S-GAME has finally addressed the contentious remarks attributed to an anonymous source at ChinaJoy 2024, shedding light on the controversy surrounding Phantom Blade Zero. Delve into the details of the uproar and the developers' response.
S-GAME Responds to the Controversy
"Nobody Needs Xbox," Media Outlets Claim
S-GAME, the creative force behind Phantom Blade Zero and Black Myth: Wukong, took to Twitter (X) to clarify the situation after multiple media outlets reported on a controversial statement made by an alleged developer at ChinaJoy 2024. The studio's statement firmly reiterated their dedication to broad accessibility for their games.
"These claimed statements do not reflect S-GAME’s values or culture," the studio emphasized. "Our goal is to make our game accessible to as many players as possible across various platforms. We are diligently working on both development and publishing to ensure that Phantom Blade Zero reaches a wide audience at launch and beyond."
The controversy originated from a statement by an anonymous source, purportedly a developer on Phantom Blade Zero, published in a Chinese news outlet. The translated quote, "no one shows any interest in Xbox," quickly spread, with outlets like Aroged interpreting it as Xbox being "a platform that does not find demand, especially in Asia." The situation intensified when Brazilian outlet Gameplay Cassi misquoted the statement as "nobody needs this platform."
In their response, S-GAME did not directly address the authenticity of the anonymous source but acknowledged underlying truths. Xbox's market share in Asia pales in comparison to PlayStation and Nintendo. For example, in Japan, Xbox Series X|S sales have barely surpassed half a million units over four years, while the PS5 sold a million units in 2021 alone.
Additionally, Xbox's availability in Asia is limited. In 2021, Southeast Asia lacked retail support for Xbox, with Singapore being the sole distributor of consoles, games, and accessories, forcing other countries to import through overseas wholesalers.
Speculation also arose about an exclusive deal with Sony, fueled by S-GAME's acknowledgment of development and marketing support from Sony in a June 8 interview. However, the studio has since dispelled rumors of exclusivity. In their Summer 2024 Developer Update, they confirmed plans to release Phantom Blade Zero on PlayStation 5 and PC.
While an Xbox release remains unconfirmed, S-GAME's recent statement suggests they are keeping their options open for the platform.
