoming GI competitor that MS might want to look at called Wuthering Waves from Kuro Game (Punishing Gray Raven developer).
Mihoyo also had few games on the horizon such as Honkai Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero. They aren't open world like GI but Microsoft can try bringing those to Xbox instead to bolster Xbox library of Chinese live-service games.
@endlessleep I have nothing to add other than Zenless Zone Zero is really fun to say.
I thought Genshin Impact was coming to Xbox and Switch. Is that not the case?
Genshin is also in the works for the switch so I don't see why xbox can't still add it.
@InfamousOrange Doubt it's coming to Switch, they mentioned it over a year ago and then silence. Rumour was they were struggling to get it running on the hardware. Reality is Switch is less powerful than most modern high-end phones.
Xbox is likely a much smaller market for them, so wouldn't surprise me if it never came to Xbox sadly. When it's good it's an absolutely brilliant game.
@EliSweetG
No says more that Xbox skipped it when it had a chance to grab it.
Just like they skipped on a Marvel game in 2013 I think it was and then Marvel asked Sony.
@endlessleep I think it implies Sony has an exclusivity deal. Would not be shocked if that’s the true reason the Switch version never materialized.
@UltimateOtaku91 yeah no gamepass for that game is weird. Doubt it will get much attention at all without it.
@Neverwild they also passed on gta 3 back on the og Xbox they really do make some bad decisions lol
@Would_you_kindly
and then people blame Sony for snapping it up and Xbox wont get game at all.
People are quick to blame even if they dont know things.
@Neverwild
Not really the GTA3 story was known and at the time I don't remember much talking about blaming Sony.
Nowdays it's a different story, more social networks and people opinions everywhere.
Is sony blame about multiple games not coming to xbox? Yes.
But in the end its business and they have every rights those corporations care more about money than players and in the end its OK.
Safe to say Sony have netted some serious money from Genshin so it's understandable Xbox regret not getting it. On a selfish note I'm glad it isn't on Xbox. I already have 2 active Genshin accounts on PS and I really don't need a 3rd!
Microsoft missed out on a lot of things this gen.
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